October, 2007
The Princess Rosette - A Fairy Story
IV. -- Rosette's Second Day In The Palace
When they reached the palace, Rosette again went up to her plain little attic room, and as she opened the door, she saw a magnificent rosewood box, and it was empty and wide open. What was stranger still, as she laid aside her beautiful garments and jewels, they were taken by invisible hands and laid in the box and then the box was closed. Pretty soon she began to dress for dinner; and she arranged her hair and put on her dress and ornaments with great care and then went to look in the glass.
And O, what a change! She hardly knew herself. Her dress had been changed to a lovely, airy material, that had the appearance of butterflies' wings, it was so fine and light, and brilliant, and it was thickly studded with diamonds that shone like the stars. The skirt and waist were fringed with the most dazzling diamonds, and her whole head was bright with them. Diamonds! Diamonds everywhere! - on her clothes, on her head, on her neck, on her wrists, on her fingers! It seemed as if all the good fairies had united to do her honor.
When she was ready, the page again appeared and led the way down into the drawing-room. Prince Charming met her at the door, as before, and offering her his arm, led her into the presence of the king and queen. And this time she was treated not only coldly but also with the greatest rudeness. They and their jealous daughters cast the most furious glances at her.
"I will wait for you," answered Rosette, with a gracious smile, as the prince hurried away.
Prince Charming saw it all and felt a new sympathy for Rosette. Again he remained by her side, witnessed not only the scorn of her parents and sisters, but the admiration she inspired among kings and princes. Admiration, however, could not make her cheerful. She saw herself the object of the hatred of her family and was very sad.
Prince Charming perceived it, and said to her, -
"All my subjects would love you, and I, more than all, would delight in you. Why may I not, therefore, at once ask for parents for your hand?"
"Tomorrow I will consult my godmother," replied Rte, " and then I shall know what to say to you."
Prince Charming seemed to be satisfied, for he said no more, but watched, with silent admiration, the beautiful girl he was so sure would become his wife.
Orangine and Favarola were again present; their heads still full of envy and wrath. Indeed, so unrestrained had been their evil passions, that their features had become distorted and their faces entirely changed. No one pitied them, for all saw what had wrought the change.
Rosette alone felt compassion - so pained was by the feelings she had inspired in her sisters, and the unhappiness she had caused them; that she stole out of the palace and sought refuge in the garden from the admiration and flattery that were poured upon her, and which so disturbed her sisters.
The prince missed her at once, and soon followed her; and as they sat in the arbors of the garden, and strolled along the walks, they talked of what would be if the kind godmother, the fairy Powerful, should favor the marriage.
That night, when Rosette had taken off her beautiful jewels and rich garments, and laid down to rest, she began, in a timid voice, to question the fairy.
"My dear, good godmother," she said, "what answer shall I give the prince tomorrow? Whatever you tell me to say, I will say."
"Say yes," answered the fairy, in the sweetest tones; "I have already planned and arranged the marriage. It was to introduce you to the young and noble prince that I compelled your father to invite you to the palace and nothing could please me more than to see you united."
Rosette thanked the kind fairy, and, in a few minutes, was quietly asleep and dreaming about the bright future.
( To be continued next month)
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