The Queen looked at him and was almost as much afraid of his ugly little face as she had been of the lions before , so that she could not speak a word . `` What ! you hesitate , madam , '' cried the Dwarf . `` You must be very fond of being eaten up alive . '' And , as he spoke , the Queen saw the lions , which were running down a hill toward them . Each one had two heads , eight feet , and four rows of teeth , and their skins were as hard as turtle shells , and were bright red . At this dreadful sight , the poor Queen , who was trembling like a dove when it sees a hawk , cried out as loud as she could , `` Oh ! dear Mr. Dwarf , Bellissima shall marry you . '' `` Oh , indeed ! '' said he disdainfully . `` Bellissima is pretty enough , but I do n't particularly want to marry her -- you can keep her . '' `` Oh ! noble sir , '' said the Queen in great distress , `` do not refuse her . She is the most charming Princess in the world . '' `` Oh ! well , '' he replied , `` out of charity I will take her ; but be sure and do n't forget that she is mine . '' As he spoke a little door opened in the trunk of the orange tree , in rushed the Queen , only just in time , and the door shut with a bang in the faces of the lions . The Queen was so confused that at first she did not notice another little door in the orange tree , but presently it opened and she found herself in a field of thistles and nettles . It was encircled by a muddy ditch , and a little further on was a tiny thatched cottage , out of which came the Yellow Dwarf with a very jaunty air . He wore wooden shoes and a little yellow coat , and as he had no hair and very long ears he looked altogether a shocking little object .
`` I am delighted , '' said he to the Queen , `` that , as you are to be my mother-in-law , you should see the little house in which your Bellissima will live XXXXX me .
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