they were married. I have invited the princes and princesses of all
the kingdoms of the earth to come and assist at a festival which I
intend to give in order to choose husbands for Orangine and
Roussette. You are now fifteen years old and can properly appear at
this festival. You may come and pass three days with me. I will send
for you in eight days. I cannot send you any money for your toilet
as I am now at great expense for your sisters; besides, no one will
look at you. Come, therefore, in any clothes you please.
"The King Your Father."
Rosette ran quickly to show this letter to her nurse.
"Are you pleased, Rosette, to go to this festival?"
"Yes, my good nurse, I am delighted. I will enjoy myself and become
acquainted with my father, mother and my sisters and then I will return
to you."
"But," said the nurse, shaking her head, "what dress will you wear, my
poor child?"
"My beautiful robe of white percale which I always wear on holidays, my
dear nurse."
"My poor little one, that robe is indeed very suitable for the country
but would appear miserably poor at a party of kings and princes."
"Of what consequence is all this, nurse? My father himself has said that
no one will look at me. This thought will make me much more at my ease.
I shall see all and no one will see me."
The nurse sighed but said nothing and began immediately to mend, whiten
and smooth Rosette's white robe.
The day before the king was to send for her, the nurse called her and
said:
"My dear child, here is your dress for the king's festival; be very
careful with it as I shall not be there to whiten and smooth it for
you."
"Thanks, my good nurse; be satisfied--I will take great care."
The nurse now packed in a little trunk the percale robe and white skirt,
a pair of cotton stockings and black shoes and then a little bouquet of
flowers for Rosette to wear in her hair. Just as she was about to close
the trunk, the window opened violently and the fairy Puissante entered.
"You are going, then, to your father's court, my dear Rosette?" said the
fairy.
"Yes, dear godmother, but only for three days."
"But what dress have you prepared for those three days?"
"Look, godmother! look!" and she pointed to the trunk, which was still
open.
The fairy smiled, drew a small bottle from her pocket and said: "I
intend that my dear Rosette shall make a sensation by her dress. This is
unworthy of her."
The fairy opened the bottle, and threw some drops of the liquid it
contained upon the robe, which became a coarse India rubber cloth; then
a drop upon the cotton stockings, which changed into blue yarn; a third
drop upon the bouquet, which became a hen's egg; a fourth upon the
shoes, and they immediately changed into coarse felt.
"In this manner," said she, with a gracious air, "do I wish my Rosette
to appear. You must attire yourself in all this and, to complete your
toilette, here is a necklace of nuts, a band for your hair of burrs, and
bracelets of dried beans." She kissed Rosette who was completely
stupefied. The fairy then disappeared and the nurse burst into tears.
"Alas! it was not worth my while to give myself all the trouble of
preparing this poor robe. Oh, my poor Rosette! Do not go to this
festival. Pretend you are ill, my child."
"No," said Rosette; "that would be to displease my godmother. I am sure
that she does what is best for me. She is much wiser than I am. I will
go and I will wear all that my godmother has brought me." And the good
and obedient Rosette thought no more of her dress. She went to bed and
slept tranquilly.
She had scarce arranged her hair and dressed herself in the morning when
the chariot of the fairy came for her. She embraced her nurse, took her
little trunk and departed.
ROSETTE AT THE COURT OF THE KING HER FATHER
They were but two hours on the way, for the king's capital was only ten
leagues from the farm. When Rosette arrived, she was surprised to see
that she had to descend in a little, dirty court-yard, where a page
attended her.
"Come, princess, I am commissioned to conduct you to your chamber."
"Can I not see the queen my mother?" asked Rosette, timidly.
"In two hours, princess, when they are assembled for dinner, you will
see her. In the mean time you can dress."
Rosette followed the page, who led her through a long corridor, at the
end of which was a narrow staircase. She ascended, slowly, after a long,
long time arriving at another corridor where she entered the chamber
destined for her. The queen had lodged Rosette in one of the servants'
rooms. The little page placed Rosette's modest trunk in a corner and
said, with an air of embarrassment,
"Pardon me, princess, for having led you into this chamber, so unworthy
of you. The queen has disposed of all the other apartments for her
guests, the kings, queens, princes and princesses. There was no other
room vacant and----"
"Well, well," said Rosette, smiling, "I shall not blame you. Besides, I
shall be very comfortable."
