So the Queen in great triumph sent for her waiting women , who dragged the unhappy Princess away and shut her up in a garret ; they took away all her jewels and her pretty dress , and gave her a rough cotton frock , wooden shoes , and a little cloth cap . There was some straw in a corner , which was all she had for a bed , and they gave her a very little bit of black bread to eat . In this miserable plight Graciosa did indeed regret the fairy palace , and she would have called Percinet to her aid , only she felt sure he was still vexed with her for leaving him , and thought that she could not expect him to come . Meanwhile the Queen had sent for an old Fairy , as malicious as herself , and said to her : ` You must find me some task for this fine Princess which she can not possibly do , for I mean to punish her , and if she does not do what I order , she will not be able to say that I am unjust . ' So the old Fairy said she would think it over , and come again the next day . When she returned she brought with her a skein of thread , three times as big as herself ; it was so fine that a breath of air would break it , and so tangled that it was impossible to see the beginning or the end of it . The Queen sent for Graciosa , and said to her : ` Do you see this skein ? Set your clumsy fingers to work upon it , for I must have it disentangled by sunset , and if you break a single thread it will be the worse for you . ' So saying she left her , locking the door behind her with three keys . The Princess stood dismayed at the sight of the terrible skein . If she did but turn it over to see where to begin , she broke a thousand threads , and not one could she disentangle . At last she threw it into the middle of the floor , crying : ` Oh , Percinet ! this fatal skein will be the death of me if you will not forgive me and help me once more . ' And immediately in came Percinet as easily as if he had all the keys in his own possession . ` Here I am , Princess , as much as ever at your service , ' said he , ` though really you are not very kind to me . ' Then he just stroked the skein with his wand , and all the broken threads joined themselves together , and the whole skein wound itself smoothly off in the most surprising manner , and the Prince , turning to Graciosa , asked if there was nothing else that she wished him to do for her , and if the time would never come when she would wish for him for his own sake . ` Do n't be vexed with me , Percinet , ' she said . ' I am unhappy enough without that . ' ` But why should you be unhappy , my Princess ? ' cried he .
` Only come with me and we shall be as happy XXXXX the day is long together . '
as at for in into of over that with without