14-graciosa and percinet-第4章

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them。　However；　what　she　really　did　do　was　to　have　a　great　hole

as　deep　as　a　well　dug　in　her　garden；　and　the　top　of　it　covered　with

a　flat　stone。　Then　she　went　and　walked　near　it；　and　said　to

Graciosa　and　all　her　ladies　who　were　with　her：



‘I　am　told　that　a　great　treasure　lies　under　that　stone；　let　us　see

if　we　can　lift　it。'



So　they　all　began　to　push　and　pull　at　it；　and　Graciosa　among

the　others；　which　was　just　what　the　Queen　wanted；　for　as　soon　as

the　stone　was　lifted　high　enough；　she　gave　the　Princess　a　push

which　sent　her　down　to　the　bottom　of　the　well；　and　then　the　stone

was　let　fall　again；　and　there　she　was　a　prisoner。　Graciosa　felt

that　now　indeed　she　was　hopelessly　lost；　surely　not　even　Percinet

could　find　her　in　the　heart　of　the　earth。



‘This　is　like　being　buried　alive；'　she　said　with　a　shudder。　‘Oh；

Percinet！　if　you　only　knew　how　I　am　suffering　for　my　want　of

trust　in　you！　But　how　could　I　be　sure　that　you　would　not　be　like

other　men　and　tire　of　me　from　the　moment　you　were　sure　I　loved

you？'



As　she　spoke　she　suddenly　saw　a　little　door　open；　and　the

sunshine　blazed　into　the　dismal　well。　Graciosa　did　not　hesitate　an

instant；　but　passed　through　into　a　charming　garden。　Flowers　and

fruit　grew　on　every　side；　fountains　plashed；　and　birds　sang　in　the

branches　overhead；　and　when　she　reached　a　great　avenue　of　trees

and　looked　up　to　see　where　it　would　lead　her；　she　found　herself

close　to　the　palace　of　crystal。　Yes！　there　was　no　mistaking　it；

and　the　Queen　and　Percinet　were　coming　to　meet　her。



‘Ah；　Princess！'　said　the　Queen；　‘don't　keep　this　poor　Percinet

in　suspense　any　longer。　You　little　guess　the　anxiety　he　has

suffered　while　you　were　in　the　power　of　that　miserable　Queen。'



The　Princess　kissed　her　gratefully；　and　promised　to　do　as　she

wished　in　everything；　and　holding　out　her　hand　to　Percinet；　with　a

smile；　she　said：



‘Do　you　remember　telling　me　that　I　should　not　see　your　palace

again　until　I　had　been　buried？　I　wonder　if　you　guessed　then

that；　when　that　happened；　I　should　tell　you　that　I　love　you　with　all

my　heart；　and　will　marry　you　whenever　you　like？'



Prince　Percinet　joyfully　took　the　hand　that　was　given　him；　and；

for　fear　the　Princess　should　change　her　mind；　the　wedding　was

held　at　once　with　the　greatest　splendour；　and　Graciosa　and　Percinet

lived　happily　ever　after。＇11＇



＇11＇　Gracieuse　et　Percinet。　Mdme。　d'Aulnoy。