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had known as long as I could remember； and whose ugliness
had always horrified me。 She was leaning upon the
arm of a most beautiful young girl； who wore chains of
gold on her wrists and was evidently her slave。
〃‘Why； Ragotte；' I said； for that was the fairy's name；
‘what is the meaning of all this？ Is it by your orders
that I am here？'
〃‘And whose fault is it；' she answered； ‘that you have
never understood me until now？ Must a powerful fairy
like myself condescend to explain her doings to you who
are no better than an ant by comparison； though you
think yourself a great king？'
〃‘Call me what you like；' I said impatiently； ‘but
what is it that you wantmy crown； or my cities； or my
treasures？'
〃‘Treasures！' said the fairy； disdainfully。 ‘If I chose
I could make any one of my scullions richer and more
powerful than you。 I do not want your treasures； but；'
she added softly； ‘if you will give me your heartif you
will marry meI will add twenty kingdoms to the one
you have already； you shall have a hundred castles full of
gold and five hundred full of silver； and； in short；
anything you like to ask me for。'
〃‘Madam Ragotte；' said I； ‘when one is at the bottom
of a pit where one has fully expected to be roasted alive；
it is impossible to think of asking such a charming per…
son as you are to marry one！ I beg that you will set me
at liberty； and then I shall hope to answer you fittingly。'
〃‘Ah！' said she； ‘if you really loved me you would not
care where you werea cave； a wood； a fox…hole； a
desert； would please you equally well。 Do not think
that you can deceive me； you fancy you are going to
escape； but I assure you that you are going to stay here
and the first thing I shall give you to do will be to keep my
sheepthey are very good company and speak quite as
well as you do。
〃As she spoke she advanced； and led me to this plain
where we now stand； and showed me her flock； but I paid
little attention to it or to her。
〃To tell the truth； I was so lost in admiration of her
beautiful slave that I forgot everything else； and the
cruel Ragotte； perceiving this； turned upon her so furious
and terrible a look that she fell lifeless to the ground。
〃At this dreadful sight I drew my sword and rushed at
Ragotte； and should certainly have cut off her head had
she not by her magic arts chained me to the spot on
which I stood； all my efforts to move were useless； and
at last； when I threw myself down on the ground in
despair； she said to me； with a scornful smile：
〃‘I intend to make you feel my power。 It seems that
you are a lion at present； I mean you to be a sheep。'
〃So saying； she touched me with her wand； and I
became what you see。 I did not lose the power of speech；
or of feeling the misery of my present state。
〃‘For five years；' she said； ‘you shall be a sheep； and
lord of this pleasant land； while I； no longer able to see
your face； which I loved so much； shall be better able to
hate you as you deserve to be hated。'
〃She disappeared as she finished speaking； and if I had
not been too unhappy to care about anything I should
have been glad that she was gone。
〃The talking sheep received me as their king； and told
me that they； too； were unfortunate princes who had； in
different ways； offended the revengeful fairy； and had
been added to her flock for a certain number of years；
some more； some less。 From time to time； indeed； one
regains his own proper form and goes back again to his
place in the upper world； but the other beings whom you
saw are the rivals or the enemies of Ragotte； whom she has
imprisoned for a hundred years or so； though even they
will go back at last。 The young slave of whom I told
you about is one of these； I have seen her often； and it
has been a great pleasure to me。 She never speaks to
me； and if I were nearer to her I know I should find her
only a shadow； which would be very annoying。 However；
I noticed that one of my companions in misfortune
was also very attentive to this little sprite； and I found out
that he had been her lover； whom the cruel Ragotte had
taken away from her long before； since then I have cared
for； and thought of； nothing but how I might regain my
freedom。 I have often been in the forest； that is where
I have seen you； lovely Princess； sometimes driving your
chariot； which you did with all the grace and skill in the
world； sometimes riding to the chase on so spirited a
horse that it seemed as if no one but yourself could have
managed it； and sometimes running races on the plain
with the Princesses of your Courtrunning so lightly
that it was you always who won the prize。 Oh！ Princess；
I have loved you so long； and yet how dare I tell you of
my love！ what hope can there be for an unhappy sheep
like myself？〃
Miranda was so surprised and confused by all that she
had heard that she hardly knew what answer to give to
the King of the Sheep； but she managed to make some
kind of little speech； which certainly did not forbid him
to hope； and said that she should not be afraid of the
shadows now she knew that they would some day come
to life again。 〃Alas！〃 she continued； 〃if my poor
Patypata； my dear Grabugeon； and pretty little Tintin； who
all died for my sake； were equally well off； I should have
nothing left to wish for here！〃
Prisoner though he was； the King of the Sheep had
still some powers and privileges。
〃Go；〃 said he to his Master of the Horse； 〃go and
seek the shadows of the little black girl； the monkey； and
the dog： they will amuse our Princess。〃
And an instant afterward Miranda saw them coming
toward her； and their presence gave her the greatest
pleasure； though they did not come near enough for her
to touch them。
The King of the Sheep was so kind and amusing； and
loved Miranda so dearly； that at last she began to love
him too。 Such a handsome sheep； who was so polite
and considerate； could hardly fail to please； especially
if one knew that he was really a king； and that his strange
imprisonment would soon come to an end。 So the Princess's
days passed very gaily while she waited for the
happy time to come。 The King of the Sheep； with the
help of all the flock； got up balls； concerts； and hunting
parties； and even the shadows joined in all the fun； and
came； making believe to be their own real selves。
One evening； when the couriers arrived （for the King
sent most carefully for newsand they always brought
the very best kinds）； it was announced that the sister of
the Princess Miranda was going to be married to a great
Prince； and that nothing could be more splendid than all
the preparations for the wedding。
〃Ah！〃 cried the young Princess； 〃how unlucky I am
to miss the sight of so many pretty things！ Here am I
imprisoned under the earth； with no company but sheep
and shadows； while my sister is to be adorned like a
queen and surrounded by all who love and admire her；
and everyone but myself can go to wish her joy！〃
〃Why do you complain； Princess？〃 said the King of
the Sheep。 〃Did I say that you were not to go to the
wedding？ Set out as soon as you please； only promise
me that you will come back； for I love you too much to
be able to live without you。〃
Miranda was very grateful to him； and promised
faithfully that nothing in the world should keep her from
coming back。 The King caused an escort suitable to her
rank to be got ready for her； and she dressed herself
splendidly； not forgetting anything that could make her
more beautiful。 Her chariot was of mother…of…pearl；
drawn by six dun…colored griffins just brought from the
other side of the world； and she was attended by a
number of guards in splendid uniforms； who were all at least
eight feet high and had come from far and near to ride
in the Princess's train。
Miranda reached her father's palace just as the
wedding ceremony began； and everyone； as soon as she came
in； was struck with surprise at her beauty and the
splendor of her jewels。 She heard exclamations of
admiration on all sides； and the King her father looked at
her so attentively that she was afraid he must recognize
her； but he was so sure that she was dead that the idea
never occurred to him。
However； the fear of not getting away made her leave
before the marriage was over。 She went out hastily；
leaving behind her a little coral casket set with emeralds。
On it was written in diamond letters： 〃Jewels for the
Bride；〃 and when they opened it； which they did as soon
as it was found； there seemed to be no end to the pretty
things it contained。 The King； who had hoped to join
the unknown Princess and find out who she was； was
dreadfully disappointed when she disappeared so
suddenly； and gave orders that if she ever came again the
doors were to be shut that she might not get away so
easily。 Short as Miranda's absence