1 Melisande or, Long and Short Division by E. Nesbit. Originally published in Nine Unlikely Tales (Fisher Unwin, 1901).

Transcription

1 1 Melisandeor,LongandShortDivision bye.nesbit. OriginallypublishedinNineUnlikelyTales(FisherUnwin,1901). WHENthePrincessMelisandewasborn,hermother,theQueen,wishedtohaveachristeningparty,butthe Kingputhisfootdownandsaidhewouldnothaveit. "I'veseentoomuchtroublecomeofchristeningparties,"saidhe."Howevercarefullyyoukeepyourvisitingbook,somefairyorotherissuretogetleftout,andyouknowwhatthatleadsto.Why,eveninmyown family,themostshockingthingshaveoccurred.thefairymalevolawasnotaskedtomygreatgrandmothers christening andyouknowallaboutthespindleandthehundredyears'sleep." "Perhapsyou'reright,"saidtheQueen."Myowncousinbymarriageforgotsomestuffyoldfairyorother whenshewassendingoutthecardsforherdaughter'schristening,andtheoldwretchturnedupatthelast moment,andthegirldropstoadsoutofhermouthtothisday." "Justso.Andthentherewasthatbusinessofthemouseandthekitchen maids,"saidtheking;"we'llhaveno nonsenseaboutit.i'llbehergodfather,andyoushallbehergodmother;andwewon'taskasinglefairy;then noneofthemcanbeoffended." "Unlesstheyallare,"saidtheQueen. Andthatwasexactlywhathappened.WhentheKingandtheQueenandthebabygotbackfromthe christeningtheparlourmaidmetthematthedoor,andsaid "Please,yourMajesty,severalladieshavecalled.Itoldthemyouwerenotathome,buttheyallsaidthey'd wait." "Aretheyintheparlour?"askedtheQueen. "I'veshownthemintotheThroneRoom,yourMajesty,"saidtheparlourmaid."Yousee,thereareseveralof them." Therewereaboutsevenhundred.ThegreatThroneRoomwascrammedwithfairies,ofallagesandofall degreesofbeautyanduglinessgoodfairiesandbadfairies,flowerfairiesandmoonfairies,fairieslike spidersandfairieslikebutterflies andasthequeenopenedthedoorandbegantosayhowsorryshewasto havekeptthemwaiting,theyallcried,withonevoice,"whydidn'tyouaskmetoyourchristeningparty?" "Ihaven'thadaparty,"saidtheQueen,andsheturnedtotheKingandwhispered,"1toldyouso."Thiswas heronlyconsolation. "You'vehadachristening,"saidthefairies,alltogether. "I'mverysorry,"saidthepoorQueen,butMalevolapushedforwardandsaid,"Holdyourtongue,"most rudely. Malevolaistheoldest,aswellasthemostwicked,ofthefairies.Sheisdeservedlyunpopular,andhasbeen leftoutofmorechristeningpartiesthanalltherestofthefairiesputtogether. "Don'tbegintomakeexcuses,"shesaid,shakingherfingerattheQueen."Thatonlymakesyourconduct worse.youknowwellenoughwhathappensifafairyisleftoutofachristeningparty.weareallgoingto giveourchristeningpresentsnow.asthefairyofhighestsocialposition,ishallbegin.theprincessshallbe bald."

