September, 2007
The Princess Rosette - A Fairy Story
IV. -- Rosette's Second Day In The Palace
After breakfast, the hunting-party gathered in the court, and a page brought a fine black horse to Rosette; but he was a very spirited fiery animal, that even two horsemen could with difficulty hold, and he seemed vicious and unmanageable.
"You must not attempt to ride that horse, my fair princess," said Prince
Charming; "it will cost you your life. Bring another," he added, turning to the page.
"The king and queen have expressly ordered that she shall ride no other than this," replied the page.
"Be so kind as to wait a moment, and I will bring you another, my princess," said Prince Charming, "one worthy of you. Please do not ride this one."
"I will wait for you," answered Rosette, with a gracious smile, as the prince hurried away.
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.
In a few minutes he returned, leading a magnificent horse, as white as the driven snow and the saddle was blue velvet, embroidered with pearls, and the bridle was gold and pearls. And he was such a gentle creature that he knelt to let Rosette take her seat in the saddle, and did not rise till she was ready.
The king and queen, and their haughty, envious daughters had witnessed the whole scene and were pale with anger; but they did not dare to interfere, for they were afraid of the fairy Powerful.
Every lady had her escort; and when the king gave the signal for the hunting-party to start, Prince Charming rode up to Rosette's side on a fine bay horse, and he and his horse and his attentions to the stranger princess, attracted the attention of all the guests.
Orangine and Favarola saw the felt it all; and when they found themselves obliged to accept as escorts two little, inferior princes, who were neither fine-looking nor agreeable, they were actually tormented and at once decided to be as disagreeable as possible. Their purpose was certainly carried out, for the princes vowed they would never marry such princesses as they were.
Prince Charming and Rosette were more and more delighted with each other, and the prince proposed that they should not join the party, but remain by themselves in the woods. Rosette was not slow to yield to his proposal, and they strolled through the shady walks alone, telling their early history, and becoming better and better acquainted with each other.
After they had been together some time, the prince asked, "How is it that your father has lavished upon you the richest and rarest jewels when he has so long been willing to life without you? Such ornaments as yours are worthy of a fairy, and yet he has bestowed them upon the least loved of his daughters."
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.
"It is to my godmother, the fairy Powerful, that I owe my precious jewels," answered Rosette. And then she told the prince that she had been brought up on a farm, but that she had been continually under the protection of the fairy, and that it was to this kind fairy she owed all she knew and all she was worth.
Prince Charming listened to her with lively interest and tender compassion. And then he told her that he was left an orphan at the age of seven years; that the fairy Prudent directed his education; and that it was she who had sent him to the palace, telling him that he would find there a perfect being for a wife.
"I believe," he added, "that I see in you that perfect being the fairy described to me; and now will you unite your fortunes with mine, and let your life flow on with mine? If you consent, I will see your parents and ask of them your hand."
"It would be necessary first to obtain the consent of my godmother," replied Rte; and she continued, with great simplicity and frankness, "I can assure you, however, that I should be delighted to spend the rest of my days with you, for your kindness has won my heart."
So happy were Rosette and Prince Charming in each other that the morning passed rapidly away, and it was soon time to return to the palace and prepare for dinner.
( To be continued next month)
Top