the governess-第17章

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re　many　small　green　meadows；　with　little　rivulets　running　through　them；　on　the　banks　of　which；　covered　with　primroses　and　violets；　Rozella；　by　the　side　of　her　sweet　companion；　used　to　sing　the　most　enchanting　songs　in　the　world：　　the　words　were　chiefly　in　praise　of　innocence　and　a　country　life。

The　princess　came　home　every　day　more　and　more　charmed　with　her　young　shepherdess；　and　recounted；　as　near　as　she　could　remember；　every　word　that　had　passed　between　them。　　The　queen　very　highly　approved　of　their　manner　of　amusing　themselves；　but　again　enjoined　her　to　omit　nothing　that　passed　in　conversation；　especially　if　it　had　the　least　tendency　towards　alluring　her　from　her　duty。

One　day；　as　the　princess　Hebe　and　Rozella　were　walking　alone；　and　talking；　as　usual；　of　their　own　happy　state；　and　the　princess　was　declaring　how　much　her　own　happiness　was　owing　to　her　thorough　obedience　to　her　mother；　Rozella；　with　a　tone　of　voice　as　half　in　jest；　said；　'But　don't　you　think；　my　little　Hebe；　that　if　I　take　a　very　great　pleasure　in　any　thing　that　will　do　me　no　hurt；　though　it　is　forbidden；　I　may　disobey　my　parents　in　enjoying　it；　provided　I　don't　tell　them　of　it　to　vex　them　with　the　thought　that　I　have　disobeyed　them？　　And　then；　my　dear；　what　harm　is　done？'

'Great　harm　（answered　the　princess；　looking　grave　and　half　angry）：　　I　am　ashamed　to　hear　you　talk　so；　Rozella。　　Are　you　not　guilty　of　treachery；　as　well　as　disobedience？　　Neither　ought　you　to　determine　that　no　harm　is　done；　because　you　do　not　feel　the　immediate　effects　of　your　transgression；　for　the　consequence　may　be　out　of　our　narrow　inexperienced　view；　and　I　have　been　taught　whenever　my　mother　lays　any　commands　on　me；　to　take　it　for　granted；　she　has　some　reason　for　so　doing；　and　I　obey　her；　without　examining　what　those　reasons　are；　otherwise；　it　would　not　be　obeying　her；　but　setting　up　my　own　wisdom；　and　doing　what　she　bid　me；　only　when　I　thought　proper。'

They　held　a　long　argument　on　this　head；　in　which　Rozella　made　use　of　many　a　fallacy　to　prove　her　point；　but　the　princess；　as　she　had　not　yet　departed　from　Truth；　nor　failed　in　her　duty；　could　not　be　imposed　upon。　　Rozella；　seeing　every　attempt　to　persuade　her　was　in　vain；　turned　all　her　past　discourse　into　a　jest；　said　she　had　only　a　mind　to　try　her；　and　was　overjoyed　to　find　her　so　steady　in　the　cause　of　truth　and　virtue。　　The　princess　resumed　her　usual　cheerfulness　and　good　humour。　　Rozella　sung　her　a　song　in　praise　of　constancy　of　mind；　and　they　passed　the　rest　of　the　time　they　stayed　together；　as　they　used　to　do。

But；　just　before　they　parted；　Rozella　begged　she　would　not　tell　her　mother　of　the　first　part　of　the　conversation　that　had　passed　between　them。　　The　princess　replied；　that　it　would　be　breaking　through　one　of　her　mother's　commands；　and　therefore　she　dared　not　grant　her　request。　　Then；　said　Rozella；　'Here　I　must　for　ever　part　with　my　dear　little　Hebe。　　Your　mother；　not　knowing　the　manner　in　which　I　spoke；　will　have　an　ill　opinion　of　me；　and　will　never　trust　you　again　in　my　company。　　Thus　will　you　be　torn　from　me；　and　loss　will　be　irreparable。'　　These　words　she　accompanied　with　a　flood　of　tears；　and　such　little　tendernesses；　as　quite　melted　the　princess　into　tears　also。　　But　she　still　said；　that　she　could　not　dare　to　conceal　from　her　mother　anything　that　had　happened；　though　she　could　not　but　own；　she　believed　their　separation　would　be　the　consequence。　　'Well　then　（cried　Rozella）　I　will　endeavour　to　be　contented；　as　our　separation　will　give　you　less　pain　than　what　you　call　this　mighty　breach　of　your　duty：　　and　though　I　would　willingly　undergo　almost　any　torments　that　could　be　invented；　rather　than　be　debarred　one　moment　the　company　of　my　dearest　Hebe；　yet　I　will　not　expect　that　she　should　suffer　the　smallest　degree　of　pain；　or　uneasiness；　to　save　me　from　losing　what　is　the　whole　pleasure　of　my　life。'