2 2 TheQueennearlyfaintedasMalevoladrewback,andanotherfairyinasmartbonnetwithsnakesinit, steppedforwardwitharustleofbats'wings.butthekingsteppedforwardtoo. "Noyoudon't!"saidhe."Iwonderatyou,ladies,Idoindeed.Howcanyoubesounfairylike?Havenoneof youbeentoschool havenoneofyoustudiedthehistoryofyourownrace?surelyyoudon'tneedapoor, ignorantkinglikemetotellyouthatthisisnogo?" "Howdareyou?"criedthefairyinthebonnet,andthesnakesinitquiveredasshetossedherhead."Itismy turn,andisaytheprincessshallbe " TheKingactuallyputhishandoverhermouth. "Lookhere,"hesaid;"Iwon'thaveit.Listentoreason oryou'llbesorryafterwards.afairywhobreaksthe traditionsoffairyhistorygoesout youknowshedoes liketheflameofacandle.andalltraditionshowsthat onlyonebadfairyiseverforgottenatachristeningpartyandthegoodonesarealwaysinvited;soeitherthis isnotachristeningparty,orelseyouwereallinvitedexceptone,and,byherownshowing,thatwas Malevola.Itnearlyalwaysis.DoImakemyselfclear?" Severalofthebetter classfairieswhohadbeenledawaybymalevola'sinfluencemurmuredthattherewas somethinginwhathismajestysaid. "Tryit,ifyoudon'tbelieveme,"saidtheKing;"giveyournastygiftstomyinnocentchild butassureasyou do,outyougo,likeacandle flame.now,then,willyouriskit?" Nooneanswered,andpresentlyseveralfairiescameuptotheQueenandsaidwhatapleasantpartyithad been,buttheyreallymustbegoing.thisexampledecidedtherest.onebyoneallthefairiessaidgoodbye andthankedthequeenforthedelightfulafternoontheyhadspentwithher. "It'sbeenquitetoolovely,"saidtheladywiththesnake bonnet;"doaskusagainsoon,dearqueen.ishallbe solongingtoseeyouagain,andthedearbaby,"andoffshewent,withthesnake trimmingquiveringmore thanever. WhentheverylastfairywasgonetheQueenrantolookatthebaby shetoreoffitshonitonlacecapand burstintotears.forallthebaby'sdownygoldenhaircameoffwiththecap,andtheprincessmelisandewas asbaldasanegg. "Don'tcry,mylove,"saidtheKing."Ihaveawishlyingby,whichI'veneverhadoccasiontouse.Myfairy godmothergaveitmeforaweddingpresent,butsincetheni'vehadnothingtowishfor!" "Thankyou,dear,"saidtheQueen,smilingthroughhertears. "I'llkeepthewishtillbabygrowsup,"theKingwenton."AndthenI'llgiveittoherandifshelikestowish forhairshecan." "Oh,won'tyouwishforitnow?"saidtheQueen,droppingmixedtearsandkissesonthebabyround,smooth head. "No,dearest.Shemaywantsomethingelsemorewhenshegrowsup.Andbesides,herhairmaygrowby itself." Butitneverdid.PrincessMelisandegrewupasbeautifulasthesunandasgoodasgold,butneverahair grewonthatlittleheadofhers.thequeensewedherlittlecapsofgreensilk,andtheprincess'spinkand

3 3 whitefacelookedoutoftheselikeaflowerpeepingoutofitsbud.andeverydayasshegrewoldershegrew dearer,andasshegrewdearershegrewbetter,andasshegrewmoregoodshegrewmorebeautiful. Now,whenshewasgrownuptheQueensaidtotheKing "Mylove,ourdeardaughterisoldenoughtoknowwhatshewants.Letherhavethewish." SotheKingwrotetohisfairygodmotherandsenttheletterbyabutterfly.Heaskedifhemighthandonto hisdaughterthewishthefairyhadgivenhimforaweddingpresent. "Ihaveneverhadoccasiontouseit,"saidhe,"thoughithasalwaysmademehappytorememberthatIhad suchathinginthehouse.thewishisasgoodasnew,andmydaughterisnowofanagetoappreciateso valuableapresent." Towhichthefairyrepliedbyreturnofbutterfly: "DEARKING, Praydowhateveryoulikewithmypoorlittlepresent.Ihadquiteforgottenit,butIam pleasedtothinkthatyouhavetreasuredmyhumblekeepsakealltheseyears. "Youraffectionategodmother, "FORTUNAF." SotheKingunlockedhisgoldsafewiththesevendiamond handledkeysthathungathisgirdle,andtookout thewishandgaveittohisdaughter. AndMelisandesaid:"Father,Iwillwishthatallyoursubjectsshouldbequitehappy." Buttheywerethatalready,becausetheKingandQueenweresogood.Sothewishdidnotgooff. Sothenshesaid:"ThenIwishthemalltobegood." Buttheywerethatalready,becausetheywerehappy.Soagainthewishhungfire. ThentheQueensaid:"Dearest,formysake,wishwhatItellyou." "Why,ofcourseIwill,"saidMelisande.TheQueenwhisperedinherear,andMelisandenodded.Thenshe said,aloud "IwishIhadgoldenhairayardlong,andthatitwouldgrowanincheveryday,andgrowtwiceasfastevery timeitwascut,and " "Stop,"criedtheKing.Andthewishwentoff,andthenextmomentthePrincessstoodsmilingathimthrough ashowerofgoldenhair. "Oh,howlovely,"saidtheQueen."Whatapityyouinterruptedher,dear;shehadn'tfinished." "Whatwastheend?"askedtheKing. "Oh,"saidMelisande,"Iwasonlygoingtosay,'andtwiceasthick."

