the governess-第15部分

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y；　and　would　meet　her　at　the　western　gate　of　the　city；　and；　carrying　the　young　Princess　Hebe　in　his　arms；　would　conduct　her　to　some　place　of　safety；　but　she　must　consent　to　put　on　a　disguise；　and　escape　that　very　night　from　the　palace；　or　she　would　be　lost　for　ever。　　Horses　or　mules；　she　said；　it　would　be　impossible　to　come　at　without　suspicion；　therefore　she　must　endeavour　（though　unused　to　such　fatigue）　to　travel　afoot　till　she　got　herself　concealed　in　some　cottage　from　her　pursuers；　if　her　enemies　should　think　of　endeavouring　to　find　her　out。　　Loretta　offered　to　attend　her　mistress；　but　she　absolutely　forbad　her　going　any　farther　than　to　the　western　gate；　　where　delivering　the　little　Princess　Hebe　into　the　arms　of　the　peasant；　who　was　there　waiting　for　them；　she　reluctantly　withdrew。

The　good　queen；　who　saw　no　remedy　to　this　her　terrible　disgrace；　could　have　borne　this　barbarous　usage　without　much　repining；　had　she　herself　been　the　only　sufferer　by　it；　for　the　loss　of　the　good　king　her　husband　so　far　exceeded　all　her　other　misfortunes；　that　every　everything　else　was　trifling　in　comparison　of　so　dreadful　an　affliction。　　But　the　young　Princess　Hebe；　whom　she　was　accustomed　to　look　on　as　her　greatest　blessing；　now　became　to　her　an　object　of　pity　and　concern；　for；　from　being　heiress　to　a　throne；　the　poor　infant；　not　yet　five　years　old；　was；　with　her　wretched　mother；　become　a　vagabond；　and　knew　not　whither　to　fly　for　protection。

Loretta　had　prevailed　on　her　royal　mistress　to　take　with　her　a　few　little　necessaries；　besides　a　small　picture　of　the　king；　and　some　of　her　jewels；　which　the　queen　contrived　to　conceal　under　her　night…clothes；　in　the　midst　of　that　hair　they　were　used　to　adorn；　when　her　loved　husband　delighted　to　see　it　displayed　in　flowing　ringlets　round　her　snowy　neck。　　This　lady；　during　the　life　of　her　fond　husband；　was　by　his　tender　care　kept　from　every　inclemency　of　the　air；　and　preserved　from　every　inconvenience　that　it　was　possible　for　human　nature　to　suffer。　　What　then　must　be　her　condition　now；　when　through　bypaths　and　thorny　ways；　she　was　obliged　to　fly　with　all　possible　speed；　to　escape　the　fury　of　her　cruel　pursuers：　　for　she　too　well　knew　the　merciless　temper　of　her　enemies；　to　hope　that　they　would　not　pursue　her　with　the　utmost　diligence；　especially　as　she　was　accompanied　by　the　young　Princess　Hebe；　whose　life　was　the　principal　cause　of　their　disquiet；　and　whose　destruction　they　chiefly　aimed　at。

The　honest　peasant；　who　carried　the　Princess　Hebe　in　his　arms；　followed　the　queen's　painful　steps；　and　seeing　the　day　begin　to　break；　he　begged　her；　if　possible；　to　hasten　on　to　a　wood　which　was　not　far　off；　where　it　was　likely　she　might　find　a　place　of　safety。　　But　the　afflicted　queen；　at　the　sight　of　the　opening　morn　（which　once　used　to　fill　her　mind　with　rising　joy）　burst　into　a　flood　of　tears；　and；　quite　overcome　with　grief　and　fatigue；　cast　herself　on　the　ground；　crying　out　in　the　most　affecting　manner；　'The　end　of　my　misfortunes　is　at　hand。　　My　weary　limbs　will　no　longer　support　me。　　My　spirits　fail　me。　　In　the　grave　alone　must　I　seek　for　shelter。'　　The　poor　princess；　seeing　her　mother　in　tears；　cast　her　little　arms　about　her　neck；　and　wept　also；　though　she　knew　not　why。

