So there she sat all day in a velvet chair, clad in a satin gown with fringes of silver and pearl; and nobody in the world was one bit the better for her or her beauty.
Now, one day the princess looked at herself so long and so earnestly that she fell fast asleep in her velvet chair, with the golden mirror in her lap.

While she slept, a gust of wind blew the casement window open, and a rose that was growing on the wall outside peeped in.

It was a poor little feeble white rose, which had climbed up the wall in a straggling fashion, and had no particular strength or beauty or sweetness.

Every one who saw it from the outside said, "What a wretched little plant! Why is it not cut down ?" and the rose trembled when it heard this, for it was as fond of life as if it were beautiful, and it still hoped for better days.

Inside, no one thought about it at all; for the beautiful princess never left her chair to open the window.
Now, when the rose saw the princess it was greatly delighted, for it had often heard of her marvellous beauty.