After supper the King and Queen retired; the Princesses, as was their custom, arranged everything about the house: the one milked the cows, the other made some cheese; Carpillon was anxious to work also, as the others did, but she had not been so accustomed to it. She could do nothing well, and the two Princesses laughingly called her the awkward beauty; but the Prince, already in love, assisted her. He went to the well with her, he carried her pitchers, he drew the water for her, and returned heavily laden, for he would not allow her to carry anything. "But what do you mean, shepherd," said she to him; "must I be the young lady here—I, who have worked all my life, am I come here to do nothing?" "You shall do whatever you like, charming shepherdess," replied he; "but do not refuse to accept my poor assistance on these occasions." They returned together, sooner than they wished, for although he hardly dared to speak to her, he was delighted to be with her.
They each of them passed a sleepless night, which their inexperience prevented them from imagining the cause of: but the Prince anxiously waited for the hour that he might again behold the shepherdess, while she already feared the time she should again see the shepherd. This new trouble, that the sight of him had thrown her into, diverted her attention from the other sorrows which oppressed her. She thought of him so often, that she scarcely remembered Prince Bossu. "Fickle Fortune!" she exclaimed, "why hast thou bestowed so many graces, so fair a countenance, and such charms on a young shepherd, who is only destined to watch his flock; and on a great Prince, who has to govern a kingdom, so much malice, ugliness, and deformity?"
Carpillon had never had the curiosity to look at herself since her metamorphosis from a princess into a shepherdess, but now a certain desire to please induced her to seek for a mirror. She found the Princesses', and when she saw her head-dress, and her gown, she was quite confused. "What a figure!" said she; "what am I like? It is impossible that I can remain any longer buried in this coarse stuff." She took some water, and washed her hands and face. They became whiter than lilies. After this she sought the Queen, and kneeling before her, she presented her with a beautiful diamond ring (for she had brought some jewels with her). "My
