But the fairies said they had left their book of magic at home , and they would come another day and tell her . ` Ah ! ' said the Queen , ' I know very well what that means -- you have nothing good to say ; but at least I beg that you will not hide anything from me . ' So , after a great deal of persuasion , they said : ` Madam , we fear that Rosette may be the cause of great misfortunes to her brothers ; they may even meet with their death through her ; that is all we have been able to foresee about your dear little daughter . We are very sorry to have nothing better to tell you . ' Then they went away , leaving the Queen very sad , so sad that the King noticed it , and asked her what was the matter . The Queen said that she had been sitting too near the fire , and had burnt all the flax that was upon her distaff . ` Oh ! is that all ? ' said the King , and he went up into the garret and brought her down more flax than she could spin in a hundred years . But the Queen still looked sad , and the King asked her again what was the matter . She answered that she had been walking by the river and had dropped one of her green satin slippers into the water . ` Oh ! if that 's all , ' said the King , and he sent to all the shoe-makers in his kingdom , and they very soon made the Queen ten thousand green satin slippers , but still she looked sad . So the King asked her again what was the matter , and this time she answered that in eating her porridge too hastily she had swallowed her wedding-ring . But it so happened that the King knew better , for he had the ring himself , and he said : ` Oh I you are not telling me the truth , for I have your ring here in my purse . ' Then the Queen was very much ashamed , and she saw that the King was vexed with her ; so she told him all that the fairies had predicted about Rosette , and begged him to think how the misfortunes might be prevented . Then it was the King 's turn to look sad , and at last he said : ' I see no way of saving our sons except by having Rosette 's head cut off while she is still little . ' But the Queen cried that she would far rather have her own head cut off , and that he had better think of something else , for she would never consent to such a thing . So they thought and thought , but they could not tell what to do , until at last the Queen heard that in a great forest near the castle there was an old hermit , who lived in a hollow tree , and that people came from far and near to consult him ; so she said : ' I had better go and ask his advice ; perhaps he will know what to do to prevent the misfortunes which the fairies foretold . '
She set out very early the next morning , mounted XXXXX a pretty little white mule , which was shod with solid gold , and two of her ladies rode behind her on beautiful horses .
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