At length a young maiden from a country village presented herself. She was exceedingly beautiful, and declared herself willing [[143]]to accept the crown in exchange for her youth. Her name was Peronella. At first the Queen was very angry at her presumption, for the girl was very poor; but, after all, what did that matter when the Queen’s purpose was to grow young again? She proposed to Peronella to divide the kingdom with her.
“You shall have one half, and I the other,” said she. “Surely that is enough for you, who are but a poor country girl.”
“No,” replied Peronella, “that will not satisfy me at all; I will have the whole, [[144]]or I will remain a country girl, strong and beautiful and active, while you keep your wrinkles and your hundred years.”
“But,” said the Queen, “what shall I do if I give away my whole kingdom?”
“Do?” said Peronella. “Your Majesty will laugh and dance and sing as I do”; and she laughed and danced and sung before her.
The Queen, who could do nothing like this, asked Peronella how she would amuse herself if she were Queen, for she knew nothing of all the infirmities of age.
“I really cannot be quite sure what I would do,” answered Peronella, “but I have a great mind to try the experiment, for every one says it is such a fine thing to be a queen.”
While the Queen and Peronella were coming to an agreement, the fairy entered the room, and said to the country girl, “Are you willing to make the trial, and see what it is like to be a queen, extremely rich, and a hundred years old?”
“I have no objection,” said Peronella. [[145]]