When she returned she brought with her a skein of thread , three times as big as herself ; it was so fine that a breath of air would break it , and so tangled that it was impossible to see the beginning or the end of it . The Queen sent for Graciosa , and said to her : ` Do you see this skein ? Set your clumsy fingers to work upon it , for I must have it disentangled by sunset , and if you break a single thread it will be the worse for you . ' So saying she left her , locking the door behind her with three keys . The Princess stood dismayed at the sight of the terrible skein . If she did but turn it over to see where to begin , she broke a thousand threads , and not one could she disentangle . At last she threw it into the middle of the floor , crying : ` Oh , Percinet ! this fatal skein will be the death of me if you will not forgive me and help me once more . ' And immediately in came Percinet as easily as if he had all the keys in his own possession . ` Here I am , Princess , as much as ever at your service , ' said he , ` though really you are not very kind to me . ' Then he just stroked the skein with his wand , and all the broken threads joined themselves together , and the whole skein wound itself smoothly off in the most surprising manner , and the Prince , turning to Graciosa , asked if there was nothing else that she wished him to do for her , and if the time would never come when she would wish for him for his own sake . ` Do n't be vexed with me , Percinet , ' she said . ' I am unhappy enough without that . ' ` But why should you be unhappy , my Princess ? ' cried he . ` Only come with me and we shall be as happy as the day is long together . ' ` But suppose you get tired of me ? ' said Graciosa . The Prince was so grieved at this want of confidence that he left her without another word . The wicked Queen was in such a hurry to punish Graciosa that she thought the sun would never set ; and indeed it was before the appointed time that she came with her four Fairies , and as she fitted the three keys into the locks she said : ` I 'll venture to say that the idle minx has not done anything at all -- she prefers to sit with her hands before her to keep them white . '
But , as soon as she entered , Graciosa presented her XXXXX the ball of thread in perfect order , so that she had no fault to find , and could only pretend to discover that it was soiled , for which imaginary fault she gave Graciosa a blow on each cheek , that made her white and pink skin turn green and yellow .
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