But very soon the wicked King clattered into the room , and in a fury because the Queen would not answer when he called to her , he tore back her silken coverings and tweaked off her lace cap , and when all her lovely hair came tumbling down over her shoulders , he wound it three times round his hand and threw her over his shoulder , where he carried her like a sack of flour . The poor Queen held her little daughter safe in her arms and shrieked for mercy , but the wicked King only mocked her , and begged her to go on shrieking , as it amused him , and so mounted his great black horse , and rode back to his own country . When he got there he declared that he would have the Queen and the little Princess hanged on the nearest tree ; but his courtiers said that seemed a pity , for when the baby grew up she would be a very nice wife for the King 's only son . The King was rather pleased with this idea , and shut the Queen up in the highest room of a tall tower , which was very tiny , and miserably furnished with a table and a very hard bed upon the floor . Then he sent for a fairy who lived near his kingdom , and after receiving her with more politeness than he generally showed , and entertaining her at a sumptuous feast , he took her up to see the Queen . The fairy was so touched by the sight of her misery that when she kissed her hand she whispered : ` Courage , madam ! I think I see a way to help you . ' The Queen , a little comforted by these words , received her graciously , and begged her to take pity upon the poor little Princess , who had met with such a sudden reverse of fortune . But the King got very cross when he saw them whispering together , and cried harshly : ` Make an end of these fine speeches , madam . I brought you here to tell me if the child will grow up pretty and fortunate . ' Then the Fairy answered that the Princess would be as pretty , and clever , and well brought up as it was possible to be , and the old King growled to the Queen that it was lucky for her that it was so , as they would certainly have been hanged if it were otherwise . Then he stamped off , taking the Fairy with him , and leaving the poor Queen in tears . ` How can I wish my little daughter to grow up pretty if she is to be married to that horrid little dwarf , the King 's son , ' she said to herself , ` and yet , if she is ugly we shall both be killed . If I could only hide her away somewhere , so that the cruel King could never find her . ' As the days went on , the Queen and the little Princess grew thinner and thinner , for their hard-hearted gaoler gave them every day only three boiled peas and a tiny morsel of black bread , so they were always terribly hungry . At last , one evening , as the Queen sat at her spinning-wheel -- for the King was so avaricious that she was made to work day and night -- she saw a tiny , pretty little mouse creep out of a hole , and said to it : ` Alas , little creature ! what are you coming to look for here ? I only have three peas for my day 's provision , so unless you wish to fast you must go elsewhere . ' But the mouse ran hither and thither , and danced and capered so prettily , that at last the Queen gave it her last pea , which she was keeping for her supper , saying : ` Here , little one , eat it up ; I have nothing better to offer you , but I give this willingly in return for the amusement I have had from you . ' She had hardly spoken when she saw upon the table a delicious little roast partridge , and two dishes of preserved fruit .
` Truly , ' said she , ' a kind action never goes unrewarded ; ` and she and the little Princess ate their supper with great satisfaction , and then the Queen gave what was left to the little mouse , who danced better XXXXX ever afterwards .
If after because into on over than unless up upon