She was feeling more than usually miserable , and had sent away her ladies so that no one might witness her grief . Suddenly she heard a rustling movement in the pool below the waterfall , and , on glancing up , she saw a large crab climbing on to a stone beside her . ` Great queen , ' said the crab , ' I am here to tell you that the desire of your heart will soon be granted . But first you must permit me to lead you to the palace of the fairies , which , though hard by , has never been seen by mortal eyes because of the thick clouds that surround it . When there you will know more ; that is , if you will trust yourself to me . ' The queen had never before heard an animal speak , and was struck dumb with surprise . However , she was so enchanted at the words of the crab that she smiled sweetly and held out her hand ; it was taken , not by the crab , which had stood there only a moment before , but by a little old woman smartly dressed in white and crimson with green ribbons in her grey hair . And , wonderful to say , not a drop of water fell from her clothes . The old woman ran lightly down a path along which the queen had been a hundred times before , but it seemed so different she could hardly believe it was the same . Instead of having to push her way through nettles and brambles , roses and jasmine hung about her head , while under her feet the ground was sweet with violets . The orange trees were so tall and thick that , even at mid-day , the sun was never too hot , and at the end of the path was a glimmer of something so dazzling that the queen had to shade her eyes , and peep at it only between her fingers . ` What can it be ? ' she asked , turning to her guide ; who answered : ` Oh , that is the fairies ' palace , and here are some of them coming to meet us . ' As she spoke the gates swung back and six fairies approached , each bearing in her hand a flower made of precious stones , but so like a real one that it was only by touching you could tell the difference . ` Madam , ' they said , ` we know not how to thank you for this mark of your confidence , but have the happiness to tell you that in a short time you will have a little daughter . ' The queen was so enchanted at this news that she nearly fainted with joy ; but when she was able to speak , she poured out all her gratitude to the fairies for their promised gift . ` And now , ' she said , ' I ought not to stay any longer , for my husband will think that I have run away , or that some evil beast has devoured me . ' In a little while it happened just as the fairies had foretold , and a baby girl was born in the palace . Of course both the king and queen were delighted , and the child was called Desiree , which means ` desired , ' for she had been ` desired ' for five years before her birth . At first the queen could think of nothing but her new plaything , but then she remembered the fairies who had sent it to her .
Bidding her ladies bring her the posy of jewelled flowers which had been given her at the palace , she took each flower XXXXX her hand and called it by name , and , in turn , each fairy appeared before her .
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