PZ 3.T325RO Rose and the ring; 3 T153 DDS7S3fifi b ^ =1 r 7l m ' ^^ 33 r 1 Ei < m G) m liy /yA^i-^ i/?^A^ r ' 1knicl^erl)ocF?cr nauggets Nugget. — "A diminutive mass of precious metal. I. Tales from the Gesta Roma- NORUM $I.OO II. Headlong Hall and Nightmare Abbey $i.oo III. Gulliver's Travels. Two vols. $2.50 IV. Tales from Irving. First and Sec- ond Series. Illustrated. Each $1.00 V. The Book of British Ballads. Edited by Hall. Illustrated . I1.50 VI. The Adventures of Baron Mun- chausen. Illustrated . . $1.25 VII. IvEtters, Sentences, and Maxims. By lyord Chesterfield . \ , $1.00 VIII. The Vicar of Wakefield. Illus- trated |i.oo IX. I^AYS of Ancient Rome. By Macau- lay. Illustrated . . . . |i.oo X. Undine and Sintram. By Fouqu4. Illustrated $1.00 XI. The Rose and the Ring. By Thack- eray. Illustrated . . . $1.25 XII. Irish Melodies. By Moore. Illus- trated $1.50 XIII. The Essays of Elia. By I^amb. 2 vols $2.00 XIV. Stories from the Italian Poets. By IvCigh Hunt. 2 vols. . . $2.00 Wi^'i T^inn-^ I,, ,^ POOR BULBO IS ORDERED FOR EXECUTION THE^OSE AND THE RING^ OR THE HISTORY OF PRINCE GIGLIO AND PRINCE BULBO A FIRESIDE PANTOMIME FOR GREAT AND SMALL CHILDREN M.A. TITMARSH ( W, M.sTHACKERA Y) ILLUSTRATED NEW YORK AND LONDON G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Ube IRnfcfterbocftcr ipres0 Press of G. P. Putnam's Sons New York THE ROSE AND THE RING THE HIS TOR Y OF PRINCE GIG LI AND PRINCE BULBO A FIRESIDE PANTOMIME FOR GREAT AND SMALL CHILDREN MR. MICHAEL ANGELO TITMARSH CONTENTS I. — Shows How the Royai. Famii^y Sate Down to Breakfast . . , . i Here begins the pantomine. Royal folks at breakfast time. Awful consequence of crime ! Ah, I fear, King Valoroso, That your conduct is but so-so I II.— How King Valoroso Got the Crown AND Prince G1GI.10 Went Without . 5 Here, behold the monarch sit, With her majesty opposite. How the monarch ruled his nation. GruflFanuff, and what her station. Beware of pride without a cause. Who the fairy Blackstick was. III.— TEI.I.S Who the Fairy Bi^ackstick Was, and Who Were Ever So Many Grand Personages Besides . . . .11 Fairy roses, Fairy rings, Turn out sometimes troublesome things. Flattering courtiers make poor martyrs. Who was king of the Crim Tartars ? viii Contents IV,— How Blackstick Was Not Asked to THE Princess Angelica's Christening i6 GrufTanuff is silenced quite, Don't you think she served him right? All ye footmen, rude and rough, Warning take by GruflanuflF ! v.— How Princess Angelica Took a Lit- tle Maid 20 How the Princess, as she played, Met a little beggar-maid. How this little beggar-baby Danced and sang, as droll as may be. Of the mistress and the maid, Whilst one worked, the other played. VI.— How Prince Giglio Behaved Him- self 26 Shows how Giglio evinces Idle tastes like other princes. How his pretty cousin meets him, And how saucily she treats him. Much I fear, when hearts are ill, Small 's the good of doctor's pill. Folks with whom we 're all acquainted Are n't so handsome as they 're painted. O you painter, how you flatter ! Sure he must be laughing at her ! VII. — How GiGLio AND Angelica Had a Quarrel 36 other girls, the author guesses, Love to flirt besides princesses, other folks, as well as thej', Blindly fling good luck away. Flourish trumpets ! rattle drums Contcnte ix VIII. — How Grui^fanufk Picked the Fairy Ring Up, and Prince Bui.bo Came TO Court 41 Royal Bulbo this way comes ! Friends, if we were princes, too. Drums would beat for me and you. Giglio's jealous of the Crim- Tartar prince, and laughs at him. Here 's a pretty figure for laughter ! How they dined and quarrelled after, Read, and take a warning by 't. Have good care of what you write. IX.— How Betsinda Got the Warming- Pan 50 Poor Betsinda ! Much, I fear, Grief 's in store for you, my dear ! Jealousy, in some men's souls. Warmer burns than pans of coals. Even though you wear a crown. Burning love will knock you down. X. — How King Vai^oroso Was in a Dread- Fui. Passion . . . . . .56 See the Monarch in a huff, I^ook at lovely Grufifanuff ! Critics serve us authors thus : Sport to them is death to us. Leaving Bulbo in this fix. We return to Gruffy's tricks. XI. — What Gruffanufe Did to G1GI.10 AND Betsinda 6i She has Giglio's plighted troth. Prince and maid, she hates th^m both. Contents See ! How woman's anger flies out, Sure thej- '11 tear Betsinda's e3-es out ! While the rope 's round Bulbo's neck fast, King- and Queen sit down to breakfast. Here, upon the new scaffold Thank our stars ! Jack Ketch is baffled ; Bulbo and his bride are married. Now we 're to Betsinda carried. XII.