Then Rose, who was the eldest, remembered her duty to the visitor.

"What would you like to play, Avis?" she said.

"I'd like to play whatever the rest of you like," said Avis with her
bright smile.

After that the princesses were ashamed to argue about it. They agreed to
let Mignon, the smallest of them, choose. She chose Ring-around-a-rosy,
and they all played, and had a great deal of fun.

When the queen came in for a few minutes Avis remembered to draw up the
best chair, and place a footstool for her feet.

All day Avis was so sweet and good-natured that the princesses quite
hated to part with her. They said good-night, when she went, urging her
to come soon again.

"How does Avis learn to be polite?" Rose asked the queen that night.
"She is only a poor woodcutter's daughter, and lives in a weed cottage.
But she has better manners than we, who live in the palace."

"Why, my child, you have forgotten what politeness is. Mignon, my little
one, I just taught you yesterday, stand forth and tell your sisters."

So Mignonette put her hands behind her, and chanted:

"Politeness is to do, and say
The kindest thing, in the kindest way."