“It is wonderful,” replied Isabelle, “but can you turn the bird back to the crooked staff?”
“Certainly, I have but to wet my fingers and touch the bird; see——”
Now Isabelle was on the alert and the minute the old woman touched the bird the little Princess held on to it with all her might. The bird changed to the crooked staff in her hand and she had it at last.
“You see that I am a powerful fairy,” said the old woman, “and now give me my crooked staff.”
“Not so fast,” replied Isabelle, “I have it and I mean to do some good with it.”
The old woman was terribly angry when she saw how foolishly she had lost her crooked staff, and promised everything to Isabelle if she would give it up. But the little Princess would not let go of the crooked staff for anything.
Then the wicked old woman began to threaten and Isabelle waved the wonderful staff and said:
“I want this old woman to return to her castle and stay there forever.”
Instantly the old woman disappeared and was never seen again.
Isabelle walked out of the woods and retraced her steps as fast as she could to the green parrot’s house.