— How Betsinda Fled, and What Became of Her 71 To a hut she gains admission, What a touching recognition ! Champion bold of right and beauty, To Rosalba pay your duty ! You, who with success would fight. Should be strong as well as right. XIII. — How Queen Rosalba Came to the Castle of the Bold Count Hogginarmo 77 How Count Hogginarmo woo'd her, SureU' nothing could be ruder. Much I fear your reign is over. Poor Rosalba ! where 's j-our lover? King Padella comes a wooing. Here we see what Giglio 's doing. XIV. — What Became of Giglio . 83 As becomes his lineage knightly, Master Giglio acts politely. Of the bag, and how she gave it, Oh ! how I should like to have it ! Humble pie is wholesome meat, Good for all of us to eat. In the papers here we read Most important news indeed. Contents On perusal of this letter Giglio swears that he '11 abet her. Now good-bye to book and pen, Follow Giglio, gentlemen ! Hasten, rescue ! Giglio run ! for Else our poor Rosalba 's done for. XV.— We: Return to RosaIvBa . . 97 Little suffering victim tender ! From these lions Heaven defend her ! I '11 keep clear when lions sup ; These ate Hogginarmo up. Yet the terrible Crim Tartar, Still would poor Rosalba martyr. Of poor Bulbo, how they picked him Out, as usual, for a victim. XVI. — How Hedsoff Rode Back to King Giglio 104 May we ne'er be thus befriended ! Bulbo's pains seem well-nigh ended. Hark ! they play the March in Saul ! But the young Queen rescues all. Kissings, huggings, billings, cooings, And all sorts of merry doings. XVII.— How A Tremendous Battle Took Place and Who Won it . . .111 After kissing, billing, cooing, Up, Sir King ! for mischief's brewing ! Trumpets pealing, chargers prancing, Stabbing, slashing, axing, lancing. Now the dreadful battle 's over, Onward ride they, maid and lover. Here 's a pretty pair of knaves. Tell r.s how the king behaves. — Contents XVIII. — How They Ax,x, Journeyed Back TO THE Capitai. . . . ' . -119 Bulbo now is happy quite. Madam GrufiF demands her right. Giglio shows extreme disgust, Says he won't, but knows he must. Gruffy, 'twixt the cup and lip, Sure we know there 's many a slip. XIX.— And Now We Come to the Last Scene in the Pantomime . . .125 Plans of rogues are often crost, Gruffy's husband 's won and lost. So our little story ends. Merry Christmas, good my friends. PRELUDE IT happened that the undersigned spent the last Christmas season in a foreign city where there were many English children. In that city, if you wanted to give a child's party, you could not even get a magic-lantern or buy Twelfth-Night characters — those funny painted pictures of the King, the Queen, the Lover, the Lady, the Dandy, the Captain, and so on — with which our young ones are wont to recreate themselves at this festive time. My friend. Miss Bunch, who was governess of a large family, that lived in the Piano No- bile of the house inhabited by myself and my young charges (it was the Palazzo Poniatowski at Rome, and Messrs. Spillmann, two of the best pastry-cooks in Christendom, have their prelude shop on the grouud-floor) ; Miss Bunch, I say, begged me to draw a set of Twelfth-Night characters for the amusement of our young people. She is a lady of great fancy and droll imagi- nation, and having looked at the characters, she and I composed a history- about them, which was recited to the little folks at night, and served as our fire-Side pantomime. Our juvenile audience was amused by the ad- ventures of Giglio and Bulbo, Rosalba and An- gelica. I am bound to say the fate of the Hall Porter created a considerable sensation, and the wrath of Countess Gruffanufif was received with extreme pleasure. If these children are