answered Toupette . ` It is the most refreshing water I have ever tasted , and Cornichon will say so too ! ' ` Unhappy children , then I am too late ! Why did you leave me ? Listen , and I will tell you what has befallen the wretched inhabitants of this island , and what will befall you too . The power of fairies is great , ' she added , when she had finished her story , ` but they can not destroy the work of another fairy . Very shortly you will pass into the weakness and silliness of extreme old age , and all I can do for you is to make it as easy to you as possible , and to preserve you from the death that others have suffered , from having no one to look after them . But the charm is working already ! Cornichon is taller and more manly than he was an hour ago , and Toupette no longer looks like a little girl . ' It was true ; but this fact did not seem to render the young people as miserable as it did Selnozoura . ` Do not pity us , ' said Cornichon . ` If we are fated to grow old so soon , let us no longer delay our marriage . What matter if we anticipate our decay , if we only anticipate our happiness too ? ' The fairy felt that Cornichon had reason on his side , and seeing by a glance at Toupette 's face that there was no opposition to be feared from her , she answered , ` Let it be so , then . But not in this dreadful place . We will return at once to Bagota , and the festivities shall be the most brilliant ever seen . ' They all returned to the vessel , and in a few hours the four thousand five hundred miles that lay between the island and Bagota were passed . Everyone was surprised to see the change which the short absence had made in the young people , but as the fairy had promised absolute silence about the adventure , they were none the wiser , and busied themselves in preparing their dresses for the marriage , which was fixed for the next night . Early on the following morning the genius Kristopo arrived at the Court , on one of the visits he was in the habit of paying his ward from time to time . Like the rest , he was astonished at the sudden improvement in the child .
He had always been fond of her , and in a moment he fell violently XXXXX love .
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