“This is the Princess Vanity,” said the King, and Prince Charming bowed low to the beautiful girl, who made a graceful courtesy.
“How lovely she is!” thought the Prince, but just then another princess appeared and the King said, “This is the Princess Haughty.” She bowed and held three fingers to the Prince, who was charmed with her stately beauty. “And here is my third little daughter,” said the King, as a beautiful golden-haired maiden tripped up to the throne, with a face as smiling as a sunbeam, “the Princess Goodness.”
What a pleasant greeting she gave Prince Charming and how sweet and low her voice!
“Now, Prince,” said the King, “I hope you will be our guest for a long time and my daughters will entertain you.”
The Prince thanked the King, and was soon enjoying the company of the three beautiful daughters. As the days went on it was hard to make up his mind which was the most beautiful of the three girls, and one night when the Prince was sitting in his chamber he thought he was in love with all three of them. “But I cannot marry all of them. I can only take one for my queen,” said he, and he was puzzled.
Suddenly he thought of the third box in his pocket, and he took it out and quickly opened it. Inside there was a beautiful gold ring and underneath was written
“She whose finger I fit right
Is your queen, your heart’s delight.”
Prince Charming smiled and placed the ring carefully in his pocket.
The next morning as he strolled through the castle he caught sight of Princess Vanity in her parlor. The Prince tapped gently and entered, but she was so intently admiring herself in the glass that she never saw the Prince. She was bedecked and beribboned with jewels and laces, and she smirked and smiled at her reflection in the mirror.