` Madam , ' said he , ' I am a neighbour of the Queen of all the Isles ; and a small isthmus connects part of my states with hers . One day , when hunting a stag , I had the misfortune to meet her , and not recognising her , I did not stop to salute her with all proper ceremony . You , Madam , know better than anyone how revengeful she is , and that she is also a mistress of magic . I learnt both facts to my cost . The ground opened under my feet , and I soon found myself in a far distant region transformed into a little dog , under which shape I had the honour to meet your Majesty . After six months , the queen 's vengeance not being yet satisfied , she further changed me into a hideous old man , and in this form I was so afraid of being unpleasant in your eyes , Madam , that I hid myself in the depths of the woods , where I spent three months more . At the end of that time I was so fortunate as to meet a benevolent fairy who delivered me from the proud queen 's power , and told me all your adventures and where to find you . I now come to offer you a heart which has been entirely yours , Madam , since first we met in the desert . ' A few days later a herald was sent through the kingdom to proclaim the joyful news of the marriage of the Queen of the Flowery Isles with the young prince . They lived happily for many years , and ruled their people well . As for the bad queen , whose vanity and jealousy had caused so much mischief , the Fairies took all her power away for a punishment . -LSB- ` Cabinet des Fées . ' -RSB- UDEA AND HER SEVEN BROTHERS Once upon a time there was a man and his wife who had seven boys . The children lived in the open air and grew big and strong , and the six eldest spent part of every day hunting wild beasts . The youngest did not care so much about sport , and he often stayed with his mother . One morning , however , as the whole seven were going out for a long expedition , they said to their aunt , ` Dear aunt , if a baby sister comes into the world to-day , wave a white handkerchief , and we will return immediately ; but if it is only a boy , just brandish a sickle , and we will go on with what we are doing . ' Now the baby when it arrived really proved to be a girl , but as the aunt could not bear the boys , she thought it was a good opportunity to get rid of them . So she waved the sickle . And when the seven brothers saw the sign they said , ` Now we have nothing to go back for , ' and plunged deeper into the desert . The little girl soon grew to be a big girl , and she was called by all her friends -LRB- though she did not know it -RRB- ` Udea , who had driven her seven brothers into strange lands . '
One day , when she had been quarrelling with her playmates , the oldest among them said XXXXX her , ` It is a pity you were born , as ever since , your brothers have been obliged to roam about the world . '
After At So about as in of than that to