“That is a large sum,” said the Princess’s aunt, who was very economical. “Well, well, since you make me presents at the same time, I will take one thousand five hundred and twenty-five ducats, _but nothing less_.” The Princess’s aunt, who was glad to be able to charge someone else with the death of her niece, consented, and went straight to Moonflower’s room, to make known to her that she must prepare for her coming marriage. She found her sitting at the window, watering her flowers. She looked more lovely than the three Graces. She wore a dress of mauve velvet embroidered with bunches of amaryllis in pearls and diamonds, and her long hair fell in showers upon the ground. “Little darling,” began the old woman, “I have to-day had a proposal for your hand in marriage.” “And from whom, Madam?” inquired Moonflower. “The Prince Blackwig,” said her aunt: “he loves you to distraction, and will make an excellent husband.” “Fie!” exclaimed the Princess, “he squints and has bandy legs, besides being the most malicious person in the world.” “Nevertheless, I command you to obey me and to marry him!” shrieked the Princess’s aunt. “I will not,” said Moonflower, “I would rather die.” “And die thou shalt, little viper!” bawled the old woman, “for I will cut you in little pieces if you do not marry him this day month!” And she left the room in a rage, banging the door behind her. [Illustration: SHE FOUND HER SITTING AT THE WINDOW WATERING HER FLOWERS] When she had gone, the Princess began to weep bitterly and wring her hands. “Alas! my good Grimaçon,” she said to the dwarf, “what shall I do? Was there ever a being so unfortunate as I? Either I must perish or wed the odious Blackwig, and I know not which of these two horrors to choose.” “You must fly, your Royal Highness,” answered the dwarf, who was a sensible little fellow, “before the day which the Queen Regent has named.” “But alas!” said Moonflower, “whither shall I go?” “It wants but two months to your seventeenth birthday,” replied he, “when you will succeed to the kingdom. If you conceal yourself till then, you can afterwards return and claim it, and your aunt will have no power over your actions when once you are on the throne.” The next day Princess Moonflower and the faithful Grimaçon fled from the palace. They walked along the most secret and quiet roads for fear of observation, till at last they came to a huge forest, through which they travelled for some distance, and, aching with fatigue, sank down under a tree to rest. The little dwarf, who had been carrying his mistress’s long hair, threw himself at her feet on the grass, for he was very weary. “Alas, dear Grimaçon,” she said, “how cruel is our lot! We shall certainly be devoured by wild beasts in this terrible wood.” And she began crying and weeping. Her sighs and lamentations might have touched a heart of stone. All at once she looked up, for there stood before her a little crooked woman, more hideous than a witch.