"I will come for you, princess, to lead you to the king and queen at the
proper hour."
"I will be ready," said Rosette, "adieu, pretty page."
Rosette now unpacked her trunk. Her heart was beating and swelling
tumultuously. Sighing heavily, she drew out her robe of coarse cloth and
the other articles of her toilette. Rosette was very adroit. She
arranged her exquisite blonde hair most beautifully, with a pullet's
feather and a band made of burrs. Her head-dress was indeed so charming
that it made her a hundred times more lovely. When she had put on her
shoes and stockings and her robe, what was her amazement to see that it
was made of gold brocade, embroidered with rubies of marvellous beauty;
her coarse heavy shoes were now white satin, adorned with buckles of one
single ruby of wonderful splendour; her stockings were of silk and as
fine as a spider's web; her necklace was of rubies surrounded with
large diamonds; her bracelets of diamonds, the most splendid that had
ever been seen.
Rosette now ran to the glass and saw that the pullet's wing had become a
magnificent locket and that the pendant was a carbuncle of such beauty
and brilliancy that a fairy alone could possess it.
Rosette, happy, delighted, exultant, danced around the little room and
thanked her good godmother aloud for having tested her obedience and
thus magnificently rewarded it.
The page now knocked at the door, entered and started back, dazzled by
the beauty of Rosette and the magnificence of her toilette. Rosette
followed him. They descended the stairs, passed through many apartments
and at last entered a suite of superb salons, filled with kings, queens
and nobles. Every one who saw Rosette paused and turned to admire her.
The modest princess, however, was ashamed to be thus gazed at and did
not dare raise her eyes. At last the page paused and said to Rosette:
"Princess, behold the queen your mother and the king!"
Rosette raised her eyes and saw just before her the king and queen who
regarded her with a comic surprise.
"Madam," said the king at last to her, "be graciously pleased to tell me
your name. You are no doubt some great queen or still greater fairy
whose unexpected presence is an honor and a happiness for us."
"Sire," said Rosette, falling gracefully upon her knees, "I am neither
a great queen nor a powerful fairy but your daughter Rosette, for whom
you were kind enough to send."
"Rosette!" exclaimed the queen; "Rosette clothed more magnificently than
I have ever been! Who, then, miss, has given you all these beautiful
things?"
"My godmother, madam. Graciously permit me, madam, to kiss your hand and
present me to my sisters."
The queen gave her hand coldly. Then pointing to Orangine and Roussette,
who were by her side, she said: "There are your sisters."
Poor Rosette, saddened by this cold welcome from her father and mother,
turned gladly towards her sisters and wished to embrace them but they
drew back with terror, fearing that while embracing them Rosette would
displace the red and white with which they were painted. Orangine
covered herself with white to conceal her yellow skin and Roussette to
hide her ugly freckles.
Rosette was repulsed by her sisters but was soon surrounded by the
ladies of the court and all the invited princes. As she conversed with
ready grace and goodness and spoke several languages she charmed all
those who approached her. Orangine and Roussette were frightfully
jealous. The king and queen were furious for Rosette absorbed all
attention; no one paid any attention to the sisters.
At table the young prince Charmant, who was monarch of the most
magnificent and beautiful of all the kingdoms of the earth and whom
Orangine hoped to wed, placed himself by the side of Rosette and was
completely absorbed in her during the repast.
After dinner, Orangine and Roussette, in order to draw some attention
towards themselves, sang a duet. They sang indeed admirably and
accompanied themselves on the harp. Rosette who was truly good and
wished her sister to love her, applauded them rapturously and
complimented them on their talent.
Orangine, in place of being touched by this generous sentiment and
hoping to play her sister a malicious trick, now insisted upon her
singing. Rosette for some time modestly refused. Her sisters, who
supposed that she did not know how to sing, were insistent. The queen
herself, desiring to humiliate poor Rosette, joined her entreaties to
those of Orangine and Roussette and in fact commanded the young princess
to sing.