4 4 "It'saverygoodthingyoudidn't,"saidtheKing."You'vedoneaboutenough."Forhehadamathematical mind,andcoulddothesumsaboutthegrainsofwheatonthechess board,andthenailsinthehorse'sshoes, inhisroyalheadwithoutanytroubleatall. "Why,what'sthematter?"askedtheQueen. "You'llknowsoonenough,"saidtheKing."Come,let'sbehappywhilewemay.Givemeakiss,little Melisande,andthengotonurseandaskhertoteachyouhowtocombyourhair." "Iknow,"saidMelisande,"I'veoftencombedmother's." "Yourmotherhasbeautifulhair,"saidtheKing;"butIfancyyouwillfindyourownlesseasytomanage." And,indeed,itwasso.ThePrincess'shairbeganbybeingayardlong,anditgrewanincheverynight.Ifyou knowanythingatallaboutthesimplestsumsyouwillseethatinaboutfiveweeksherhairwasabouttwo yardslong.thisisaveryinconvenientlength.ittrailsonthefloorandsweepsupallthedust,andthoughin palaces,ofcourse,itisallgold dust,stillitisnotnicetohaveitinyourhair.andtheprincess'shairwas growinganincheverynight.whenitwasthreeyardslongtheprincesscouldnotbearitanylonger itwasso heavyandsohot sosheborrowednurse'scutting outscissorsandcutitalloff,andthenforafewhoursshe wascomfortable.butthehairwentongrowing,andnowitgrewtwiceasfastasbefore;sothatinthirty six daysitwasaslongasever.thepoorprincesscriedwithtiredness;whenshecouldn'tbearitanymoreshe cutherhairandwascomfortableforaverylittletime.forthehairnowgrewfourtimesasfastasatfirst, andineighteendaysitwasaslongasbefore,andshehadtohaveitcut.thenitgreweightinchesaday,and thenexttimeitwascutitgrewsixteeninchesaday,andthenthirty twoinchesandsixty fourinchesanda hundredandtwenty eightinchesaday,andsoon,growingtwiceasfastaftereachcutting,tilltheprincess wouldgotobedatnightwithherhairclippedshort,andwakeupinthemorningwithyardsandyardsand yardsofgoldenhairflowingallabouttheroom,sothatshecouldnotmovewithoutpullingherownhair,and nursehadtocomeandcutthehairoffbeforeshecouldgetoutofbed. "IwishIwasbaldagain,"sighedpoorMelisande,lookingatthelittlegreencapssheusedtowear,andshe criedherselftosleepo'nightsbetweenthegoldenbillowsofthegoldenhair.butsheneverlethermother seehercry,becauseitwasthequeen'sfault,andmelisandedidnotwanttoseemtoreproachher. WhenfirstthePrincess'shairgrewhermothersentlocksofittoallherRoyalrelations,whohadthemsetin ringsandbrooches.laterthequeenwasabletosendenoughforbraceletsandgirdles.butpresentlyso muchhairwascutoffthattheyhadtoburnit.thenwhenautumncameallthecropsfailed;itseemedas thoughallthegoldofharvesthadgoneintotheprincess'shair.andtherewasafamine.thenmelisandesaid "Itseemsapitytowasteallmyhair;itdoesgrowsoveryfast.Couldn'twestuffthingswithit,orsomething, andsellthem,tofeedthepeople?" SotheKingcalledacouncilofmerchants,andtheysentoutsamplesofthePrincess'shair,andsoonorders