The Queen , my mother , whom he loved dearly , had a passion for traveling and exploring , and when I was only a few weeks old she obtained his permission to visit a certain mountain of which she had heard many marvelous tales , and set out , taking with her a number of her attendants . On the way they had to pass near an old castle belonging to the fairies . Nobody had ever been into it , but it was reported to be full of the most wonderful things , and my mother remembered to have heard that the fairies had in their garden such fruits as were to be seen and tasted nowhere else . She began to wish to try them for herself , and turned her steps in the direction of the garden . On arriving at the door , which blazed with gold and jewels , she ordered her servants to knock loudly , but it was useless ; it seemed as if all the inhabitants of the castle must be asleep or dead . Now the more difficult it became to obtain the fruit , the more the Queen was determined that have it she would . So she ordered that they should bring ladders , and get over the wall into the garden ; but though the wall did not look very high , and they tied the ladders together to make them very long , it was quite impossible to get to the top . `` The Queen was in despair , but as night was coming on she ordered that they should encamp just where they were , and went to bed herself , feeling quite ill , she was so disappointed . In the middle of the night she was suddenly awakened , and saw to her surprise a tiny , ugly old woman seated by her bedside , who said to her : '' ' I must say that we consider it somewhat troublesome of your Majesty to insist upon tasting our fruit ; but to save you annoyance , my sisters and I will consent to give you as much as you can carry away , on one condition -- that is , that you shall give us your little daughter to bring up as our own . ' '' ` Ah ! my dear madam , ' cried the Queen , ` is there nothing else that you will take for the fruit ? I will give you my kingdoms willingly . ' '' ` No , ' replied the old fairy , ` we will have nothing but your little daughter . She shall be as happy as the day is long , and we will give her everything that is worth having in fairy-land , but you must not see her again until she is married . ' '' ` Though it is a hard condition , ' said the Queen , ' I consent , for I shall certainly die if I do not taste the fruit , and so I should lose my little daughter either way . ' `` So the old fairy led her into the castle , and , though it was still the middle of the night , the Queen could see plainly that it was far more beautiful than she had been told , which you can easily believe , Prince , '' said the White Cat , `` when I tell you that it was this castle that we are now in . ` Will you gather the fruit yourself , Queen ? ' said the old fairy , ` or shall I call it to come to you ? ' '' ' I beg you to let me see it come when it is called , ' cried the Queen ; ` that will be something quite new . ' The old fairy whistled twice , then she cried : '' ` Apricots , peaches , nectarines , cherries , plums , pears , melons , grapes , apples , oranges , lemons , gooseberries , strawberries , raspberries , come ! '
`` And in an instant they came tumbling in one over another , and yet they were neither dusty nor spoilt , and the Queen found them quite XXXXX good as she had fancied them .
Though as for into of on so than to with