LONDINE slept calmly all night; no ferocious beast
came to trouble her slumbers. She did not suffer from the cold and
awakened at a late hour in the morning. She rubbed her eyes, much
surprised to see herself surrounded by trees, in place of being in her
own room in the palace, and upon her own bed.
She called her nurse and a soft
mewing was the only response. Astonished and almost frightened, she
looked around and saw at her feet a superb white cat, looking gently
upon her and continuing to mew plaintively.
"Ah! pretty puss! how beautiful you
are!" cried Blondine, placing her little hand caressingly upon the soft
fur, white as snow. "I am so happy to see you, pretty puss, for you
will conduct me to your home. I am indeed very hungry and I have not
the strength to walk much further without food."
Blondine had scarcely uttered these
words, when the white pussy mewed again and pointed with her little paw
to a small package lying near her, wrapped neatly in fine white linen.
She opened the parcel and found it contained bread and butter which
she found delicious. She gave the crumbs to pussy, who munched them
with seeming delight.
When they had finished their simple meal, Blondine leaned over towards her little companion, and said, caressingly:
"Thanks, pretty puss, for the
breakfast you have given me. Now, can you conduct me to my papa, who is
certainly in despair because of my absence?”
Pussy, whom Blondine named Beau-Minon, shook her head and mewed plaintively.
"Ah! you understand me, Beau-Minon/'
said Blondine. "I entreat you to have pity upon me and lead me to some
house before I perish with hunger, cold and terror in this vast
forest!"
Beau-Minon looked at the princess
fixedly and made a sign with her little graceful white head which
seemed to say, "I understand you." She rose, advanced a few steps and
paused to see if Blondine followed her.
"I am here, Beau-Minon; I am
following you gladly," said Blondine ; "but how can we pass through
these bushy thickets? I see no path."
Beau-Minon made no reply but sprang
lightly into the thicket which opened of itself to allow Blondine and
Beau-Minon to pass, and then closed up immediately.
Blondine walked on for about half an
hour. As she advanced, the forest became lighter, the grass was finer
and the flowers more abundant. She saw many pretty birds singing
melodiously and graceful squirrels, bounding along the branches of the
trees.
Blondine, who had no doubt that she
was about to leave the forest and see her dear father again, was
enchanted with all that she saw; she wished to pause and gather the
lovely wild flowers; but Beau-Minon advanced steadily and mewed
plaintively whenever Blondine relaxed her speed. In about an hour
Blondine perceived an elegant castle.
Beau-Minon led her to the gilded
grating. However, Blon dine did not know how to enter. There was no
bell and the gate was closed. Beau-Minon had disappeared and Blondine
was once more alone.
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