While the most charming women of the court will fall victims to my youth and strength , I shall think of nothing but how to lay them at your feet , and pay heart-felt homage to your age and wrinkles . ' ` Not so fast , ' interrupted Toupette , ' I do n't see why you should have it all . Why do you heap such humiliations upon me ? But I will trust to the justice of the fairy , who will not treat me so . ' Then she entered her own rooms , and refused to leave them , in spite of the prayers of Cornichon , who begged her to let him explain . No one at the court thought or spoke of any other subject during the few days before the arrival of Dindonette , whom everybody expected to set things right in a moment . But , alas ! she had no idea herself what was best to be done , and always adopted the opinion of the person she was talking to . At length a thought struck her , which seemed the only way of satisfying both parties , and she asked the fairy to call together all the court and the people to hear her decision . ` Happy is he , ' she began , ` who can repair the evil he has caused , but happier he who has never caused any . ' As nobody contradicted this remark , she continued : ` To me it is only allowed to undo one half of the mischief I have wrought . I could restore you your youth , ' she said to Cornichon , ` or your beauty , ' turning to Toupette . ' I will do both ; and I will do neither . ' A murmur of curiosity arose from the crowd , while Cornichon and Toupette trembled with astonishment . ` No , ' went on Dindonette , ` never should I have the cruelty to leave one of you to decay , while the other enjoys the glory of youth . And as I can not restore you both at once to what you were , one half of each of your bodies shall become young again , while the other half goes on its way to decay . I will leave it to you to choose which half it shall be -- if I shall draw a line round the waist , or a line straight down the middle of the body . ' She looked about her proudly , expecting applause for her clever idea . But Cornichon and Toupette were shaking with rage and disappointment , and everyone else broke into shouts of laughter . In pity for the unhappy lovers , Selnozoura came forward .
` Do you not think , ' she said , ` that instead of what you propose , it would be better XXXXX let them take it in turns to enjoy their former youth and beauty for a fixed time ?
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