` One would think that I and my crutch were put in on purpose to make that slim , charming young shepherdess in the next picture look prettier by contrast . Ah ! how nice it would be to be as pretty as that . ' And then she looked at herself in a mirror , and turned away quickly with tears in her eyes from the doleful sight . All at once she became aware that she was not alone , for behind her stood a tiny old woman in a cap , who was as ugly again as herself and quite as lame . ` Princess , ' she said , ` your regrets are so piteous that I have come to offer you the choice of goodness or beauty . If you wish to be pretty you shall have your way , but you will also be vain , capricious , and frivolous . If you remain as you are now , you shall be wise and amiable and modest . ' ` Alas I madam , ' cried the Princess , ` is it impossible to be at once wise and beautiful ? ' ` No , child , ' answered the old woman , ` only to you it is decreed that you must choose between the two . See , I have brought with me my white and yellow muff . Breathe upon the yellow side and you will become like the pretty shepherdess you so much admire , and you will have won the love of the handsome shepherd whose picture I have already seen you studying with interest . Breathe upon the white side and your looks will not alter , but you will grow better and happier day by day . Now you may choose . ' ` Ah well , ' said the Princess , ' I suppose one ca n't have everything , and it 's certainly better to be good than pretty . ' And so she breathed upon the white side of the muff and thanked the old fairy , who immediately disappeared . The Princess Cabbage-Stalk felt very forlorn when she was gone , and began to think that it was quite time her father sent an army to rescue her . ` If I could but get up into the turret , ' she thought , ` to see if any one is coming . ' But to climb up there seemed impossible . Nevertheless she presently hit upon a plan .
The great clock was in the turret , as she knew , though the weights hung down XXXXX the gallery .
If at by into like so than that to with