As she grew older still, she became fond of animals, not in
a way that brought them much pleasure, or herself much satisfaction.
When angry, she would beat them, and try to pull them to pieces, and
as soon as she became a little used to them, would neglect them
altogether. Then, if they could, they would run away, and she was
furious. Some white mice, which she had ceased feeding altogether,
did so; and soon the palace was swarming with white mice. Their red
eyes might be seen glowing, and their white skins gleaming, in every
dark corner; but when it came to the king's finding a nest of them
in his second-best crown, he was angry and ordered them to be
drowned. The princess heard of it, however, and raised such a
clamor, that there they were left until they should run away of
themselves; and the poor king had to wear his best crown every day
till then. Nothing that was the princess's property, whether she
cared for it or not, was to be meddled with.
Of course, as she grew, she grew worse; for she never tried to grow
better.
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