Whilst　she　was　in　this　deplorable　condition；　turning　round　her　head；　she　saw　behind　her　a　little　girl；　no　older　in　appearance　than　the　Princess　Hebe；　who；　with　an　amiable　and　tranquil　countenance；　begged　her　to　rise　and　follow　her；　and　she　would　lead　her　where　she　might　refresh　and　repose　herself。

The　queen　was　surprised　at　the　manner　of　speaking　of　this　little　child；　as　she　took　her　to　be；　but　soon　thought　it　was　some　kind　fairy　sent　to　protect　her；　and　was　very　ready　to　submit　herself　to　her　guidance　and　protection。

The　little　fairy　（for　such　indeed　was　the　seeming　child　who　had　thus　accosted　them）　ordered　the　peasant　to　return　back；　and　said　that　she　would　take　care　of　the　queen；　and　her　young　daughter；　and　he；　knowing　her　to　be　the　good　fairy　Sybella；　very　readily　obeyed。

Sybella　then　striking　the　ground　three　times　with　a　little　wand；　there　suddenly　rose　up　before　them　a　neat　plain　car；　and　a　pair　of　milk…white　horses；　and　placing　the　queen　with　the　Princess　Hebe　in　her　lap　by　her　side；　she　drove　with　excessive　swiftness　full　westward　for　eight　hours；　when　（just　as　the　sun　began　to　have　power　enough　to　make　the　queen　almost　faint　with　the　heat　and　her　former　fatigue）　they　arrived　at　the　side　of　a　shady　wood；　upon　entering　of　which；　the　fairy　made　her　horses　slacken　in　their　speed；　and　having　travelled　about　a　mile　and　a　half；　through　rows　of　elms　and　beech　trees；　they　came　to　a　thick　grove　of　firs；　into　which　there　seemed　to　be　no　entrance。　　For　there　was　not　any　opening　to　a　path；　and　the　underwood　consisting　chiefly　of　rose…bushes；　white…thorn；　eglantine；　and　other　flowering　shrubs；　was　so　thick；　that　it　appeared　impossible　to　attempt　forcing　through　them。　　But　alighting　out　of　the　car　（which　immediately　disappeared）　the　fairy　（bidding　the　queen　follow　her）　pushed　her　way　through　a　large　bush　of　jessamine；　whose　tender　branches　gave　way　for　their　passage　and　then　closed　again；　so　as　to　leave　no　traces　of　an　entrance　into　this　charming　grove。

Having　gone　a　little　way　through　an　extreme　narrow　path；　they　came　into　an　opening　（quite　surrounded　by　these　firs　and　sweet　underwood）　not　very　large；　but　in　which　was　contained　everything　that　is　necessary　towards　making　life　comfortable。　　At　the　end　of　a　green　meadow　was　a　plain　neat　house；　built　more　for　convenience　than　beauty；　fronting　the　rising　sun；　and　behind　it　was　a　small　garden；　stored　only　with　fruits　and　useful　herbs。　　Sybella　conducted　her　guests　into　this　her　simple　lodging；　and　as　repose　was　the　chief　thing　necessary　for　the　poor　fatigued　queen；　she　prevailed　with　her　to　lie　down　on　a　couch。　　Some　hours'　sound　sleep；　which　her　weariness　induced；　gave　her　a　fresh　supply　of　spirits；　the　ease　and　safety　from　her　pursuers；　in　which　she　then　found　herself；　made　her　for　a　short　time　tolerably　composed；　and　she　begged　the　favour　of　knowing　to　whom　she　was　so　greatly　obliged　for　this　her　happy　deliverance；　but　the　fairy　seeing　her　mind　too　unsettled　to　give　any　due　attention　to　what　she　should　say；　told　her　that　she　would　defer　the　relation　of　her　own　life　（which　was　worth　her　observation）　till　she　had　obtained　a　respite　from　her　own　sorrows；　and　in　the　meantime；　by　all　manner　of　obliging　ways；　she　endeavoured　to　divert　and　amuse　her。

