The _King_, though she chose to accuse his manners, was in fact the politest of men. He hurried to express his regrets, led her to table with his own hand, and ordered a dish to be set for her; but with the best will in the world he could not give her a dish-cover such as the others had, because seven only had been made for the seven invited Fairies. The old crone received his excuses very ungraciously, while accepting a seat. It was plain that she had taken deep offence. One of the younger Fairies, _Hippolyta_ by name, who sat by, overheard her mumbling threats between her teeth; and fearing she might bestow some unlucky gift upon the little _Princess_, went as soon as she rose from table and hid herself close by the cradle, behind the tapestry, that she might have the last word and undo, so far as she could, what evil the Fairy _Uglyane_ might have in her mind. She had scarcely concealed herself before the other Fairies began to advance, one by one, to bestow their gifts on the _Princess_. The youngest promised her that she should be the most beautiful creature in the world; the next, that she should have the wit of an angel; the third, a marvellous grace in all her ways; the fourth, that she should dance to perfection; the fifth, that she should sing like a nightingale; the sixth, that she should play exquisitely on all instruments of music. Now came the turn of the old Fairy _Uglyane_. Her head nodded with spite and old age together, as she bent over the cradle and shook her crutched staff above the head of the pretty babe, who slept on sweetly, too young and too innocent as yet to dream of any such thing as mischief in this world. 'This is my gift to you, _Princess Aurora_,' announced the hag, still in her creaking voice that shook as spitefully as her body. 'I promise that one day you shall pierce your hand with a spindle, and on that day you shall surely die!' At these terrible words the poor _Queen_ fell back fainting into her husband's arms. A trembling seized the whole Court; the ladies were in tears, and the younger lords and knights were calling out to seize and burn the wicked witch, when the young Fairy stepped forth from behind the tapestry, and passing by _Uglyane_, who stood scornful in the midst of this outcry, she thus addressed their Majesties: 'Take comfort, O _King_ and _Queen_: your daughter shall not die thus. It is true, I have not the power wholly to undo what this elder sister of mine has done. The _Princess_ must indeed pierce her hand with a spindle; but, instead of dying, she shall only fall into a deep slumber that shall last for many, many years, at the end of which a King's son shall come and awake her. Whenever this misfortune happens to your little _Aurora_, do not doubt that I, the Fairy _Hippolyta_, her godmother, shall get news of it and come at once to render what help I may.' [Illustration: _Her head nodded with spite and old age together, as she bent over the cradle.]