He spoke with such grace and dignity that everyone gazed at him with mute surprise . At length the King , recovering from his astonishment at recognising the brother who had been lost some years before , exclaimed , ` Yes , you are indeed my brother , and now that I have found you , take the throne to which I have no longer a right . ' So saying , he respectfully kissed the Prince 's hand . Alphege threw himself into his arms , and the brothers hastened to the royal palace , where in the presence of the entire court he received the crown from his brother 's hand . To clear away any possible doubt , he showed the ruby which the Good Queen had given him in his childhood . As they were gazing at it , it suddenly split with a loud noise , and at the same moment the Wicked Queen expired . King Alphege lost no time in marrying his dear and lovely Zayda , and his joy was complete when the Good Queen appeared at his wedding . She assured him that the Fairy of the Mountain had henceforth lost all power over him , and after spending some time with the young couple , and bestowing the most costly presents on them , she retired to her own country . King Alphege insisted on his brother sharing his throne , and they all lived to a good old age , universally beloved and admired . FAIRER-THAN-A-FAIRY Once there lived a King who had no children for many years after his marriage . At length heaven granted him a daughter of such remarkable beauty that he could think of no name so appropriate for her as ` Fairer-than-a-Fairy . ' It never occurred to the good-natured monarch that such a name was certain to call down the hatred and jealousy of the fairies in a body on the child , but this was what happened . No sooner had they heard of this presumptuous name than they resolved to gain possession of her who bore it , and either to torment her cruelly , or at least to conceal her from the eyes of all men . The eldest of their tribe was entrusted to carry out their revenge . This Fairy was named Lagree ; she was so old that she only had one eye and one tooth left , and even these poor remains she had to keep all night in a strengthening liquid . She was also so spiteful that she gladly devoted all her time to carrying out all the mean or ill-natured tricks of the whole body of fairies . With her large experience , added to her native spite , she found but little difficulty in carrying off Fairer-than-a-Fairy . The poor child , who was only seven years old , nearly died of fear on finding herself in the power of this hideous creature . However , when after an hour 's journey underground she found herself in a splendid palace with lovely gardens , she felt a little reassured , and was further cheered when she discovered that her pet cat and dog had followed her . The old Fairy led her to a pretty room which she said should be hers , at the same time giving her the strictest orders never to let out the fire which was burning brightly in the grate .
She then gave two glass bottles into the Princess 's charge , desiring her to take the greatest care XXXXX them , and having enforced her orders with the most awful threats in case of disobedience , she vanished , leaving the little girl at liberty to explore the palace and grounds and a good deal relieved at having only two apparently easy tasks set her .
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