"How often must I tell you that there are _no_ fairies?
And even if there were--but, no matter; pray let us drop the subject." "They are very old friends of our family, my dear, that's all," said the king timidly.

"Often and often they have been godmothers to us.

One, in particular, was most kind and most serviceable to Cinderella I., my own grandmother." "Your grandmother!" interrupted her majesty.

"Fiddle-de-dee! If anyone puts such nonsense into the head of my little Prigio--" But here the baby was brought in by the nurse, and the queen almost devoured it with kisses.

And so the fairies were not invited! It was an extraordinary thing, but none of the nobles could come to the christening party when they learned that the fairies had not been asked.