Marelles THE GOLDEN BRANCH ONCE upon a time there was a King who was so morose and disagreeable that he was feared by all his subjects , and with good reason , as for the most trifling offences he would have their heads cut off . This King Grumpy , as he was called , had one son , who was as different from his father as he could possibly be . No prince equalled him in cleverness and kindness of heart , but unfortunately he was most terribly ugly . He had crooked legs and squinting eyes , a large mouth all on one side , and a hunchback . Never was there a beautiful soul in such a frightful little body , but in spite of his appearance everybody loved him . The Queen , his mother , called him Curlicue , because it was a name she rather liked , and it seemed to suit him . King Grumpy , who cared a great deal more for his own grandeur than for his son 's happiness , wished to betroth the Prince to the daughter of a neighbouring King , whose great estates joined his own , for he thought that this alliance would make him more powerful than ever , and as for the Princess she would do very well for Prince Curlicue , for she was as ugly as himself . Indeed , though she was the most amiable creature in the world , there was no concealing the fact that she was frightful , and so lame that she always went about with a crutch , and people called her Princess Cabbage-Stalk . The King , having asked for and received a portrait of this Princess , had it placed in his great hall under a canopy , and sent for Prince Curlicue , to whom he said that as this was the portrait of his future bride , he hoped the Prince found it charming . The Prince after one glance at it turned away with a disdainful air , which greatly offended his father . ` Am I to understand that you are not pleased ? ' he said very sharply . ` No , sire , ' replied the Prince . ` How could I be pleased to marry an ugly , lame Princess ? ' ` Certainly it is becoming in YOU to object to that , ' said King Grumpy , ` since you are ugly enough to frighten anyone yourself . ' ` That is the very reason , ' said the Prince , ` that I wish to marry someone who is not ugly . I am quite tired enough of seeing myself . ' ' I tell you that you shall marry her , ' cried King Grumpy angrily . And the Prince , seeing that it was of no use to remonstrate , bowed and retired . As King Grumpy was not used to being contradicted in anything , he was very much displeased with his son , and ordered that he should be imprisoned in the tower that was kept on purpose for rebellious Princes , but had not been used for about two hundred years , because there had not been any .
The Prince thought all the rooms looked strangely old-fashioned , with their antique furniture , but as there was a good library he was pleased , for he was very fond of reading , and he soon got permission to have XXXXX many books as he liked .
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