pleased, thought I, why should not others be amused also ? In a few days Dr. Birch's young friends will be expected to reassemble at Rodwell Riegs, where they will learn every thing that is useful, and under the eyes of careful ushers continue the business of their little lives. But in the meanwhile, and for a brief holi- day, let us laugh and be as pleasant as we can. prcluDe \.nd you elder folks — a little joking and dan- :ing and fooling will do even you no harm. The author wishes you a merry Christmas, and velcomes you to the Fireside Pantomime. M. A. TITMARSH. December, 1854. ^ lilill|li|IIIII,Mlllll|n.,((IJIIIIIIiillnNI||l,i|1W|f THE ROSE AND THE RING CHAPTER I. Shows How the Royal Family Sate Down to Breakfast. THIS is Valoroso XXIV., King of Paflagonia, seated with his Queen and only child at their royal breakfast-table, and receiving the letter which announces to his Majesty a pro- posed visit from Prince Bulbo, heir of Padella, reigning King of Crim Tartary. Remark the Ubc IRose an& tbc IRing delight upon the monarch's royal features. He is so absorbed in the perusal of the King of Crim Tartary's letter, that he allows his eggs to get cold, and leaves his august muflfins un- tasted. "What! that -^Hcked, brave, delightful Prince Bulbo ! " cries Princess Angelica — "so handsome, so accomplished, so witty, — the conqueror of Rimbombamento, where he slew ten thousand giants ! " " Who told you of him, my dear ? " asks his Majesty. " A little bird," says Angelica. "Poor Giglio ! " says mamma, pouring out the tea. " Bother Giglio ! " cries Angelica, tossing up her head, which rustled with a thousand curl- papers. " I wish," growls the King — " I wish Giglio was ..." " W^as better? Yes, dear, he is better," says the Queen. " Angelica's little maid, Betsinda, told me so when she came to my room this morning with my early tea." Zbc IRose anD tbc IRing "You are always drinking tea," said the monarch, with a scowl. "It is better than drinking port or brandy- and-water," replies her Majesty. "Well, well, my dear, I only said you were fond of drinking tea," said the King of Pafla- gonia, with an effort as if to command his tem- per. "Angelica! I hope you have plenty of new dresses ; your milliners' bills are long enough. My dear Queen, you must see and have some parties. I prefer dinners, but of course you will be for balls. Your everlasting blue velvet quite tires me ; and, my love, I should like you to have a new necklace. Order one. Not more than a hundred or a hundred and fifty thousand pounds." " And Giglio, dear," says the Queen. " GlGLIO MAY GO TO THE " "Oh, sir!" screams her Majesty. "Your own nephew ! our late King's only son." " Giglio may go to the tailor's, and order the bills to be sent in to Glumboso to pay. Con- found him ! I mean bless his dear heart. He need want for nothing ; give him a couple of XTbc IRose an& tbe Ving guineas for pocket-money, my dear, and you may as well order yourself bracelets, while you are about the necklace, Mrs. V." Her Majesty, or jI/js. V., as the monarch facetiously called her (for even royalt}' will have its sport, and this august family was very much attached), embraced her husband, and, twining her arm around her daughter's waist, they quitted the breakfast-room in order to make all things ready for the princely stranger. When they were gone, the smile that had lighted up the eyes of the husband a.ndi father fled — the pride of the King fled — the man was alone. Had I the pen of a G. P. R. James, I would describe Valoroso's torments in the choicest language ; in which I would also de- pict his flashing eye, distended nostril — his dressing-gown, pocket-handkerchief, and boots. But I need not say I have not the pen of that novelist ; suffice it to say, Valoroso was alone. He rushed to the cupboard, seizing from the table one of the many egg-cups with which his princely board was served for the matin meal, drew out a bottle of right Nantz or Cognac, Zbc IRose anD tbe IRing filled and emptied the cup several times, and laid it down with a hoarse '* Ha, ha, ha ! now Valoroso is a man again ! " "But oh ! " he went on (still sipping, I am sorry