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In short, Blondine thought herself the most beautiful person she had ever seen. Trembling, almost frightened, she dressed herself hastily and ran to seek Bonne-Biche whom she found in the apartment where she had first seen her. "Bonne-Biche, Bonne-Biche!" she exclaimed, "I entreat you to explain to me the change which I see and feel in myself.

She placed her little head upon her bundle of lilacs, and slept peacefully. Blondine slept calmly all night; no ferocious beast came to trouble her slumbers. She did not suffer from the cold and awakened at a late hour in the morning. She rubbed her eyes, much surprised to see herself surrounded by trees, in place of being in her own room in the palace, and upon her own bed.

"My son Beau-Minon and I have expected you for a long time." At these words, Blondine was much frightened. "Take courage, princess; you are with friends. I know the king your father and I love him and I love you also." "Oh, madam," said Blondine, "if you know the king my father, I pray you to take me to him. My absence must make him very wretched."

She called her nurse and a soft mewing was the only response. Astonished and almost frightened, she looked around and saw at her feet a superb white cat, looking gently upon her and continuing to mew plaintively. "Ah! pretty puss! how beautiful you are!" cried Blondine, placing her little hand caressingly upon the soft fur, white as snow.

"Oh, madam!" said Blondine, throwing herself at her feet, "I have been assured that you could give me news of my dear, kind friends, Bonne-Biche and Beau-Minon.

Blondine walked on rapidly for some time but she could not find the boundaries of the forest. Many times she called anxiously upon Gourmandinet but he did not respond and at last she became terribly frightened. "What will become of me, all alone in this vast forest? What will my poor papa think when I do not return? And Gourmandinet, how will he dare go back to the palace without me?

She feared to offend Bonne-Biche, who had said to her three or four times: "Dear Blondine, be patient. You will see your father when you are fifteen, if you continue wise and good. Trust me, dear child; do not trouble yourself about the future and above all do not seek to leave us." One morning Blondine was alone and very sad. She was musing upon her singular and monotonous existence.

"It is necessary," said the queen, looking at him fixedly, "that you should drive the princess Blondine near to the Forest of Lilacs." "I cannot do it, madam; the king has forbidden it." "Ah! you cannot do it; well, then, adieu. No more dainties for you. I shall command every one in the house to give you nothing." "Oh! madam," said Gourmandinet, weeping bitterly, "do not be so cruel.

He had been her playmate from her birth and she had shown him a thousand acts of kindness. But Gourmandinet had one terrible fault; he was a gourmand was so fond of dainties and sweet things, that for a paper of bonbons he would commit almost any wicked action. Blondine often said to him: "I love you dearly, Gourmandinet, but I do not love to see you so greedy.

Arrived at the alley which led out of the park, Blondine resolved to get rid of Beau-Minon. "I wish to be alone," said she, sternly; "begone, Beau-Minon!" Beau-Minon pretended not to understand. Blondine was impatient and enraged. She forgot herself so far as to strike Beau-Minon with her foot.