The　princess　could　not　bear　the　thought　of　appearing　ungrateful　to　such　a　warm　friendship　as　Rozella　expressed；　and；　without　farther　hesitation；　promised　to　conceal　what　she　had　said；　and　to　undergo　anything；　rather　than　lose　so　amiable　a　friend。

After　this　they　parted。　　But　when　the　princess　entered　the　Grove；　she　did　not；　as　usual；　run　with　haste　and　joy　into　the　presence　of　her　indulgent　mother；　for　her　mind　was　disturbed：　　she　felt　a　conscious　shame　on　seeing　her；　and　turned　away　her　face；　as　wanting　to　shun　the　piercing　look　of　that　eye；　which　she　imagined　would　see　the　secret　lurking　in　her　bosom。　　Her　mother　observed　with　concern　her　downcast　look；　and　want　of　cheerfulness。　　And　asking　her　what　was　the　matter；　she　answered；　her　walk　had　fatigued　her；　and　she　begged　early　to　retire　to　rest。　　Her　kind　mother　consented；　but　little　rest　had　the　poor　princess　that　whole　night；　for　the　pain　of　having　her　mind　touched　with　guilt；　and　the　fear　she　was　under　of　losing　her　dear　companion；　kept　her　thoughts　in　one　continued　tumult　and　confusion。　　The　fairy's　gift　now　became　her　curse；　for　the　power　of　seeing　what　was　right；　as　she　had　acted　contrary　to　her　knowledge；　only　tormented　her。

She　hastened　the　next　morning　to　meet　Rozella；　and　told　her　all　that　had　passed　in　her　own　mind　the　preceding　night；　declaring　that　she　would　not　pass　such　another　for　the　whole　world；　but　yet　would　not　dispense　with　her　promise　to　her；　without　her　consent；　and　therefore　came　to　ask　her　leave　to　acquaint　her　good　mother　with　all　that　had　passed：　　'For　（said　she）　my　dear　Rozella；　we　must；　if　we　would　be　happy；　do　always　what　is　right；　and　trust　for　the　consequences。'　　Here　Rozella　drew　her　features　into　the　most　contemptuous　sneer　imaginable；　and　said；　'Pray　what　are　all　these　mighty　pains　you　have　suffered？　　Are　they　not　owing　only　to　your　want　of　sense　enough　to　know；　that　you　can　do　your　mother　no　harm；　by　concealing　from　her　this；　or　anything　else　that　will　vex　her？　and；　my　dear　girl　（continued　she）　when　you　have　once　entered　into　this　way　of　thinking；　and　have　put　this　blind　duty　out　of　your　head；　you　will　spend　no　more　such　restless　nights；　which　you　must　see　was　entirely　owing　to　your　own　imaginations。'

This　startled　the　princess　to　such　a　degree；　that　she　was　breaking　from　her；　but；　putting　on　a　more　tender　air；　Rozella　cried；　'And　can　you　then；　my　dear　Hebe；　determine　to　give　me　up　for　such　a　trifling　consideration？'　　Then　raising　her　voice　again；　in　a　haughty　manner；　she　said；　'I　ought　to　despise　and　laugh　at　you　for　your　folly；　or　at　best　pity　your　ignorance；　rather　than　offer　a　sincere　friendship　to　one　so　undeserving。'

The　princess；　having　once　swerved　from　her　duty；　was　now　in　the　power　of　every　passion　that　should　attack　her。

Pride　and　indignation；　at　the　thought　of　being　despised；　bore　more　sway　with　her；　than　either　her　duty　or　affection　to　her　fond　mother；　and　she　was　now　determined；　she　said；　to　think　for　herself；　and　make　use　of　her　own　understanding；　which　she　was　convinced　would　always　teach　her　what　was　right。　　Upon　this　Rozella　took　her　by　the　hand；　and；　with　tears　of　joy；　said；　'Now；　my　dearest　girl；　you　are　really　wise；　and　cannot　therefore　（according　to　your　own　rule）　fail　of　being　happy。　　But　to　show　that　you　are　in　earnest　in　this　resolution；　you　shall　this　morning　go　home　with　me　to　my　father's　cot；　it　is　not　so　far　off；　but　you　will　be　back　by　the　time　your　mother　expects　you；　and　as　that　will　be　obeying　the　chief　command；　it　is　but　concealing　from　her　the　thing　that　would　vex　her；　and　there　will　be　no　harm　done。'　　Here　a　ray　of　truth　broke　in　upon　our　young　princess；　but　as　a　false　shame；　and　fear　of　being　laughed　at；　had　now　got　possession　of　her；　she；　with　a　soft　sigh；　consented　to　the　proposal。