to say), " ere I was a king, I needed not this intoxicating draught ; once I detested the hot brandy wine, and quaffed no other fount but nature's rill. It dashes not more quickly o'er the rocks than I did, as, with blunderbuss in hand, I brushed away the early morning dew, and shot the partridge, snipe, or antlered deer ! Ah ! well may England's dramatist remark, ' Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown ! ' Why did I steal my nephew's, my young Giglio's ? Steal! said I; no, no, no, not steal, not steal. Let me withdraw that odious expression. I took, and on my manly head I set, the royal crown of Pafiagonia ; I took, and with my royal arm I wield, the scep- tral rod of Pafiagonia ; I took, and in my outstretched hand I hold, the royal orb of Pafiagonia ! Could a poor boy, a snivelling, drivelling boy — was in his nurse's arms but yesterday, and cried for sugar plums and puled Zbc IRose anO tbe IRing for pap — bear up the awful weight of crown, orb, sceptre ? gird on the sword my royal fathers wore, and meet in fight the tough Crimean foe?" And then the monarch went on to argue in his own mind (though we need not say that blank verse is not argument) that what he had got it was his duty to keep, and that, if at one time he had entertained ideas of a certain resti- tution, which shall be nameless, the prospect by a certain marriage of uniting two crowns and two nations which had been engaged in bloody and expensive wars, as the Paflagoni- ans and the Crimeans had been, put the idea of Giglio's restoration to the throne out of the question : nay, were his own brother, King Savio, alive, he would certainly will away the crown from his own son in order to bring about such a desirable union. Thus easily do we deceive ourselves ! Thus do we fancy what we wish is right ! The King took courage, read the papers, finished his muffins and eggs, and rang the bell for his Prime Minister. The Queen, after thinking ^be 1Ro6e ant> tbe IRlng whether she should go up and see Giglio, who had been sick, thought "Not now. Business first ; pleasure afterwards. I will go and see dear Giglio this afternoon ; and now I will drive to the jeweller's, to look for the necklace and bracelets." The Princess went up into her own room, and made Betsinda, her maid, bring out all her dresses ; and as for Giglio, they forgot hirn as much as I forget what I had for dinner last Tuesday twelvemonth. CHAPTER II. How King Valoroso Got the Crown, and Prince Giglio Went Without. PAFLAGONIA, ten or twenty thousand years ago, appears to have been one of those kingdoms where the laws of succession were not settled ; for when King Savio died, leaving his brother regent of the kingdom, and guard- ian of Savio's orphan infant, this unfaithful regent took no sort of regard of the late mon- arch's will ; had himself proclaimed sovereign of Paflagonia under the title of King Valoroso XXIV., had a most splendid coronation, and ordered all the nobles of the kingdom to pay him homage. vSo long as Valoroso gave them plenty of balls at Court, plenty of money, and lucrative places, the Paflagonian nobility did not care who was king ; and as for the people, 14 ^be IRose anD tbe IRing in those early times, they were equally indiffer- ent. The Prince Giglio, by reason of his tender age at his royal father's death, did not feel the loss of his crown and empire. As long as he had plenty of toys and sweetmeats, a holiday five times a week, and a horse and gun to go out shooting when he grew a little older, and, above all, the company of his darling cousin, the King's only child, poor Giglio was perfectly contented ; nor did he envy his uncle the royal robes and sceptre, the great hot, uncomfortable throne of state, and the enormous cumbersome crown in which that monarch appeared, from morning till night. King Valoroso's portrait has been left to us ; and I think you will agree with me that he must have been sometimes rather tired of his velvet, and his diamonds, and his ermine, and his grandeur. I should n't like to sit in that stifling robe with such a thing as that on my head. No doubt the Queen must have been lovely