eyes as often as before. By degrees they came to talking about
other things in which the King took an interest, and in a
wonderfully short time the whole kingdom was astonished by the
news that the King was married again to the sorrowful lady.

Now the King had one daughter, who was just fifteen years old.
Her name was Fiordelisa, and she was the prettiest and most
charming Princess imaginable, always gay and merry. The new
Queen, who also had a daughter, very soon sent for her to come to
the Palace. Turritella, for that was her name, had been brought
up by her godmother, the Fairy Mazilla, but in spite of all the
care bestowed upon her, she was neither beautiful nor gracious.
Indeed, when the Queen saw how ill-tempered and ugly she appeared
beside Fiordelisa she was in despair, and did everything in her
power to turn the King against his own daughter, in the hope that
he might take a fancy to Turritella. One day the King said that
it was time Fiordelisa and Turritella were married, so he would
give one of them to the first suitable Prince who visited his
Court. The Queen answered:

'My daughter certainly ought to be the first to be married; she
is older than yours, and a thousand times more charming!'

The King, who hated disputes, said, 'Very well, it's no affair of
mine, settle it your own way.'

Very soon after came the news that King Charming, who was the
most handsome and magnificent Prince in all the country round,
was on his way to visit the King. As soon as the Queen heard
this, she set all her jewellers, tailors, weavers, and