Rozella　led　the　way。　　But　just　as　they　were　turning　round　the　walk；　which　leads　out　of　the　wood；　a　large　serpent　darted　from　one　side　out　of　a　thicket；　directly　between　them；　and　turning　its　hissing　mouth　towards　the　princess；　as　seeming　to　make　after　her；　she　fled　hastily　back；　and　ran　with　all　her　speed　towards　the　grove；　and　panting　for　breath；　flew　into　the　arms　of　her　ever　kind　protectress。

Her　mother　was　vastly　terrified　to　see　her　tremble；　and　look　so　pale；　and　as　soon　as　she　was　a　little　recovered；　asked　her　the　occasion　of　her　fright；　and　added　（with　tears　running　down　her　cheeks）　'I　am　afraid；　my　dear　Hebe；　some　sad　disaster　has　befallen　you；　for；　indeed；　my　child；　I　but　too　plainly　saw　last　night'

Here　the　princess　was　so　struck　with　true　shame　and　confusion；　for　her　past　behaviour；　that　she　fell　down　upon　her　knees；　confessed　the　whole　truth；　and　implored　forgiveness　for　her　fault。

The　queen　kindly　raised　her　up；　kissed　and　forgave　her。　　'I　am　overjoyed；　my　dear　child　（said　she）　at　this　your　sweet　repentance；　though　the　effect　of　mere　accident；　as　it　appears　but　sent；　without　doubt；　by　some　good　fairy；　to　save　you　from　destruction；　and　I　hope　you　are　thoroughly　convinced；　that　the　serpent　which　drove　you　home；　was　not　half　so　dangerous　as　the　false　Rozella。'

The　princess　answered；　that　she　was　thoroughly　sensible　of　the　dangers　she　had　avoided；　and　hoped　she　never　should　again；　by　her　own　folly　and　wickedness；　deserve　to　be　exposed　to　the　danger　from　which　she　had　so　lately　escaped。

Some　days　passed；　without　the　princess's　offering　to　stir　out　of　the　grove；　and　in　that　time　she　gave　a　willing　and　patient　ear　to　all　her　mother's　instructions；　and　seemed　thoroughly　sensible　of　the　great　deliverance　she　had　lately　experienced。　　But　yet　there　appeared　in　her　countenance　an　uneasiness；　which　the　queen　wishing　to　remove；　asked　her　the　cause　of。

'It　is；　dear　madam；'　answered　the　princess；　'because　I　have　not　yet　had　it　in　my　power　to　convince　you　of　my　repentance；　which　（though　I　know　it　to　be　sincere）　you　have　had　no　proof　of；　but　in　words　only；　and；　indeed；　my　heart　longs　for　an　occasion　to　show　you；　that　I　am　now　able　to　resist　any　allurement　which　would　tempt　me　from　my　duty；　and　I　cannot　be　easy　till　you　have　given　me　an　opportunity　of　showing　you　the　firmness　of　my　resolution；　and　if　you　will　give　me　leave　to　take　a　walk　in　the　wood　alone；　this　evening；　I　shall　return　to　you　with　pleasure；　and　will　promise　not　to　exceed　any　bounds　that　you　shall　prescribe。'

The　queen　was　not　much　pleased　with　this　request；　but　the　princess　was　so　earnest　with　her　to　grant　it；　that　she　could　not　well　refuse；　without　seeming　to　suspect　her　sincerity；　which　she　did　not；　but　only　feared　for　her　safety；　and；　giving　her　a　strict　charge；　not　to　stir　a　step　out　of　the　wood；　or　to　speak　to　the　false　Rozella；　if　she　came　in　her　way；　she　reluctantly　gave　her　consent。

The　princess　walked　through　all　the　flowery　labyrinths；　in　which　she　had　so　often　strayed　with　Rozella；　but　she　was　so　shocked　with　the　thoughts　of　her　wickedness；　that　she　hardly　gave　a　sigh　for　the　loss　of　a　companion　once　so　dear　to　her；　and　as　a　proof　that　her　repentance　was　sincere；　though　she　heard　Rozella　singing　in　an　arbour　（purposely　perhaps　to　decoy　her）　she　turned　away　without　the　least　emotion；　and　went　quite　to　the　other　side　of　the　wood；　where　looking　into　the　meadow；　in　which　she　first　beheld　that　false　friend；　she　saw　a　girl　about　her　own　age；　leaning　against　a　tree；　and　crying　most　bitterly。　　But　the　moment　she　came　in　sight；　the　young　shepherdess　（for　such　by　her　dress　she　appeared　to　be）　cried　out；　'O　help；　dear　young　lady；