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anything so pretty。 She could not take her eyes off him； and there she
stood entranced until the King and the Prince came up and asked
what was amusing her so much。 She showed them the peacock；
and asked what it was； and they answered that it was a bird which
people sometimes ate。
‘What！' said the Princess； ‘do they dare to kill that beautiful
creature and eat it？ I declare that I will never marry any one but
the King of the Peacocks； and when I am Queen I will take very
good care that nobody eats any of my subjects。'
At this the King was very much astonished。
‘But； little sister；' said he； ‘where shall we find the King of the
Peacocks？'
‘Oh！ wherever you like； sire；' she answered； ‘but I will never
marry any one else。'
After this they took Rosette to the beautiful castle； and the
peacock was brought with her； and told to walk about on the terrace
outside her windows； so that she might always see him； and then
the ladies of the court came to see the Princess； and they brought
her beautiful presentsdresses and ribbons and sweetmeats； diamonds
and pearls and dolls and embroidered slippers； and she was
so well brought up； and said； ‘Thank you！' so prettily； and was so
gracious； that everyone went away delighted with her。
Meanwhile the King and the Prince were considering how they
should find the King of the Peacocks； if there was such a person in
the world。 And first of all they had a portrait made of the Princess；
which was so like her that you really would not have been surprised
if it had spoken to you。 Then they said to her：
‘Since you will not marry anyone but the King of the Peacocks；
we are going out together into the wide world to search for him。
If we find him for you we shall be very glad。 In the meantime；
mind you take good care of our kingdom。'
Rosette thanked them for all the trouble they were taking on her
account； and promised to take great care of the kingdom； and only to
amuse herself by looking at the peacock； and making Frisk dance
while they were away。
So they set out； and asked everyone they met
‘Do you know the King of the Peacocks？'
But the answer was always； ‘No； no。'
Then they went on and on； so far that no one has ever been
farther； and at last they came to the Kingdom of the Cockchafers。
They had never before seen such a number of cockchafers； and
the buzzing was so loud that the King was afraid he should be
deafened by it。 He asked the most distinguished…looking cockchafer
they met if he knew where they could find the King of the
Peacocks。
‘Sire；' replied the cockchafer； ‘his kingdom is thirty thousand
leagues from this； you have come the longest way。'
‘And how do you know that？' said the King。
‘Oh！' said the cockchafer； ‘we all know you very well； since we
spend two or three months in your garden every year。'
Thereupon the King and the Prince made great friends with him；
and they all walked arm…in…arm and dined together； and afterwards
the cockchafer showed them all the curiosities of his strange country；
where the tiniest green leaf costs a gold piece and more。 Then
they set out again to finish their journey； and this time； as they knew
the way； they were not long upon the road。 It was easy to guess
that they had come to the right place； for they saw peacocks in
every tree； and their cries could be heard a long way off：
When they reached the city they found it full of men and women
who were dressed entirely in peacocks' feathers； which were evidently
thought prettier than anything else。
They soon met the King； who was driving about in a beautiful
little golden carriage which glittered with diamonds； and was drawn
at full speed by twelve peacocks。 The King and the Prince were
delighted to see that the King of the Peacocks was as handsome as
possible。 He had curly golden hair and was very pale； and he
wore a crown of peacocks' feathers。
When he saw Rosette's brothers he knew at once that they were
strangers； and stopping his carriage he sent for them to speak to
him。 When they had greeted him they said：
‘Sire； we have come from very far away to show you a beautiful
portrait。'
So saying they drew from their travelling bag the picture of
Rosette。
The King looked at it in silence a long time； but at last he said：
‘I could not have believed that there was such a beautiful
Princess in the world！'
‘Indeed； she is really a hundred times as pretty as that；' said
her brothers。
‘I think you must be making fun of me；' replied the King of the
Peacocks。
‘Sire；' said the Prince； ‘my brother is a King； like yourself。 He
is called ‘‘the King；'' I am called ‘‘the Prince；'' and that is the
portrait of our sister； the Princess Rosette。 We have come to ask
if you would like to marry her。 She is as good as she is beautiful；
and we will give her a bushel of gold pieces for her dowry。'
‘Oh！ with all my heart；' replied the King； ‘and I will make her
very happy。 She shall have whatever she likes； and I shall love
her dearly； only I warn you that if she is not as pretty as you have
told me； I will have your heads cut off。'
‘Oh！ certainly； we quite agree to that；' said the brothers in one
breath。
‘Very well。 Off with you into prison； and stay there until the
Princess arrives；' said the King of the Peacocks。
And the Princes were so sure that Rosette was far prettier than
her portrait that they went without a murmur。 They were very
kindly treated； and that they might not feel dull the King came
often to see them。 As for Rosette's portrait that was taken up to
the palace； and the King did nothing but gaze at it all day and all
night。
As the King and the Prince had to stay in prison； they sent a
letter to the Princess telling her to pack up all her treasures as
quickly as possible； and come to them； as the King of the Peacocks
was waiting to marry her； but they did not say that they were in
prison； for fear of making her uneasy。
When Rosette received the letter she was so delighted that she
ran about telling everyone that the King of the Peacocks was found；
and she was going to marry him。
Guns were fired； and fireworks let off。 Everyone had as many
cakes and sweetmeats as he wanted。 And for three days everybody
who came to see the Princess was presented with a slice of bread…
and…jam； a nightingale's egg； and some hippocras。 After having
thus entertained her friends； she distributed her dolls among them；
and left her brother's kingdom to the care of the wisest old men of
the city； telling them to take charge of everything； not to spend any
money； but save it all up until the King should return； and above
all； not to forget to feed her peacock。 Then she set out； only taking
with her her nurse； and the nurse's daughter； and the little green
dog Frisk。
They took a boat and put out to sea； carrying with them the
bushel of gold pieces； and enough dr