July, 2007
The Princess Rosette - A Fairy Story
III. -- The Family Council
While Rosette's mind was filled with kind, pleasant thoughts, the king and queen and princesses, indignant and excited, were having an earnest consultation in the queen's room.
It was dreadful," said Orangine, "to bring the odious Rosette here, to shine out her dazzling ornaments and attract the attention and win the admiration of all kinds and prices. They are great ninnies to be so overcome by her charms, but it is mortifying to us to see her influence over them. O, why did you send for her, father? Did you do it to humble us?"
"I assure you, my daughters," replied the king, "that I had no such motive. I did it because the fairy Powerful ordered me to do it. Besides, I did not know that she was so beautiful and that -"
" 'So beautiful!' " interrupted Favarola; "I should like to know her beauty is! She is coarse and homely. It is her magnificent dress and ornaments that attract all the attention. not herself. And it was to us, not to her, that you should have given the most beautiful clothes and jewels."
"And where could I have bought such clothes and such jewels as Rosette wears? I know of none anywhere that can compare with them. They were all given to her by her Godmother, the fairy Powerful."
"And why did you choose a fairy to her godmother, and give us only queens for godmothers?" asked Orangine.
"Your father didn't choose the fairy," said the queen. "They fairy came herself, without being called, and signified her intention to be your sister's godmother."
"We can accomplish nothing by disputing," interrupted the king. "The question now is, how we shall get rid of Rosette, and prevent her meeting the young prince again!"
"Nothing could be more easy," replied the queen. "Tomorrow I will take away her elegant clothes and jewels, and send her back to the farm, there to stay forever."
The queen had no sooner said this, then the fairy powerful appeared, with indignation and revenge in her face, said, in a voice of thunder, "If you touch Rosette, if you do not keep her here, and allow her to be present continually in your gathering of kings and princes, I will make you feel the effect of my wrath. You, unworthy king, and you, heartless queen, shall be changed into toads; and you, detestable sisters, shall be turned into vipers."
The fairy vanished, leaving the king and queen and princesses terrified and speechless. Without saying another word, although their hearts were full of rage, they separated for the night, but they found no rest.
While Rosette slept peacefully, they tossed upon their beds; and when she waked, in the morning, with quiet, happy thoughts, they waked more indignant and furious than they were the night before. They were black and blue spots around their eyes, and their features had become pinched and sharpened during the night by their spitefulness and wickedness. Power and paint were at once applied, but failed to hide their deformities, and they saw no remedy for their grief.
( To be continued next month)
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