She had dressed herself as
usual, with the utmost care, to please her Blue Bird, who liked to see
her lovely; and she had adorned herself with all the pretty things he
had given her. He perched on the window-sill, and she sat at the
window, and they were singing together a duet, which the queen heard
outside. She burst the door open, and rushed into the chamber.
The first thing Florina did was to open her little window that the
Blue Bird might fly away. But he would not. He had seen the queen and
Troutina, and though he could not defend his princess, he refused to
leave her. The two rushed upon her like furies. Her wonderful beauty
and her splendid jewels startled them. "Whence came all these
ornaments?" cried they.
"I found them," replied Florina, and refused to answer more.
"Some one has given them to you that you might join in treason
against your father and the kingdom.
"Am I likely to do this? I, a poor princess, kept in captivity for two
years, with you as my gaoler?"
"In captivity," repeated the queen. "Why, then, do you dress yourself
so fine, and adorn your chamber with flowers?"
"I have leisure enough: I may just as well spend some of it in
adorning myself, instead of bemoaning my misfortune--innocent as I
am."
"Innocent, indeed!" cried the queen, and began to search the room. In
it she found all King Charming's presents--diamonds, rubies, emeralds,
amethysts--in short, jewels without end.
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