When they arrived at the palace the Princess was appointed to a place among the Queen’s maids-of-honour; they gave her a white satin gown covered with golden lilies to match her hair, in which she looked more beautiful and brilliant than the seven stars of heaven. Grimaçon was still allowed to attend upon her. The King had a great regard for him, and esteemed his talents and good sense very highly. The Queen’s maids had, upon the whole, a very pleasant existence; it is true that she led them the life of dogs now and then, for her temper was very bad, and she was a proud, jealous woman. But, as the Court was gay, they amused themselves capitally and joined in all the festivities. They had balls three times a week and hunting-parties every day. At the hunting-parties Moonflower rode a magnificent strawberry-coloured mare, with a silver bridle and shoes, while Grimaçon ambled by her side on a huge mastiff, which had been trained to carry him, and which he managed to perfection. The King was so much attracted by the lovely Princess that he cared to speak to none but her. At all the balls he chose her as his partner, and at all the hunting-parties he rode beside her; but, unhappily, the more his admiration for her increased, the more the other maids-of-honour resented it, and spared no pains in annoying and mortifying her. “There is no living at court now that this wretched Moonflower has come,” they said to one another; and at last they determined to do their best to set the Queen-mother against her. “Madam,” they said to her, “your Majesty has no idea of the intriguing character of your new maid; we can hear the sly creature talking sometimes to her miserable puppet of a dwarf, and we know that she is plotting to become possessed of the King’s affections, and intends to supplant your Majesty in the influence you have always had with him.” At these words the Queen turned pale. She was furious. She knew not upon what pretext she could injure Moonflower, for she could find no fault with her sweet temper and modest demeanour. That afternoon, as the whole court was setting out upon a hunting expedition, the Princess was about to mount her horse at the palace-door as the Queen passed by in her carriage. “Why do you always ride that ugly brute?” called out the Queen crossly, pointing to the strawberry-coloured mare. “Madam,” replied Moonflower, curtseying, “because his Majesty, the King, presented me with the animal.” “Little wretch,” hissed the Queen between her teeth, “she would ride a pig if the King asked her to!” And she drove off in a fury.