in her youth ; for though she grew rather stout in after life, yet her features, as shown in her portrait, are certainly pleasing. If she was i6 ^be IRose anD tbe IRing fond of flattery, scandal, cards, and fine clothes, let us deal gently with her infirmities, which, after all, may be no greater than our own. She was kind to her nephew ; and if she had any scruples of conscience about her husband's taking the young Prince's crown, consoled herself by thinking that the King, though a usurper, was a most respectable man, and that at his death Prince Giglio would be restored to his throne, and share it with his cousin, whom he loved so fondly. The Prime Minister was Glumboso, an old statesman, who most cheerfully swore fidelity to King Valoroso, and in whose hands the monarch left all the affairs of his kingdom. All Valaroso wanted was plenty of money, plenty of hunting, plenty of flattery, and as little trouble as possible. As long as he had his sport, this monarch cared little how his people paid for it ; he engaged in some wars, and of course the Paflagonian newspapers an- nounced that he gained prodigious victories ; he had statues erected to himself in every city of the empire ; and of course his pictures placed ^be TRosc ant) tbe IRincj 17 everywhere, and in all the print shops ; he was Valoroso the Magnanimous, Valoroso the Vic- torious, Valoroso the Great, and so forth ; — for even in these early times courtiers and people knew how^ to flatter. This royal pair had one only child, the Princess Angelica, who, you may be sure, was a paragon in the courtiers' eyes, in her parents', and in her own. It was said she had the long- est hair, the largest eyes, the slimmest waist, the smallest foot, and the most lovely com- plexion of any young lady in the Paflagonian dominions. Her accomplishments were an- nounced to be even superior to her beauty ; and governesses used to shame their idle pupils by telling them what Princess Angelica could do. She could play the most difficult pieces of music at sight. She could answer any one of Mangnal's Questions. She knew every date in the history of Paflagonia, and every other country. She knew French, English, Italian, German, Spanish, Hebrew, Greek, I^atin, Cap- padocian, Samothracian, ^gean, and Crim Tartar. In a word, she was a most accom- i8 ^be IRose anD tbe IRin^ plished young creature ; and her governess and lady-in-waiting was the severe Countess GrufF- anufF. Would you not fancy, from this picture, that GrufFanufF must have been a person of the high- est birth ? She looks so haughty that I should have thought her a princess at the very least, with a pedigree reaching as far back as the deluge. But this lady was no better born than trbe TRose anC) tbe IRlng 19 many other ladies who give themselves airs ; and all sensible people laughed at her absurd pretensions ; the fact is she had been maid-ser- vant to the Queen when her Majesty was only Princess, and her husband had been head foot- man, but after his death or disappeai^ance, of which you shall hear presently, this Mrs. Gruff- anuff, by flattering, toadying, and wheedling her royal mistress, became a favorite with the Queen (who was rather a weak woman), and her Majesty gave her a title, and made her nursery governess to the Princess. And now I must tell you about the Princess' learning and accomplishments, for which she had such a wonderful character. Clever Angel- ica certainly was, but as idle as possible. Play at sight, indeed ! she could play one or two pieces, and pretend that she had never seen them before ; she could answer half a dozen Mangnal's Questions ; but then you must take care to ask the righl ones. As for her lan- guages, she had masters in plenty, but I doubt whether she knew more than a few phrases in each, for all her pretence ; and as for her em. ^be IRosc ant) tbe IRincj broiderj' and her drawing, she showed beautiful specimens, it is true, but who did them ? This obliges me to tell the truth, and to do so I must go back ever so far, and tell you about the Fairy Bi^ackstick. CHAPTER III. Tells Who the Fairy Blackstick Was, and Who Were Ever So Many Grand