And all the people about grew used to seeing their pretty Princess, as she wandered through the gardens and woods near the castle, throwing her balls in the air as she walked, and catching them again without the slightest effort.
"And remembering the words of the fairy who had given them, naturally her father and mother were pleased to see her love for the magic gift, and every one about the palace was forbidden to laugh at her, or to say that it was babyish for a tall Princess to play so much with a toy that had amused her as an infant.
"She was not a silly Princess at all.

She was clever at learning, and liked it, and she was sensible and quick-witted and very brave.

So no one was inclined to laugh at her pretty play, even if they had not been forbidden to do so.

And she was so kind-hearted and merry, that if ever in her rambles she met any little children who stared at her balls with wondering eyes, she would make her ladies stop, while she threw the balls up in the air, higher and yet higher, ever catching them again as they flew back, and laughed with pleasure to see the little creatures' delight in her skill.
"She was such a happy Princess that the bright balls seemed like herself--ready to catch every ray of sunshine and make it prisoner.

And till she had reached her sixteenth year no cloud had come over her brightness.