Contest of the Fairies

In short, it was evident that he was in a bad way, and Fairy Flight was at her wits' end.

One day, as the prince wandered about absorbed in his sorrow, he heard sudden shouts. Through the air a chariot of crystal, glittering in the sunshine, was slowly approaching. Six lovely maidens with shining wings drew it by rose-colored ribbons, while a whole flight of others, equally beautiful, were holding long garlands of roses crossed above it, so as to form a complete canopy. Inside the chariot sat the Fairy Constance, and by her side a Princess whose beauty positively dazzled all who saw her. As the chariot landed, they proceeded to the Queen's apartments. Exclamations of wonder rose on all sides at the loveliness of the strange Princess and the marvel of its arrival, and the crowd so thickened that it was quite difficult to make a way through.

"Great Queen," said Fairy Constance, "permit me to restore to you your daughter Rosanella, whom I stole years ago from her cradle

Words cannot express how surprised and delighted the Queen was to be reunited with her long lost baby. But after a while the Queen said to Fairy Constance, "But my twelve lovely ones, do you know if they are lost to me forever? Shall I never see them again?"

Fairy Constance only said, "Very soon you will no longer miss them!" in a tone that evidently meant, "Don't ask me any more questions." Mounting again into her chariot she swiftly disappeared into the sky.

The news of the return of the long-lost Princess Rosanella was soon carried to the Prince, but he had hardly the heart to go and see her, he so missed his twelve lost loves. However, it became absolutely necessary that he should at least pay his respects. He had scarcely been five minutes in the presence of Rosanella before it seemed to the prince that she combined in her own charming person all the gifts and graces which had so attracted him in the twelve Rose-Maidens whose loss he had so truly mourned.