But I will not bear it , proud Princess . I will have my revenge . ' ' I assure you , Madam , ' said the Princess , ` that I had nothing to do with it and am quite willing that you shall be declared Queen of Beauty ` Ah ! you are pleased to jest , popinjay ! ' said the Queen , ` but it will be my turn soon ! ' The King was speedily told what had happened , and how the Princess was in terror of the angry Queen , but he only said : ` The Queen must do as she pleases . Graciosa belongs to her ! ' The wicked Queen waited impatiently until night fell , and then she ordered her carriage to be brought . Graciosa , much against her will , was forced into it , and away they drove , and never stopped until they reached a great forest , a hundred leagues from the palace . This forest was so gloomy , and so full of lions , tigers , bears and wolves , that nobody dared pass through it even by daylight , and here they set down the unhappy Princess in the middle of the black night , and left her in spite of all her tears and entreaties . The Princess stood quite still at first from sheer bewilderment , but when the last sound of the retreating carriages died away in the distance she began to run aimlessly hither and thither , sometimes knocking herself against a tree , sometimes tripping over a stone , fearing every minute that she would be eaten up by the lions . Presently she was too tired to advance another step , so she threw herself down upon the ground and cried miserably : ` Oh , Percinet ! where are you ? Have you forgotten me altogether ? ' She had hardly spoken when all the forest was lighted up with a sudden glow . Every tree seemed to be sending out a soft radiance , which was clearer than moonlight and softer than daylight , and at the end of a long avenue of trees opposite to her the Princess saw a palace of clear crystal which blazed like the sun . At that moment a slight sound behind her made her start round , and there stood Percinet himself . ` Did I frighten you , my Princess ? ' said he . ' I come to bid you welcome to our fairy palace , in the name of the Queen , my mother , who is prepared to love you as much as I do . '
The Princess joyfully mounted with him into a little sledge , drawn by two stags , which bounded off and drew them swiftly XXXXX the wonderful palace , where the Queen received her with the greatest kindness , and a splendid banquet was served at once .
against behind into like of so than that to with