` Do you not think , ' she said , ` that instead of what you propose , it would be better to let them take it in turns to enjoy their former youth and beauty for a fixed time ? I am sure you could easily manage that . ' ` What an excellent notion ! ' cried Dindonette . ` Oh , yes , of course that is best ! Which of you shall I touch first ? ' ` Touch her , ' replied Cornichon , who was always ready to give way to Toupette . ' I know her heart too well to fear any change . ' So the fairy bent forward and touched her with her magic ring , and in one instant the old woman was a girl again . The whole court wept with joy at the sight , and Toupette ran up to Cornichon , who had fallen down in his surprise , promising to pay him long visits , and tell him of all her balls and water parties . The two fairies went to their own apartments , where the genius followed them to take his leave . ` Oh , dear ! ' suddenly cried Dindonette , breaking in to the farewell speech of the genius . ' I quite forgot to fix the time when Cornichon should in his turn grow young . How stupid of me ! And now I fear it is too late , for I ought to have declared it before I touched Toupette with the ring . Oh , dear ! oh , dear ! why did nobody warn me ? ' ` You were so quick , ' replied Selnozoura , who had long been aware of the mischief the fairy had again done , ` and we can only wait now till Cornichon shall have reached the utmost limits of his decay , when he will drink of the water , and become a baby once more , so that Toupette will have to spend her life as a nurse , a wife , and a caretaker . '
After the anxiety of mind and the weakness of body to which for so long Toupette had been a prey , it seemed as if she could not amuse herself enough , and it was seldom indeed that she found time to visit poor XXXXX , though she did not cease to be fond of him , or to be kind to him .
Cornichon Dindonette Selnozoura Toupette apartments caretaker course first heart leave