before, so that she could not speak a word.

"What! you hesitate, madam," cried the Dwarf. "You
must be very fond of being eaten up alive."

And, as he spoke, the Queen saw the lions, which were
running down a hill toward them.

Each one had two heads, eight feet, and four rows of
teeth, and their skins were as hard as turtle shells, and
were bright red.

At this dreadful sight, the poor Queen, who was
trembling like a dove when it sees a hawk, cried out as loud as
she could, "Oh! dear Mr. Dwarf, Bellissima shall marry
you."

"Oh, indeed!" said he disdainfully. "Bellissima is pretty
enough, but I don't particularly want to marry her--you
can keep her."

"Oh! noble sir," said the Queen in great distress, ado
not refuse her. She is the most charming Princess in the
world."

"Oh! well," he replied, "out of charity I will take her;
but be sure and don't forget that she is mine."

As he spoke a little door opened in the trunk of the
orange tree, in rushed the Queen, only just in time, and