The
Princess was immensely astonished at his indifference, and put on
a cold and offended air, which, however, he did not seem to
observe. Then as a last resource she exerted all her wit and
gaiety to amuse him, but with no better success, for he was of an
age to be more attracted by beauty than by anything else, and
though he responded politely enough, it was evident that his
thoughts were elsewhere. Celandine was deeply mortified, since for
her part the Prince pleased her very well, and for the first time
she bitterly regretted the fairy gifts she had been anxious to get
rid of. Prince Featherhead was almost equally puzzled, for he had
heard nothing from the King and Queen but the praises of this
charming Princess, and the fact that they had spoken of her as so
very beautiful only confirmed his opinion that people who live in
the country have no taste. He talked to them of his charming
acquaintances in the town, the beauties he had admired, did
admire, or thought he was going to admire, until Celandine, who
heard it all, was ready to cry with vexation. The Fairy too was
quite shocked at his conceit, and hit upon a plan for curing him
of it. She sent to him by an unknown messenger a portrait of
Princess Celandine as she really was, with this inscription: 'All
this beauty and sweetness, with a loving heart and a great
kingdom, might have been yours but for your well-known
fickleness.
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