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Princess saluted her； and her horse was brought forward for her to
mount。 But when she saw Graciosa's she cried angrily：
‘If that child is to have a better horse than mine； I will go back
to my own castle this very minute。 What is the good of being a
Queen if one is to be slighted like this？'
Upon this the King commanded Graciosa to dismount and to beg
the Duchess to honour her by mounting her horse。 The Princess
obeyed in silence； and the Duchess； without looking at her or thanking
her； scrambled up upon the beautiful horse； where she sat looking
like a bundle of clothes； and eight officers had to hold her up for fear
she should fall off。
Even then she was not satisfied； and was still grumbling and
muttering； so they asked her what was the matter。
‘I wish that Page in green to come and lead the horse； as he did
when Graciosa rode it；' said she very sharply。
And the King ordered the Page to come and lead the Queen's
horse。 Percinet and the Princess looked at one another； but said
never a word； and then he did as the King commanded； and the
procession started in great pomp。 The Duchess was greatly elated；
and as she sat there in state would not have wished to change places
even with Graciosa。 But at the moment when it was least expected
the beautiful horse began to plunge and rear and kick； and
finally to run away at such a pace that it was impossible to stop
him。
At first the Duchess clung to the saddle； but she was very soon
thrown off and fell in a heap among the stones and thorns； and there
they found her； shaken to a jelly； and collected what was left of her
as if she had been a broken glass。 Her bonnet was here and her
shoes there； her face was scratched； and her fine clothes were covered
with mud。 Never was a bride seen in such a dismal plight。 They
carried her back to the palace and put her to bed； but as soon as
she recovered enough to be able to speak； she began to scold and
rage； and declared that the whole affair was Graciosa's fault； that
she had contrived it on purpose to try and get rid of her； and that
if the King would not have her punished； she would go back to her
castle and enjoy her riches by herself。
At this the King was terribly frightened； for he did not at all
want to lose all those barrels of gold and jewels。 So he hastened
to appease the Duchess； and told her she might punish Graciosa in
any way she pleased。
Thereupon she sent for Graciosa； who turned pale and trembled
at the summons； for she guessed that it promised nothing agreeable
for her。 She looked all about for Percinet； but he was nowhere to
be seen； so she had no choice but to go to the Duchess Grumbly's
room。 She had hardly got inside the door when she was seized by
four waiting women； who looked so tall and strong and cruel that
the Princess shuddered at the sight of them； and still more when she
saw them arming themselves with great bundles of rods； and heard
the Duchess call out to them from her bed to beat the Princess
without mercy。 Poor Graciosa wished miserably that Percinet
could only know what was happening and come to rescue her。 But
no sooner did they begin to beat her than she found； to her great
relief； that the rods had changed to bundles of peacock's feathers；
and though the Duchess's women went on till they were so tired
that they could no longer raise their arms from their sides； yet she
was not hurt in the least。 However； the Duchess thought she must
be black and blue after such a beating； so Graciosa； when she was
released； pretended to feel very bad； and went away into her own
room； where she told her nurse all that had happened； and then the
nurse left her； and when the Princess turned round there stood
Percinet beside her。 She thanked him gratefully for helping her so
cleverly； and they laughed and were very merry over the way they
had taken in the Duchess and her waiting…maids； but Percinet
advised her still to pretend to be ill for a few days； and after
promising to come to her aid whenever she needed him； he disappeared
as suddenly as he had come。
The Duchess was so delighted at the idea that Graciosa was
really ill； that she herself recovered twice as fast as she would have
done otherwise； and the wedding was held with great magnificence。
Now as the King knew that； above all other things； the Queen loved
to be told that she was beautiful； he ordered that her portrait should
be painted； and that a tournament should be held； at which all the
bravest knights of his court should maintain against all comers that
Grumbly was the most beautiful princess in the world。
Numbers of knights came from far and wide to accept the
challenge； and the hideous Queen sat in great state in a balcony
hung with cloth of gold to watch the contests； and Graciosa had to
stand up behind her； where her loveliness was so conspicuous that
the combatants could not keep their eyes off her。 But the Queen
was so vain that she thought all their admiring glances were for
herself； especially as； in spite of the badness of their cause； the King's
knights were so brave that they were the victors in every combat。
However； when nearly all the strangers had been defeated； a
young unknown knight presented himself。 He carried a portrait；
enclosed in a bow encrusted with diamonds； and he declared himself
willing to maintain against them all that the Queen was the
ugliest creature in the world； and that the Princess whose portrait
he carried was the most beautiful。
So one by one the knights came out against him； and one by
one he vanquished them all； and then he opened the box； and said
that； to console them； he would show them the portrait of his Queen
of Beauty； and when he did so everyone recognised the Princess
Graciosa。 The unknown knight then saluted her gracefully and
retired； without telling his name to anybody。 But Graciosa had no
difficulty in guessing that it was Percinet。
As to the Queen； she was so furiously angry that she could
hardly speak； but she soon recovered her voice； and overwhelmed
Graciosa with a torrent of reproaches。
‘What！' she said； ‘do you dare to dispute with me for the prize
of beauty； and expect me to endure this insult to my knights？ But
I will not bear it； proud Princess。 I will have my revenge。'
‘I assure you； Madam；' said the Princess； ‘that I had nothing to
do with it and am quite willing that you shall be declared Queen
of Beauty
‘Ah！ you are pleased to jest； popinjay！' said the Queen； ‘but
it will be my turn soon！'
The King was speedily told what had happened； and how the
Princess was in terror of the angry Queen； but he only said：
‘The Queen must do as she pleases。 Graciosa belongs to her！'
The wicked Queen waited impatiently until night fell； and then
she ordered her carriage to be brought。 Graciosa； much against
her will； was forced into it； and away they drove； and never stopped
until they reached a great forest； a hundred leagues from the
palace。 This forest was so gloomy； and so full of lions； tigers； bears
and wolves； that nobody dared pass through it even by daylight；
and here they set down the unhappy Princess in the middle of the
black night； and left her in spite of all her tears and entreaties。 The
Princess stood quite still at first from sheer bewilderment； but when
the last sound of the retreating carriages died away in the distance
she began to run aimlessly hither and thither； sometimes knocking
herself against a tree； sometimes tripping over a stone； fearing
every minute that she would be eaten up by the lions。 Presently
she was too tired to advance another step； so she threw herself
down upon the ground and cried miserably：
‘Oh； Percinet！ where are you？ Have you forgotten me altogether？'
She had hardly spoken when all the forest was lighted up with
a sudden glow。 Every tree seemed to be sending out a soft
radiance； which was clearer than moonlight and softer than
daylight； and at the end of a long avenue of trees opposite to her the
Princess saw a palace of clear crystal which blazed like the sun。
At that moment a slight sound behind her made her start round；
and there stood Percinet himself。
‘Did I frighten you； my Princess？' said he。 ‘I come to bid you
welcome to our fairy palace； in the name of the Queen； my mother；
who is prepared to love you as much as I do。' The Princess
joyfully mounted with him into a little sledge； drawn by two stags；
which bounded off and drew them swiftly to the wonderful palace；
where the Queen received her with the greatest kindness； and a
splendid banquet was served at once。 Graciosa was so happy to
have found Percinet； and to have escaped from the gloomy forest
and all its terrors； that she was very hungry and very merry； and
they were a gay party。 After supper they went into another lovely
room； where the crystal walls were covered with pictures； and the
Princess saw with great s