August, 2007
The Princess Rosette - A Fairy Story
IV. -- Rosette's Second Day In The Palace
A waiting woman came to Rosette's room in the mooring to assist her in dressing; but she declined all assistance. She was unwilling the servant should see the change of her dress - that would no doubt, she thought, be wrought by the fairy.
"I am mush obligated to you," said she to the servant, "but it is my habit to dress myself."
"as soon as the woman left her room, Rosette began to make her toilet. When she had arranged her hair, she turned to go to the ebony box to get the superb carbuncle she wore the night before; but, to her surprise, the box had disappeared, and in its place was the wooden box, and on the top of this wooden box, there was a piece of white paper. Rosette took it up and read, -
"Your fine clothes and beautiful ornaments are all at home, my child, and you must now dress yourself in the plain garments you wore to the palace."
Rosette didn't hesitate. Feeling confident that her godmother would come to her help, she once more put the chicken's wing in her hair, and put on the same coarse dress, and stockings, and shoes, and also the necklace of dried beans. Her toilet being completed, she turned to look into the glass, and was almost petrified with astonishment when she saw that a much greater change than that of the day before had been wrought in her dress.
A beautiful sky-blue riding-habit had taken the place of the plain calico, and the buttons on it were large pearls. Her shoes and stockings, too, were glistening with pearls, while on her head was blue velvet hat, with a plume, fastened by a large pearl, and floating down to her waist. It was of the most dazzling whiteness, and formed a striking contrast with the blue velvet cap and habit.
She looked again in the glass, and saw a rich pearl necklace around her neck, and pearl bracelets on her wrists; and just as she was leaving the room to follow the page who had come for her, she heard a voice, and it said, -
"Rosette, do not ride any other horse than the one that Prince Charming selects and brings to you with his own hands."
She looked around, but no one was to be seen, and she was at once convinced that it was the fairy who had spoken to her; and she said, in a low voice, -
"Thank you, my dear godmother, thank you."
Then she followed the page, as she did the night before, and he led the way down into the large drawing-room. There she made a still impression, if possible, than she did the previous evening. Her gentle, pleasant manners, her exquisite face, her elegant form and magnificent dress, fastened all eyes upon her, and won all hearts.
Prince Charming made his way up to her immediately, and, offering her his arm, led her to the king and queen. They received her with the same coldness as at first. Her two sisters boiled over with wrath when they saw her new and more elegant attire.
Rosette was evidently annoyed, and the prince, wishing to relieve her embarrassment, turned to her, and asked permission to be her escort to the hunting party in the woods.
"I shall be most happy to go with you, Prince Charming," answered Rosette, frankly; she was unused to hiding her real feelings.
"I feel as if I know you long time," he added; "indeed, I feel a true, brotherly affection for you, and I trust you will allow me to be your attendant and defender while you remain at the palace."
"I shall consider it a great honor, as well as pleasure, to have the society of a prince so worthy of the name he bears," replied Rosette.
Prince Charming was delighted with this simple, sincere response, and remained constantly by the side of Rosette, in spite of the efforts of her sisters to attract his attention.
( To be continued next month)
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