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 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 XXXXX the ring .
So about as at for if in on to with