FullReads

Betty was rather scared, but did not run away; for the nurse was a kind-looking old woman in a high peasant cap, who smiled and nodded at her with a motherly look, and seemed much pleased when she held up the cowslips, saying,–

“Will the little lady have them?”

“Oh yes, I wanted some; I never had a cowslip ball before. How pretty it is! Thank you, Brownie,” cried the Princess, with both hands full of flowers as she laughed with pleasure.

“I picked them all for you. I have so many, and I heard you cried for some,” said Betty, very glad that she had not run away and spoiled the little lady’s drive.

“How did you know?” asked the Princess, staring at her.

“The birds told me,” said Betty.

“Oh yes! brownies are fairies, and understand bird-talk; I forgot that. I know what parrots say, but not my other birds. Could you tell me?” asked the Princess, leaning down very earnestly, for any new thing pleased her.

“I think so, if tame ones sing like the wild ones,” answered Betty, proud to know more than the fine child did.

“Come to the palace and tell me; come now, I can’t wait! My canary sings all day, but I never understand a word, and I must. Tell her to come, Nurse,” commanded the Princess, who always had her own way.

“Can you?” asked the old woman. “We will bring you back at night. Her Highness has a fancy to see you, and she will pay you for coming.”

“I can’t leave Daisy; we have no field to put her in, and if I shut her up in the shed all day she will be hungry and call for me,” answered Betty, longing to go, but not liking to leave her dear cow to suffer.

“Put her in that field till you come back; I give you leave. All this land is mine, so no one will blame you. Do it!” said the Princess, waving her hand to the footman, who jumped down and had Daisy in the great clover-field before Betty could say a word.

“She will like that; and now I can go if you don’t mind my old gown and hat,–I have no other clothes,” she said, as the cow began to eat, and the footman opened the carriage door for her.

“I like it. Come in.–Now, go home at once,” said the Princess; and there was poor little Betty rolling away in the grand carriage, feeling as if it was all a fairy tale.

The Princess asked a great many questions, and liked her new friend more and more; for she had never spoken to a poor child before, or known how they live. Betty was excited by this fine adventure, and was so gay and charming in her little ways that the old nurse soon forgot to watch lest she should do or say something amiss.

When they drove up to the great marble palace shining in the sun, with green lawns and terraces and blooming gardens all about it, Betty could only hold her breath and look with all her eyes as she was led through splendid halls and up wide stairs into a room full of pretty things, where six gayly dressed maids sewed and chattered together.

The Princess went away to rest, but Betty was told to stay there and be dressed before she went to play with her Highness. The room was full of closets and chests and boxes and baskets, and as the doors opened and the covers flew off, Betty saw piles of pretty frocks, hats, cloaks, and all manner of dainty things for little girls to wear. Never had she dreamed of such splendid clothes, all lace and ribbons, silk and velvet. Hats with flowers and feathers, pretty pink and blue shoes with gold and silver buckles, silk stockings like cobwebs, and muslin and linen petticoats and nightgowns and little caps all embroidered as if by fairy fingers.