camepouringin;andtheprincess'shairbecamethestapleexportofthatcountry.theystuffedpillowswith it,andtheystuffedbedswithit.theymaderopesofitforsailorstouse,andcurtainsforhanginginkings' palaces.theymadehairclothofit,forhermitsandotherpeoplewhowishedtobeuncomfy.butitwassosoft andsilkythatitonlymadethemhappyandwarm,whichtheydidnotwishtobe.sothehermitsgaveup wearingit,and,instead,mothersboughtitfortheirlittlebabies,andallwell borninfantsworelittleshirtsof Princess haircloth. Andstillthehairgrewandgrew.Andthepeoplewerefedandthefaminecametoanend. ThentheKingsaid:"Itwasallverywellwhilethefaminelasted butnowishallwritetomyfairygodmother andseeifsomethingcannotbedone."

5 5 Sohewroteandsenttheletterbyaskylark,andbyreturnofbirdcamethisanswer "WhynotadvertiseforacompetentPrince?Offertheusualreward." SotheKingsentouthisheraldsallovertheworldtoproclaimthatanyrespectablePrincewithproper referencesshouldmarrytheprincessmelisandeifhecouldstopherhairgrowing. ThenfromfarandnearcametrainsofPrincesanxioustotrytheirluck,andtheybroughtallsortsofnasty thingswiththeminbottlesandroundwoodenboxes.theprincesstriedalltheremedies,butshedidnotlike anyofthem,andshedidnotlikeanyoftheprinces,soinherheartshewasrathergladthatnoneofthenasty thingsinbottlesandboxesmadetheleastdifferencetoherhair. ThePrincesshadtosleepinthegreatThroneRoomnow,becausenootherroomwasbigenoughtoholdher andherhair.whenshewokeinthemorningthelonghighroomwouldbequitefullofhergoldenhair, packedtightandthicklikewoolinabarn.andeverynightwhenshehadhadthehaircutclosetoherhead shewouldsitinhergreensilkgownbythewindowandcry,andkissthelittlegreencapssheusedtowear, andwishherselfbaldagain. ItwasasshesatcryingthereonMidsummerEvethatshefirstsawPrinceFlorizel. Hehadcometothepalacethatevening,buthewouldnotappearinherpresencewiththedustoftravelon him,andshehadretiredwithherhairbornebytwentypagesbeforehehadbathedandchangedhisgarment andenteredthereception room. Nowhewaswalkinginthegardeninthemoonlight,andhelookedupandshelookeddown,andforthefirst timemelisande,lookingonaprince,wishedthathemighthavethepowertostopherhairfromgrowing.as fortheprince,hewishedmanythings,andthefirstwasgrantedhim.forhesaid "YouareMelisande?" "AndyouareFlorizel?" "Therearemanyrosesroundyourwindow,"saidhetoher,"andnonedownhere." Shethrewhimoneofthreewhiterosessheheldinherhand.Thenhesaid "Whiterosetreesarestrong.MayIclimbuptoyou?" "Surely,"saidtheprincess.Soheclimbeduptothewindow "Now,"saidhe,"ifIcandowhatyourfatherasks,willyoumarryme?" "MyfatherhaspromisedthatIshall,"saidMelisande,playingwiththewhiterosesinherhand. "DearPrincess,"saidhe,"yourfather'spromiseisnothingtome.Iwantyours.Willyougiveittome?" "Yes,"saidshe,andgavehimthesecondrose. "Iwantyourhand." "Yes,"shesaid.

