When I had finished she touched me with a wand she held in her hand , and instantly I became a hen , and there was an end of my talking ! I was very sad , and my husband , who was out when it happened , never knew what had become of me . After seeking me everywhere he believed that I must have been drowned , or eaten up by wild beasts in the forest . That same lady came here once more , and commanded that you should be called Felicia , and left the ring and the pot of pinks to be given to you ; and while she was in the house twenty-five of the King 's guards came to search for you , doubtless meaning to kill you ; but she muttered a few words , and immediately they all turned into cabbages . It was one of them whom you threw out of your window yesterday . `` I do n't know how it was that he could speak -- I have never heard either of them say a word before , nor have I been able to do it myself until now . '' The Princess was greatly astonished at the hen 's story , and said kindly : `` I am truly sorry for you , my poor nurse , and wish it was in my power to restore you to your real form . But we must not despair ; it seems to me , after what you have told me , that something must be going to happen soon . Just now , however , I must go and look for my pinks , which I love better than anything in the world . '' Bruno had gone out into the forest , never thinking that Felicia would search in his room for the pinks , and she was delighted by his unexpected absence , and thought to get them back without further trouble . But as soon as she entered the room she saw a terrible army of rats , who were guarding the straw bed ; and when she attempted to approach it they sprang at her , biting and scratching furiously . Quite terrified , she drew back , crying out : `` Oh ! my dear pinks , how can you stay here in such bad company ? '' Then she suddenly bethought herself of the pitcher of water , and , hoping that it might have some magic power , she ran to fetch it , and sprinkled a few drops over the fierce-looking swarm of rats . In a moment not a tail or a whisker was to be seen . Each one had made for his hole as fast as his legs could carry him , so that the Princess could safely take her pot of pinks . She found them nearly dying for want of water , and hastily poured all that was left in the pitcher upon them . As she bent over them , enjoying their delicious scent , a soft voice , that seemed to rustle among the leaves , said : `` Lovely Felicia , the day has come at last when I may have the happiness of telling you how even the flowers love you and rejoice in your beauty . '' The Princess , quite overcome by the strangeness of hearing a cabbage , a hen , and a pink speak , and by the terrible sight of an army of rats , suddenly became very pale , and fainted away . At this moment in came Bruno .
Working hard XXXXX the heat had not improved his temper , and when he saw that Felicia had succeeded in finding her pinks he was so angry that he dragged her out into the garden and shut the door upon her .
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