She continued, in a half-singing tone: "Oh! what I wish for myself! That which I would like above all else----" Holding the bobbin, without touching the thread, she twisted the gold by moving it from left to right alternately on the vellum, fastening it at each turn with a stitch in silk.

Little by little the great golden lily blossomed out.
Soon she continued: "Yes, what I would like above all would be to marry a prince--a prince whom I had never seen; who would come towards sunset, just before the waning daylight, and would take me by the hand and lead me to his palace.

And I should wish him to be very handsome, as well as very rich! Yes, the most beautiful and the wealthiest man that had ever been seen on the earth! He should have superb horses that I could hear neighing under my windows, and jewels which he would pour in streams into my lap, and gold that would fall from my hands in a deluge when I opened them.

And what I wish still further is, that this prince of mine should love me to distraction, so that I might also love him desperately.

We would then remain very young, very good, and very noble, for ever!" Hubert, leaving his work, had approached her smilingly; whilst Hubertine, in a friendly way, shook her finger at the young girl.
"Oh, what a vain little creature! Ah! ambitious child, you are quite incorrigible.