“Countess, I have made up my mind, and I am going into the world to seek my fortune.”

“I have been waiting for this,” said the Countess.  “Here is a magic ring.  Wear it always on your little finger, and whenever you want help turn it round once and help will come.”

Charming thanked her and put the ring on his finger.  Then he turned it round once just to make sure that it worked.  Immediately the oddest little dwarf appeared in front of him.

“Speak and I will obey,” said the dwarf.

Now Charming didn’t want anything at all just then, so after thinking for a moment he said, “Go away!”

The dwarf, a little surprised, disappeared.

“This is splendid,” thought Charming, and he started on his travels with a light heart.

The sun was at its highest as he came to a thick wood, and in its shade he lay down to rest.  He was awakened by the sound of weeping.  Rising hastily to his feet he peered through the trees, and there, fifty yards away from him, by the side of a stream sat the most beautiful damsel he had ever seen, wringing her hands and sobbing bitterly.  Prince Charming, grieving at the sight of beauty in such distress, coughed and came nearer,

“Princess,” he said tenderly, for he knew she must be a Princess, “you are in trouble.  How can I help you?”

“Fair Sir,” she answered, “I had thought to be alone.  But, since you are here, you can help me if you will.  I have a—­a brother—­”

But Charming did not want to talk about brothers.  He sat down on a fallen log beside her, and looked at her entranced.

“I think you are the most lovely lady in all the world,” he said.

“Am I?” said the Princess, whose name, by the way, was Beauty.

She looked away from him and there was silence between them.  Charming, a little at a loss, fidgeted nervously with his ring, and began to speak again.

“Ever since I have known you—­”

“You are in need of help?” said the dwarf, appearing suddenly.

“Certainly not,” said Charming angrily.  “Not in the least.  I can manage this quite well by myself.”

“Speak, and I will obey.”

“Then go away,” said Charming; and the dwarf, who was beginning to lose his grip of things, again disappeared.

The Princess, having politely pretended to be looking for something while this was going on, turned to him again.

“Come with me,” she said, “and I will show you how you can help me.”

She took him by the hand and led him down a narrow glade to a little clearing in the middle of the wood.  Then she made him sit down beside her on the grass, and there she told him her tale.

“There is a giant called Blunderbus,” she said, “who lives in a great castle ten miles from here.  He is a terrible magician, and years ago because I would not marry him he turned my—­my brother into a—­I don’t know how to tell you—­into a—­a tortoise.”  She put her hands to her face and sobbed again.