The　queen；　after　a　short　interval　of　calmness　of　mind；　occasioned　only　by　her　so　sudden　escape　from　the　terrors　of　pursuit；　returned　to　her　former　dejection；　and　for　some　time　incessantly　wept　at　the　dismal　thought；　that　the　princess　seemed　now；　by　this　reverse　of　fate；　to　be　for　ever　excluded　all　hopes　of　being　seated　on　her　father's　throne；　and；　by　a　strange　perverse　way　of　adding　to　her　own　grief；　she　afflicted　herself　the　more；　because　the　little　princess　was　ignorant　of　her　misfortune；　and　whenever　she　saw　her　diverting　herself　with　little　childish　plays；　instead　of　being　pleased　with　such　her　innocent　amusement；　it　added　to　her　sorrow；　and　made　her　tears　gush　forth　in　a　larger　stream　than　usual。　　She　could　not　divert　her　thoughts　from　the　palace　from　which　she　had　been　driven；　to　fix　them　on　any　other　object；　nor　would　her　grief　suffer　her　to　reflect；　that　it　was　possible　for　the　princess　to　be　happy　without　a　crown。

At　length　time；　the　great　cure　of　all　ills；　in　some　measure　abated　her　Sorrows；　her　grief　began　to　subside；　in　spite　of　herself；　the　reflection　that　her　misery　was　only　in　her　own　fancy；　would　sometimes　force　itself　on　her　mind。　　She　could　not　avoid　seeing；　that　her　little　hostess　enjoyed　as　perfect　a　state　of　happiness　as　is　possible　to　attain　in　this　world；　that　she　was　free　from　anxious　cares；　undisturbed　by　restless　passions；　and　mistress　of　all　things　that　could　be　of　any　use　to　make　life　easy　or　agreeable。　　The　oftener　this　reflection　presented　itself　to　her　thoughts；　the　more　strength　it　gained；　and；　at　last；　she　could　even　bear　to　think；　that　her　beloved　child　might　be　as　happy　in　such　a　situation；　as　was　her　amiable　hostess。　　Her　countenance　now　grew　more　cheerful；　she　could　take　the　Princess　Hebe　in　her　arms；　and　thinking　the　jewels　she　had　preserved　would　secure　her　from　any　fear　of　want；　look　on　her　with　delight；　and　began　even　to　imagine；　that　her　future　life　might　be　spent　in　calm　content　and　pleasure。

As　soon　as　the　voice　of　reason　had　gained　this　power　over　the　queen；　Sybella　told　her；　that　now　her　bosom　was　so　free　from　passion；　she　would　relate　the　history　of　her　life。　　The　queen；　overjoyed　that　her　curiosity　might　now　be　gratified；　begged　her　not　to　delay　giving　her　that　pleasure　one　moment；　on　which　our　little　fairy　began　in　the　following　manner。



But　there　Mrs。　Teachum　told　Miss　Jenny　that　the　bell　rung　for　dinner；　on　which　she　was　obliged　to　break　off。　　But　meeting　again　in　the　same　arbour　in　the　evening；　when　their　good　mistress　continued　to　them　the　favour　of　her　presence；　Miss　Jenny　pursued　her　story。



THE　FAIRY　TALE　CONTINUED。

'My　father；'　said　the　fairy；　'was　a　magician：　　he　married　a　lady　for　love；　whose　beauty　far　outshone　that　of　all　her　neighbours；　and　by　means　of　that　beauty；　she　had　so　great　an　influence　over　her　husband；　that　she　could　command　the　utmost　power　of　his　art。　　But　better　had　it　been　for　her；　had　that　beauty　been　wanting；　for　her　power　only　served　to　make　her　wish　for　more；　and　the　gratification　of　every　desire　begot　a　new　one；　which　often　it　was　impossible　for　her　to　gratify。　　My　father；　though　he　saw　his　error　in　thus　indulging　her；　could　not　attain　steadiness　of　mind　enough　to　mend　it；　nor　acquire　resolution　enough　to　suffer　his　beloved　wife　once　to　grieve　or　shed　a　tear　to　no　purpose；　though　in　order　to　cure　her　of　that　folly　which　made　her　miserable。

'My　grandfather　so　plainly　saw　the　temper　and　disposition　of　his　son　towards　women；　that　he　did　not　leave　him　at　liberty　to　dispose　of　his　magic　art　to　any　but　his　posterity；　that　it　might　not　be　in　the　power　of　a　wife　to　tease　him　out　of　it。　　But　his　caution　was　to　very　little　purpose；　for　although　my　mother　could　not　from　herself　exert　any　magic　power；　yet　such　was　her　unbounded　influence　over　her　husband；　th