"But the cry of the poor is tossed about by many winds before it reaches the king's ear.

I might find a shorter way than that for you and your sister if fasting comes so much amiss to you.

Girls with faces like hers and yours, my little Irene, need never come to want." "And pray what is my face like ?" asked the girl, and her pretty features once more seemed to catch a gleam of sunshine.
"Why, so handsome that you may always venture to show it beside your sister's; and yesterday, in the procession, the great Roman sitting by the queen looked as often at her as at Cleopatra herself.

If you had been there too he would not have had a glance for the queen, for you are a pretty thing, as I can tell you.

And there are many girls would sooner hear those words then have a whole loaf--besides you have a mirror I suppose, look in that next time you are hungry." The old woman's shuffling steps retreated again and the girl snatched up the golden jar, opened the door a little way to let in the daylight and looked at herself in the bright surface; but the curve of the costly vase showed her features all distorted, and she gaily breathed on the hideous travestie that met her eyes, so that it was all blurred out by the moisture.