Rosette curtsied to the queen. "I obey, madam," said she.
She took the harp and the enchanting grace of her position astonished
her sisters. They would have been glad indeed to interrupt her when she
commenced her prelude for they saw at a glance that her talent was much
superior to theirs. But when, in a beautiful and melodious voice, she
sang a romance, composed by herself on the happiness of being good and
beloved there was an outbreak of admiration, the enthusiasm became
general and her sisters almost fainted with jealousy and envy.
Charmant was transported with admiration. He approached Rosette, his
eyes moistened with tears and said to her:
"Enchanting and lovely princess, I have never heard so touching a voice.
Can I not have the happiness of hearing you once more?"
Rosette, who was painfully aware of the jealousy of her sisters, excused
herself, saying she was fatigued. Prince Charmant, who had clear
intellect and penetration, divined the true motive of her refusal and
admired Rosette still more for her delicacy. The queen, irritated by the
success of Rosette, terminated the party at an early hour and retired.
Rosette returned to her little room and undressed herself. She removed
her robe and her ornaments and put them in a superb case of ebony which
she found in her room. Much to her surprise, she found in her little
trunk the robe of coarse cloth, the pullet feather, the necklace of
nuts, the burrs, the dry beans, the coarse shoes of felt and the blue
yarn stockings. She would not allow herself, however, to be disquieted,
certain that her good godmother would come to her assistance at the
proper time. Rosette was indeed saddened by the coldness of her parents
and the jealousy of her sisters; but, as she scarcely knew them, this
painful impression was effaced by the remembrance of the Prince
Charmant, who appeared so good and who had been so flattering in his
attention to her. Rosette soon slept peacefully and awoke late in the
morning.
FAMILY COUNCIL
While Rosette was only occupied with smiling and pleasant thoughts, the
king, the queen and the princesses Orangine and Roussette were choking
with rage. They had all assembled in the queen's apartment.
"This is too horrible," said the princesses. "Why did you send for this
Rosette, who has such dazzling jewels and makes herself admired and
sought after by all these foolish kings and princes? Was it to humiliate
us, my father, that you called us to the court at this time?"
"I swear to you, my beautiful darlings," said the king, "that it was by
the order of the fairy Puissante I was compelled to write for her to
come. Besides, I did not know that she was so beautiful and that----"
"So beautiful!" interrupted the princesses. "Where do you find her so
beautiful? She is indeed ugly and coarse. It is her magnificent attire
alone which makes her admired. Why have you not given to us your most
superb jewels and your richest robes? We have the air of young slovens
by the side of this proud princess."
"And where could I possibly have found jewels as magnificent as hers? I
have none which would compare with them. It is her godmother, the fairy
Puissante, who has lent her these jewels."
"Why, then, did you summon a fairy to be the godmother of Rosette, when
you gave to us only queens for our godmothers?"
"It was not your father who called her," cried the queen. "The fairy
Puissante herself, without being called, appeared to us and signified
that she would be Rosette's godmother."
"It is not worth while to spend the time in disputing and quarrelling,"
said the king. "It is better to occupy ourselves in finding some means
of getting rid of Rosette and preventing Prince Charmant from seeing her
again."
"Nothing more easy than that," said the queen. "I will have her
despoiled to-morrow of her rare jewels and her beautiful robes. I will
order my servants to seize her and carry her back to the farm which she
shall never leave again."
The queen had scarcely uttered these words, when the fairy Puissante
appeared with an angry and threatening air. "If you dare to touch
Rosette," said she, with a thundering voice, "if you do not keep her at
the palace, if she is not present at all the parties, you shall feel
the terrible effects of my anger. You unworthy king and you heartless
queen, you shall be changed into toads and you, odious daughters and
sisters, shall become vipers. Dare now to touch Rosette!"
Saying these words, she disappeared.
The king, the queen and princesses were horribly frightened and
separated without saying a single word but their hearts were filled with
rage. The princesses slept but little and were yet more furious in the
morning when they saw their eyes heavy and their features convulsed by
evil passions. In vain they used rouge and powder and beat their maids.
They had no longer a vestige of beauty. The king and queen were as
unhappy and as despairing as the princesses and indeed they saw no
remedy for their grief and disappointment.