6 6 "Andyourheartwithit." "Yes,"saidthePrincess,andshegavehimthethirdrose. "Andakisstosealthepromise." "Yes,"saidshe. "Andakisstogowiththehand." "Yes,"shesaid. "Andakisstobringtheheart." "Yes,"saidthePrincess,andshegavehimthethreekisses. "Now,"saidhe,whenhehadgiventhembacktoher"to nightdonotgotobed.staybyyourwindowandi willstaydownhereinthegardenandwatch.aridwhenyourhairhasgrowntothefillingofyourroomcall tome,andthendoasitellyou." "Iwill,"saidthePrincess. SoatdewysunrisethePrince,lyingontheturfbesidethesun dial,heardhervoice "Florizel!Florizel!Myhairhasgrownsolongthatitispushingmeoutofthewindow." "Getoutontothewindowsillsaidheandtwistyourhairthreetimesroundthegreatironhookthatis there." Andshedid. ThenthePrinceclimbeduptherosebushwithhisnakedswordinhisteeth,andhetookthePrincess'shair inhishandaboutayardfromherheadandsaid "Jump!" ThePrincessjumped,andscreamed,forthereshewashangingfromthehookbyayardandahalfofher brighthair;theprincetightenedhisgraspofthehairanddrewhisswordacrossit. Thenheletherdowngentlybyherhairtillherfeetwereonthegrass,andjumpeddownafterher. Theystayedtalkinginthegardentillalltheshadowshadcreptundertheirpropertreesandthesun dialsaid itwasbreakfasttime. Thentheywentintobreakfast,andalltheCourtcrowdedroundtowonderandadmire.ForthePrincess's hairhadnotgrown. "Howdidyoudoit?"askedtheKing,shakingFlorizelwarmlybythehand. "Thesimplestthingintheworld,"saidFlorizel,modestly."YouhavealwayscutthehairoffthePrincess.I justcuttheprincessoffthehair."

7 7 "Humph!"saidtheKing,whohadalogicalmind.Andduringbreakfasthemorethanoncelookedanxiouslyat hisdaughter.whentheygotupfrombreakfasttheprincessrosewiththerest,butsheroseandroseand rose,tillitseemedasthoughtherewouldneverbeanendofit.theprincesswasninefeethigh. "Ifearedasmuch,"saidtheKing,sadly."Iwonderwhatwillbetherateofprogression.Yousee,"hesaidto poorflorizel,"whenwecutthehairoffitgrows whenwecuttheprincessoffshegrows.iwishyouhad happenedtothinkofthat!" ThePrincesswentongrowing.Bydinnertimeshewassolargethatshehadtohaveherdinnerbroughtout intothegardenbecauseshewastoolargetogetindoors.butshewastoounhappytobeabletoeatanything. Andshecriedsomuchthattherewasquiteapoolinthegarden,andseveralpageswerenearlydrowned.So sherememberedher"aliceinwonderland,"andstoppedcryingatonce.butshedidnotstopgrowing.she grewbiggerandbiggerandbigger,tillshehadtogooutsidethepalacegardensandsitonthecommon,and eventhatwastoosmalltoholdhercomfortably,foreveryhourshegrewtwiceasmuchasshehaddonethe hourbefore.andnobodyknewwhattodo,norwheretheprincesswastosleep.fortunately,herclotheshad grownwithher,orshewouldhavebeenverycoldindeed,andnowshesatonthecommoninhergreen gown,embroideredwithgold,lookinglikeagreathillcoveredwithgorseinflower. YoucannotpossiblyimaginehowlargethePrincesswasgrowing,andhermotherstoodwringingherhands onthecastletower,andtheprinceflorizellookedonbroken heartedtoseehisprincesssnatchedfromhis armsandturnedintoaladyasbigasamountain. TheKingdidnotweeporlookon.Hesatdownatonceandwrotetohisfairygodmother,askingheradvice. Hesentaweaselwiththeletter;andbyreturnofweaselhegothisownletterbackagain,marked"Gone away.leftnoaddress." Itwasnow,whenthekingdomwasplungedintogloom,thataneighbouringKingtookitintohisheadto sendaninvadingarmyagainsttheislandwheremelisandelived.theycameinshipsandtheylandedingreat numbers,andmelisandelookingdownfromherheightsawaliensoldiersmarchingonthesacredsoilofher country. "Idon'tmindsomuchnow,"saidshe,"ifIcanreallybeofsomeusethissize." Andshepickedupthearmyoftheenemyinhandfulsanddouble handfuls,andputthembackintotheir ships,andgavealittlefliptoeachtransportshipwithherfingerandthumb,whichsenttheshipsoffsofast