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'Prince, said Grandmarina, 'I bring you your bride. The moment the fairy said those words, Prince Certainpersonio's face left off being sticky, and his jacket and corduroys changed to peach-bloom velvet, and his hair curled, and a cap and feather flew in like a bird and settled on his head.

When Grandmarina had drunk her love to the young couple, and Prince Certainpersonio had made a speech, and everybody had cried, Hip, hip, hip, hurrah! Grandmarina announced to the king and queen that in future there would be eight quarter-days in every year, except in leap-year, when there would be ten.

The king hung his head under this reproof, and said he wouldn't talk about things disagreeing any more. 'Be good, then, said the Fairy Grandmarina, 'and don't. When the beautiful Princess Alicia consents to partake of the salmon, as I think she will, you will find she will leave a fish-bone on her plate.

No reason. There! Hoity toity me! I am sick of your grown-up reasons. The king was extremely frightened by the old lady's flying into such a passion, and said he was very sorry to have offended her, and he wouldn't ask for reasons any more. 'Be good, then, said the old lady, 'and don't! With those words, Grandmarina vanished, and the king went on and on and on, till he came to the office.

It instantly flashed upon the king that she must be a fairy, or how could she know that? 'You are right, said the old lady, answering his thoughts. 'I am the good Fairy Grandmarina. Attend! When you return home to dinner, politely invite the Princess Alicia to have some of the salmon you bought just now. 'It may disagree with her, said the king.

Then Grandmarina waved her fan, and the queen came in most splendidly dressed; and the seventeen young princes and princesses, no longer grown out of their clothes, came in, newly fitted out from top to toe, with tucks in everything to admit of its being let out.

Then Grandmarina begged to be introduced to the duchess; and, when the duchess was brought down, many compliments passed between them. A little whispering took place between the fairy and the duchess; and then the fairy said out loud, 'Yes, I thought she would have told you. Grandmarina then turned to the king and queen, and said, 'We are going in search of Prince Certainpersonio.

On hearing such good news, everybody cried out 'Hip, hip, hip, hurrah! again. 'It only remains, said Grandmarina in conclusion, 'to make an end of the fish-bone. So she took it from the hand of the Princess Alicia, and it instantly flew down the throat of the dreadful little snapping pug- dog, next door, and choked him, and he expired in convulsions.

The duchess was bridesmaid, and beheld the ceremony from the pulpit, where she was supported by the cushion of the desk. Grandmarina gave a magnificent wedding-feast afterwards, in which there was everything and more to eat, and everything and more to drink. The wedding-cake was delicately ornamented with white satin ribbons, frosted silver, and white lilies, and was forty-two yards round.

The king again hung his head, and said he wouldn't do so any more. 'Be good, then, said the Fairy Grandmarina, 'and don't! Take care of it. The king was beginning, 'Might I ask the reason? when the fairy became absolutely furious. 'WILL you be good, sir? she exclaimed, stamping her foot on the ground. 'The reason for this, and the reason for that, indeed! You are always wanting the reason.