Excerpt from The Magic Mirror: A Round of Tales for Young and Old Advised Master Walter, and that was not to make the nobleman, who was extremely proud, an offer in money for his mirror, as it would probably offend him. The better plan would be, when he presented his letter of introduction, to offer him the hospitality of his house, and then Master Walter could take his own opportunity of ingratiating himself in his favour; and it was very possible that the precious object which wealth could not purchase might there upon be offered as a mark of gratitude and esteem. It may easily be imagined that the sturdy English feeling of Master Walter revolted at the scheme pro posed by his wily Italian correspondent; he never theless determined that his visitor should have no reason to complain of any want of hospitality. He fitted up a magnificent suite of apartments for his reception, and hired several experienced servants who could speak Italian to attend upon him, and then somewhat impatiently awaited his arrival. At last an avant - courier announced his approach, and a few hours afterwards the Count Vicenzio Garavaglia arrived. Master Walter no sooner heard the horses' feet in the courtyard than he descended to welcome his guest. A footman drew the curtains of the litter aside, and by the light of the torches Master Walter perceived the Count, who addressed him in perfect English as he raised himself with difficulty on his elbow. Excuse me, Master Walter, if I do not rise to receive you, but you see before you a great invalid. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

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The twisty-turny journey of a girl searching for her heart’s desire—glimpsed in a magic mirror. Perfect for fans of Rump or Catherine, Called Birdy A foundling girl with a crooked leg and a crutch doesn’t expect life to be easy. Indeed, Maggie’s dearest wish is to simply not feel so alone. So when she spies a man behind bars in a magic mirror said to show one’s truest desire, she feels sure he is the father she’s always longed for—and she sets off on a quest to find him. Along the way, Maggie meets both kindly pilgrims and dastardly highwaymen. She discovers she bears a striking resemblance to the princess Petranilla. Their connection is so remarkable that Petra believes Maggie must be her lost sister who fell from the castle wall and was swept downriver as a baby. What a turn of fate! From reviled foundling to beloved royal! But being the lost princess turns out to be more curse than blessing given the schemes of the current king... And if Maggie’s a princess, then who is the man she spied in the magic mirror? This is a grand middle grade adventure story full of mistaken identities, lost loves, found families, and a tantalizing tinge of magic. "I love this book—an uproarious, thoughtful, touching, absurd, ans altogether splendid adventure." —Karen Cushman, Newbery Medal-winning author of The Midwife's Apprentice and Catherine, Called Birdy

What makes a princess excellent? Eager to learn the answer, an enchantress casts her magic mirror into our universe. Reflected in it are princesses from around the world and across centuries who refuse to be pretty, polite, and obedient. Princess Leila of the desert protects her people from the king with the black-and-gold banner; Princess Tica takes a crocodile for a pet; Princess Ellen explores the high seas; Princess Abayome puts empathy and kindness above royal beauty; and in an apartment building, a girl named Princess saves her community’s beloved garden from the hands of urban developers. These girls are fierce, brave, and determined to do the rescuing themselves. Connecting their stories is the magic mirror, which reveals itself when each girl needs it most, illuminating how a princess’s power comes not from her title or looks, but from her own inner strength. These beautifully imagined stories, complemented by vibrant and inviting artwork, are by turns charming and bold, familiar and surprising.