thattheyneverstoppedtilltheyreachedtheirowncountry,andwhentheyarrivedtherethewholearmyto amansaiditwouldratherbecourtmartialledahundredtimesoverthangoneartheplaceagain. MeantimeMelisande,sittingonthehighesthillontheisland,feltthelandtremblingandshiveringunderher giantfeet. "IdobelieveI'mgettingtooheavy,"shesaid,andjumpedofftheislandintothesea,whichwasjustuptoher ankles.justthenagreatfleetofwarshipsandgunboatsandtorpedoboatscameinsight,ontheirwayto attacktheisland. Melisandecouldeasilyhavesunkthemallwithonekick,butshedidnotliketodothisbecauseitmighthave drownedthesailors,andbesides,itmighthaveswampedtheisland. Soshesimplystoopedandpickedtheislandasyouwouldpickamushroom for,ofcourse,allislandsare supportedbyastalkunderneath andcarrieditawaytoanotherpartoftheworld.sothatwhenthewarships gottowheretheislandwasmarkedonthemaptheyfoundnothingbutsea,andaveryroughseaitwas, becausetheprincesshadchurneditallupwithheranklesasshewalkedawaythroughitwiththeisland.

8 8 WhenMelisandereachedasuitableplace,verysunnyandwarm,andwithnosharksinthewater,sheset downtheisland;andthepeoplemadeitfastwithanchors,andtheneveryonewenttobed,thankingthekind fatewhichhadsentthemsogreataprincesstohelpthemintheirneed,andcallingherthesaviourofher countryandthebulwarkofthenation. Butitispoorworkbeingthenation'sbulwarkandyourcountry'ssaviourwhenyouaremileshigh,andhave noonetotalkto,andwhenallyouwantistobeyourhumblerightsizeagainandtomarryyoursweetheart. AndwhenitwasdarkthePrincesscameclosetotheisland,andlookeddown,fromfarup,atherpalaceand hertowerandcried,andcried,andcried.itdoesnotmatterhowmuchyoucryintothesea,ithardlymakes anydifference,howeverlargeyoumaybe.thenwheneverythingwasquitedarktheprincesslookedupat thestars. "IwonderhowsoonIshallbebigenoughtoknockmyheadagainstthem,"saidshe. Andasshestoodstar gazingsheheardawhisperrightinherear.averylittlewhisper,butquiteplain. "Cutoffyourhair!"itsaid. Now,everythingthePrincesswaswearinghadgrownbigalongwithher,sothatnowtheredangledfromher goldengirdleapairofscissorsasbigasthemalaypeninsula,togetherwithapin cushionthesizeoftheisle ofwight,andayardmeasurethatwouldhavegoneroundaustralia. Andwhensheheardthelittle,littlevoice,sheknewit,smallasitwas,forthedearvoiceofPrinceFlorizel, andshewhippedoutthescissorsfromhergoldcaseandsnip,snip,snippedallherhairoff,anditfellintothe sea.thecoralinsectsgotholdofitatonceandsettoworkonit,andnowtheyhavemadeitintothebiggest coralreefintheworld;butthathasnothingtodowiththestory. Thenthevoicesaid,"Getclosetotheisland,"andthePrincessdid,butshecouldnotgetveryclosebecause shewassolarge,andshelookedupagainatthestarsandtheyseemedtobemuchfartheroff. Thenthevoicesaid,"Bereadytoswim,"andshefeltsomethingclimboutofherearandclamberdownher arm.thestarsgotfartherandfartheraway,andnextmomenttheprincessfoundherselfswimminginthe sea,andprinceflorizelswimmingbesideher. "Icreptontoyourhandwhenyouwerecarryingtheisland,"heexplained,whentheirfeettouchedthesand andtheywalkedinthroughtheshallowwater;"andigotintoyourearwithanear trumpet.younever noticedmebecauseyouweresogreatthen." "Oh,mydearPrince,"criedMelisande,fallingintohisarms,"youhavesavedme.Iammypropersizeagain." SotheywenthomeandtoldtheKingandQueen.Bothwerevery,veryhappy,buttheKingrubbedhischin withhishand,andsaid "You'vecertainlyhadsomefunforyourmoney,youngman,butdon'tyouseethatwe'rejustwherewewere before?why,thechild'shairisgrowingalready." Andindeeditwas. ThenoncemoretheKingsentalettertohisgodmother.Hesentitbyaflying fish,andbyreturnoffishcame theanswer "Justbackfrommyholidays.Sorryforyourtroubles.Whynottryscales?"