SECOND DAY OF THE FESTIVAL
In the morning a coarse servant brought Rosette bread and milk and
offered her services to dress her. Rosette, who did not wish this rude
domestic to see the change in her dress, thanked her smilingly and
replied that she was in the habit of arranging her hair and dressing
herself. Rosette then began her toilette. When she had washed and combed
her hair she wished to arrange it with the superb carbuncle she had worn
the day before but she saw with surprise that the ebony case had
disappeared and in its place was a small wooden trunk, upon which there
lay a folded paper. She took it and read the following directions:
"Here are your things, Rosette. Dress yourself as you were dressed
yesterday, in the clothing you brought from the farm."
Rosette did not hesitate an instant, certain that her godmother would
come to her help at the proper time. She arranged her pullet wing in a
different manner from that of the day before, put on her dress, her
necklace, her shoes, her bracelets and then stood before the glass.
When she saw her own reflection in the mirror she was amazed. She was
attired in the richest and most splendid riding-suit of sky-blue velvet
and pearl buttons as large as walnuts; her stockings were bordered with
a wreath of pearls; her head-dress was a cap of sky-blue velvet with a
long plume of dazzling whiteness, which floated down to her waist and
was attached by a single pearl of unparalleled beauty and splendor. The
boots were also of blue velvet embroidered in gold and pearls. Her
bracelets and necklace also were of pearls, so large and so pure that a
single one would have paid for the king's palace.
At the moment when Rosette was about to leave her chamber to follow the
page, a sweet voice whispered in her ear, "Rosette, do not mount any
other horse than the one the prince Charmant will present you."
She turned and saw no one; but she felt convinced that this counsel came
from her good godmother.
"Thanks, dear godmother," she said, in low tones. She felt a sweet kiss
upon her cheek and smiled with happiness and gratitude.
The little page conducted her, as the day before, into the royal salon,
where her appearance produced a greater effect than before. Her fine,
sweet countenance, her splendid figure, her magnificent dress, allured
all eyes and captivated all hearts.
The prince Charmant, who was evidently expecting her, advanced to meet
her, offered his arm and led her to the king and queen who received her
with more coldness than the day before. Orangine and Roussette were
bursting with spite at the sight of the splendid appearance of Rosette.
They would not even say good-day to their sister.
The good, young princess was of course somewhat embarrassed by this
reception but the prince Charmant, seeing her distress, approached and
asked permission to be her companion during the chase in the forest.
"It will be a great pleasure to me," replied Rosette, who did not know
how to dissimulate.
"It seems to me," said he, "that I am your brother, so great is the
affection which I feel for you, charming princess. Permit me to remain
by your side and to defend you against all enemies."
"It will be an honor and a pleasure for me to be protected by a king so
worthy of the name he bears."
Prince Charmant was enchanted by this gracious reply and,
notwithstanding the malice of Orangine and Roussette, who tried in every
possible way to attract him to themselves, he did not leave Rosette's
side for a moment.
After breakfast they descended to the court for a ride on horseback. A
page advanced to Rosette, leading a splendid black horse, which could
scarcely be held by the grooms, it was so wild and vicious.
"You must not ride this horse, princess," said Prince Charmant, "it will
certainly kill you. Bring another horse for the princess," he said,
turning to the page.
"The king and the queen gave orders that the princess should ride no
other horse than this," said the page. At this the prince exclaimed:
"Dear princess, wait but for a moment; I myself will bring you a horse
worthy of you but I implore you not to mount this dangerous animal."
"I will wait your return," said Rosette, with a gracious smile.
A few moments afterwards Prince Charmant appeared, leading a magnificent
horse, white as snow. The saddle was of blue velvet, embroidered in
pearls and the bridle was of gold and pearls. When Rosette wished to
mount, the horse knelt down and rose quietly when she had placed herself
in the saddle.
Prince Charmant sprang lightly upon his beautiful steed Alezan and
placed himself by the side of the princess Rosette. The king, the queen
and the princesses, who had seen all this, were pale with rage but they
dared say nothing for fear of the fairy Puissante.
