A single glance was sufficient to show the prince that it was indeed Desiree ; and how another had come to the palace bearing her name , at that instant he neither knew nor cared . Stealing on tip-toe from the room , he knocked at the next door , which was opened by Eglantine , who thought it was the old woman bearing their supper . She started back at the sight of the prince , whom this time she also recognised . But he thrust her aside , and flung himself at the feet of Desiree , to whom he poured out all his heart ! Dawn found them still conversing ; and the sun was high in the heavens before the princess perceived that she retained her human form . Ah ! how happy she was when she knew that the days of her punishment were over ; and with a glad voice she told the prince the tale of her enchantment . So the story ended well after all ; and the fairy Tulip , who turned out to be the old woman of the hut , made the young couple such a wedding feast as had never been seen since the world began . And everybody was delighted , except Cerisette and her mother , who were put in a boat and carried to a small island , where they had to work hard for their living . The Girl-Fish -LSB- Contes des Fees , par Madame d'Aulnoy . -RSB- Once upon a time there lived , on the bank of a stream , a man and a woman who had a daughter . As she was an only child , and very pretty besides , they never could make up their minds to punish her for her faults or to teach her nice manners ; and as for work -- she laughed in her mother 's face if she asked her to help cook the dinner or to wash the plates . All the girl would do was to spend her days in dancing and playing with her friends ; and for any use she was to her parents they might as well have no daughter at all . However , one morning her mother looked so tired that even the selfish girl could not help seeing it , and asked if there was anything she was able to do , so that her mother might rest a little . The good woman looked so surprised and grateful for this offer that the girl felt rather ashamed , and at that moment would have scrubbed down the house if she had been requested ; but her mother only begged her to take the fishing-net out to the bank of the river and mend some holes in it , as her father intended to go fishing that night . The girl took the net and worked so hard that soon there was not a hole to be found . She felt quite pleased with herself , though she had had plenty to amuse her , as everybody who passed by had stopped and had a chat with her . But by this time the sun was high overhead , and she was just folding her net to carry it home again , when she heard a splash behind her , and looking round she saw a big fish jump into the air . Seizing the net with both hands , she flung it into the water where the circles were spreading one behind the other , and , more by luck than skill , drew out the fish . ` Well , you are a beauty ! '
she cried XXXXX herself ; but the fish looked up to her and said : ` You had better not kill me , for , if you do , I will turn you into a fish yourself ! '
at besides by if in into of since though to