affection for you." "But where shall I find this dancing water?" replied Belle-Etoile. "It is in the luminous forest," said Feintise; "you have three brothers; does not any one of them love you sufficiently to go and fetch some? truly they must have very little affection for you—in fact, it is a matter of no less consequence to you, than the preservation of your beauty for ever." "My brothers all love me," said the Princess, "but there is one of them who would not refuse me anything. Certainly if this water possesses all the power you describe, I will reward you according to its value." The perfidious old woman retired in haste, enchanted at having been so successful. She told Belle-Etoile that she should be sure to come and see her.
The Princes returned from the chase, one brought a young wild boar, another a hare, and the third a stag; they laid all the spoil at their sister's feet, but she looked upon this homage with a sort of disdain, she was engrossed by the advice of Feintise. Her anxiety about it was even apparent, and Cheri, who had no other occupation than studying her humour, was not a quarter-of-an-hour in her company, without remarking it. "What is the matter, my dear Etoile?" said he; "the country we are in is not perhaps to your liking. If such is the case, let us depart immediately; or perhaps our equipage is not grand enough, the furniture not sufficiently beautiful, or the table as delicately served as you like—speak, I entreat you, that I may have the pleasure of being the first to obey you, and making the others do so likewise."
"The encouragement you give me to tell you what is passing in my mind," replied she; "induces me to declare to you, that I can no longer exist, without the dancing water. It is in the luminous forest—possessing it, I shall have nothing to dread from the ravage of years." "Do not grieve yourself, my charming Etoile," said he; "I will go and bring you some of this water, or you will know by my death that it was impossible to obtain it." "No," said she, "I would rather renounce all the advantages of beauty—I would much rather be frightful, than hazard so precious a life—I entreat you not to think of the dancing water any more, and indeed, if I have any power over you, I forbid you to go."
The Prince pretended to obey her; but as soon as he perceived she was engaged, he mounted his white horse, which