The king gave the signal to depart. Every lady had her attendant
gentleman. Orangine and Roussette were obliged to content themselves
with two insignificant princes who were neither so young nor so handsome
as Prince Charmant. Orangine and Roussette were so sulky that even these
princes declared they would never wed princesses so uninteresting.
In place of following the chase, Prince Charmant and Rosette wandered in
the beautiful shady walks of the forest, talking merrily and giving
accounts of their past lives.
"But," said Charmant, "if the king your father has not allowed you to
reside in his palace, how is it that he has given you such beautiful
jewels, worthy of a fairy?"
"It is to my good godmother that I owe them," replied Rosette. And then
she told Prince Charmant how she had been educated on a farm and that
she was indebted to the fairy Puissante for everything that she knew and
everything she valued. The fairy had watched over her education and
granted her every wish of her heart.
Charmant listened with a lively interest and a tender compassion. And
now, in his turn, he told Rosette that he had been left an orphan at the
age of seven years; that the fairy Puissante had presided over his
education; that she had also sent him to the festivals given by the
king, telling him he would find there the perfect woman he was seeking.
"In short, I believe, dear Rosette, that I have found in you the
charming and perfect creature of whom the fairy spoke. Deign, princess,
to connect your life with mine and authorize me to demand your hand of
your parents."
"Before answering, dear prince, I must obtain permission of my godmother
but you may be sure that I shall be very happy to pass my life with
you."
The morning thus passed away most agreeably for Rosette and Charmant and
they returned to the palace to dress for dinner.
Rosette entered her ugly garret and saw before her a magnificent box of
rosewood, wide open. She undressed and as she removed her articles of
clothing they arranged themselves in the box, which then closed firmly.
She arranged her hair and dressed herself with her usual neatness and
then ran to the glass. She could not suppress a cry of admiration.
Her robe was of gauze and was so fine and light, and brilliant it looked
as if woven of the wings of butterflies. It was studded with diamonds as
brilliant as stars. The hem of this robe, the corsage and the waist were
trimmed with diamond fringe which sparkled like suns. Her hair was
partly covered with a net of diamonds from which a tassel of immense
diamonds fell to her shoulders. Every diamond was as large as a pear and
was worth a kingdom. Her necklace and bracelets were so immense and so
brilliant that you could not look at them fixedly without being
blinded.
The young princess thanked her godmother most tenderly and felt again
upon her fair cheek the sweet kiss of the morning. She followed the page
and entered the royal salon. Prince Charmant was awaiting her at the
door, offered her his arm and conducted her to the apartment of the king
and queen. Rosette advanced to salute them.
Charmant saw with indignation the glances of rage and revenge which the
king, queen and princesses cast upon poor Rosette. He remained by her
side as he had done in the morning and was witness to the admiration
which she inspired and the malice and envy of her sisters.
Rosette was indeed sad to find herself the object of hatred to her
father, mother and sisters. Charmant perceived her melancholy and asked
the cause. She explained it to him frankly.
"When, oh! when, my dear Rosette, will you permit me to ask your hand of
your father? In my kingdom every one will love you and I more than all
the rest."
"To-morrow, dear prince, I will send you the reply of my godmother whom
I shall question on the subject this evening."
They were now summoned to dinner. Charmant placed himself at Rosette's
side and they conversed in a most agreeable manner.
After dinner the king gave orders for the ball to commence. Orangine and
Roussette, who had taken lessons for ten years, danced well but without
any peculiar grace. They believed that Rosette had never had any
opportunity to dance and with a mocking, malicious air, they now
announced to her that it was her turn.
The modest Rosette hesitated and drew back because it was repugnant to
her to show herself in public and attract the general regard. But the
more she declined, the more her envious sisters insisted, hoping that
she would at last suffer a real humiliation.
The queen now interfered and sternly commanded Rosette to dance. Rosette
rose at once to obey the queen. Charmant, seeing her embarrassment, said
to her in low tones:
"I will be your partner, dear Rosette. If you do not know a single step,
let me execute it for you alone."
"Thanks, dear prince. I recognize and am grateful for your courtesy. I
accept you for my partner and hope that you will not have occasion to
blush for your generosity."