"A pretty errand—a dog's errand," snarled Madam Grumble-do, who nevertheless ordered her car to turn into a coach, and to bring thither the desired guests. Whilst Bonbon, Gracious, and Chaffinch, were caressing each other, Fairy Grumble-do met the Court-dwarf, Koloquintius, who came in her way just at the right moment,—for every one was welcome to her so that she had some one to scold,—and she gave it him prettily on the text of his vanity and self-love.
"Now you are punished," said she, "and nobody pities you; but, on the contrary, you are the laughingstock of all your former subjects; that, however, you have always been, though formerly they ridiculed you secretly, and in whispers; now, however, they do it loudly, and in the market-place; it will do you a deal of good."
So she continued to abuse him till the arrival of the king and queen, when she let him go and turned to them.
"You need not trouble yourselves to thank me for anything; it was not I who sent for you, and indeed I am very sorry you are come, for now there will be no getting rid of you again. Good counsel would be thrown away upon you now, you irrational creatures."
She then perceived the old coal-man, and exclaimed:—"A pretty father-in-law that, for a prince."
The coal-man was not the sort of person to take such an address pleasantly, and would soon have given her a rough answer, but that the good Fairy Bonbon came up and begged the company to walk into the house. But Fairy Grumble-do did not like that neither; the general joy made her peevish.
Gracious embraced her dear father a thousand times, who all this while had not suffered any privation, for Bonbon had made him a present of the porcelain house in which she had often received the king and queen. These fondled their little Chaffinch, and willingly consented to his marriage with Gracious, when proposed to them by Bonbon. The subjects of Koloquintius were absolved from the oath they had sworn to him, and acknowledged Prince Chaffinch as their lawful monarch. Thus did the pretty prince obtain a fine kingdom and a charming wife.
Chaffinch and Gracious long governed in peace and happiness, and had a great many dear children, who also became kings and queens, for a good and pretty daughter makes not alone her own happiness, but also that of her parents, and her husband.