9 9 AndonthismessagethewholeCourtponderedforweeks. ButthePrincecausedapairofgoldscalestobemade,andhungthemupinthepalacegardensunderabig oaktree.andonemorninghesaidtotheprincess "MydarlingMelisande,Imustreallyspeakseriouslytoyou.Wearegettingoninlife.Iamnearlytwenty:itis timethatwethoughtofbeingsettled.willyoutrustmeentirelyandgetintooneofthosegoldscales?" Sohetookherdownintothegarden,andhelpedherintothescale,andshecurledupinitinhergreenand goldgown,likealittlegrassmoundwithbuttercupsonit. "Andwhatisgoingintotheotherscale?"askedMelisande. "Yourhair,"saidFlorizel."Yousee,whenyourhairiscutoffyouitgrows,andwhenyouarecutoffyourhair yougrow oh,myheart'sdelight,icanneverforgethowyougrew,never!butif,whenyourhairisnomore thanyou,andyouarenomorethanyourhair,isnipthescissorsbetweenyouandit,thenneitheryounor yourhaircanpossiblydecidewhichoughttogoongrowing." "Supposebothdid,"saidthepoorPrincess,humbly. "Impossible,"saidthePrince,withashudder;"therearelimitseventoMalevola'smalevolence.And,besides, Fortunasaid'Scales.'Willyoutryit?" "Iwilldowhateveryouwish,"saidthepoorPrincess,"butletmekissmyfatherandmotheronce,andNurse, andyou,too,mydear;incaseigrowlargeagainandcankissnobodyanymore." SotheycameonebyoneandkissedthePrincess. ThenthenursecutoffthePrincess'shair;andatonceitbegantogrowatafrightfulrate. TheKingandQueenandnursebusilypackedit,asitgrew,intotheotherscale,andgraduallythescalewent downalittle.theprincestoodwaitingbetweenthescaleswithhisdrawnsword,andjustbeforethetwo wereequalhestruck.butduringthetimehisswordtooktoflashthroughtheairtheprincess'shairgrewa yardortwo,sothatattheinstantwhenhestruckthebalancewastrue. "Youareayoungmanofsoundjudgment,"saidtheKing,embracinghim,whiletheQueenandthenurseran tohelptheprincessoutofthegoldscale. ThescalefullofgoldenhairbumpeddownontothegroundasthePrincesssteppedoutoftheotherone,and stoodtherebeforethosewholovedher;laughingandcryingwithhappiness,becausesheremainedher propersize,andherhairwasnotgrowinganymore. ShekissedherPrinceahundredtimes,andtheverynextdaytheyweremarried.Everyoneremarkedonthe beautyofthebride,anditwasnoticedthatherhairwasquiteshort onlyfivefeetfiveandaquarterinches long justdowntoherprettyankles.becausethescaleshadbeentenfeettenandahalfinchesapart,andthe Prince,havingastraighteye,hadcutthegoldenhairexactlyinthemiddle!