'It would have been quite bad enough to be shut up in this gloomy
tower before I had ever seen King Charming,' she said; 'but now
when he is here, and they are all enjoying themselves with him,
it is too unkind.'

The next day the Queen sent King Charming splendid presents of
jewels and rich stuffs, and among other things an ornament made
expressly in honour of the approaching wedding. It was a heart
cut out of one huge ruby, and was surrounded by several diamond
arrows, and pierced by one. A golden true-lover's knot above the
heart bore the motto, 'But one can wound me,' and the whole jewel
was hung upon a chain of immense pearls. Never, since the world
has been a world, had such a thing been made, and the King was
quite amazed when it was presented to him. The page who brought
it begged him to accept it from the Princess, who chose him to be
her knight.

'What!' cried he, 'does the lovely Princess Fiordelisa deign to
think of me in this amiable and encouraging way?'

'You confuse the names, Sire,' said the page hastily. 'I come on
behalf of the Princess Turritella.'

'Oh, it is Turritella who wishes me to be her knight,' said the
King coldly. 'I am sorry that I cannot accept the honour.' And he
sent the splendid gifts back to the Queen and Turritella, who
were furiously angry at the contempt with which they were
treated. As soon as he possibly could, King Charming went to see
the King and Queen, and as he entered the hall he looked for
Fiordelisa, and every time anyone came in he started round to see