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All the toads were hissing and blowing, and would have cast their infectious venom in every direction, if they had not been restrained by the power of the fairy Drolette. When the chariot reached the ground, the fairy Furious, a huge and heavy creature, issued from it.
The fairy Drolette and many other fairies of her acquaintance and many genii were invited to the marriage. They all received the most magnificent presents, and were so satisfied with the welcome given them by King Marvellous and Queen Violette that they graciously promised to return whenever they were invited.
Happiness illuminated every countenance; they talked, laughed, clasped each other's hands and were in paradise. When dinner was over, Passerose was surprised that the fairy Drolette had not provided for all their wants. "Look," said she, "the house is in ruins, we are destitute of everything!
The fairy Drolette, whose countenance had assumed an unaccustomed expression of severity and irritation, now waved her wand and said: "Silence, sister! You shall not triumph long over the misfortunes of Violette. I will provide a remedy for those misfortunes: her generous devotion merits recompense." "I defy you to come to her assistance under penalty of my wrath," said Furious.
He, no longer fearing the effect of his bear-skin, embraced her a thousand times and comforted and encouraged her. Agnella had no doubt that this dream was a warning sent by the fairy Drolette. She resolved to watch carefully over Violette and to make known to Ourson all that she could reveal to him without disobeying the fairy.
I arose dressed myself and came to find you my brother, my friend to warn you against the vengeance of the fairy Furious and to entreat you to seek the aid of the good fairy Drolette." Ourson listened in great alarm. He was not frightened by the fate which menaced himself he was agitated by the sacrifice which Furious announced and which he understood but too well.
Sometimes when Agnella went to market she put him on her donkey and took him with her and on those days she found more difficulty in selling her vegetables and cheese. The mothers fled from her, fearing that Ourson would come too near them. Agnella wept often and vainly implored the fairy Drolette. Whenever a lark flew near her, hope was born in her breast.
Scarcely had she pronounced these words when her chariot fell heavily to the earth. The toads perished and the chariot disappeared. The fairy Furious only remained, in the form of an enormous toad. She wished to speak but she could only bellow and snuffle. She gazed at Drolette and her larks at Prince Marvellous, Violette and Agnella, in a transport of rage but her power was destroyed.
There she fell on her knees and said: "My mother, I know what our well-beloved Ourson has suffered to-day. During his absence the fairy Furious has told me all and the good fairy Drolette has confirmed her story. My mother, when our Ourson was, as we believed, lost to us for ever and lost for my sake you revealed to me that which in his nobility and goodness he wished to conceal.
Drolette extended her wand towards her and said: "I command you to disappear and never to appear again to the prince Marvellous, to Violette or to their mother." Drolette had scarcely uttered these words when the toad disappeared; there remained no vestige of the chariot or of herself. Drolette remained some time motionless.
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