Personages Besides. BETWEEN tbe kingdoms of Paflagonia and Crim Tartary, there lived a mysterious personage, who was known in those countries as the Fairy Blackstick, from the ebony wand or crutch which she carried ; on which she rode to the moon sometimes, or upon other excur- sions of business or pleasure, and with which she performed her wonders. When she was young, and had been first taught the art of conjuring, by the necromancer, her father, she was always practising her skill, whizzing about from one kingdom to another upon her black stick, and conferring her fairy favors upon this Prince or that. She had scores of royal godchildren ; turned numberless wicked people into beasts, birds, millstones, clocks, ^be 1RO0C auD tbe TRing pumps, bootjacks, umbrellas, or other absurd shapes ; and in a word was one of the most active and officious of the whole College of fairies. But after two or three thousand years of this sport, I suppose Blackstick grew tired of it. Or perhaps she thought, "What good am I doing by sending this Princess to sleep for a hundred years ? by fixing a black pudding on to that booby's nose ? by causing diamonds and pearls to drop from one little girl's mt)uth, and vipers and toads from another's ? I begin to think I do as much harm as good by my per- formances. I might as well shut my incanta- tions up, and allow things to take their natural course. ' ' There were my two young goddaughters, King Savio's wife, and Duke Padella's wife ; J gave them each a present, which was to render them charming in the eyes of their husbands, and secure the affection of those gentlemen as long as they lived. What good did my Rose and my Ring do these two women ? None on earth. From having all their whims indulged Zbc IRosc auD tbe IRlna 23 by their husbands, they became capricious, lazy, ill-humored, absurdly vain, and leered and lan- guished, and fancied themselves irresistibly beautiful, when they were really quite old and hideous, the ridiculous creatures ! They used actually to patronize me when I went to pay them a visit : — me, the Fairy Blackstick, who knows all the wisdom of the necromancers, and who could have turned them into baboons, and all their diamonds into strings of onions, by a single wave of my rod ! " So she locked up her books in her cupboard, declined further magical performances, and scarcely used her wand at all except as a cane to walk about with. So when Duke Padella's lady had a little son (the Duke was at that time only one of the principal noblemen in Crim Tartary), Black- stick, although invited to the christening, would not so much as attend ; but merely sent her compliments and a silver papboat for the baby, which was really not worth a couple of guineas. About the same time the Queen of Paflagonia presented his Majesty with a son 24 ^be IRosc anD tbe IRina and heir ; and guns were fired, the capital il- luminated, and no end of feasts ordained to celebrate the young Prince's birth. It was thought the fairy, who was asked to be his god- mother, would at least have presented him with an invisible jacket, a flying horse, a Fortunatus' purse, or some other valuable token of her favor ; but instead, Blackstick went up to the cradle of the child Giglio, when everybody was admiring him and complimenting his royal papa and mamma, and said: "My poor child, the best thing I can send you is a little 'misfortune^'''' and this was all she would utter, to the disgust of Giglio's parents, who died very soon after, when Giglio's uncle took the throne, as we read in Chapter I. In like manner, when Cavoi^fiore, King of Crim Tartary, had a christening of his only child, RoSAivBA, the Fairy Blackstick, who had been invited, was not more gracious than in Prince Giglio's case. Whilst everybody was ex- patiating over the beauty of the darling child, and congratulating its parents, the P'airy Black- stick looked very sadly at the baby and its G:be 1Ro6e anD tbe IRin^ 25 mother, and said : " My good woman (for the Fairy was very familiar, and no more minded a Queen than a washerwoman) — my good woman, these people who are following you will be the first to turn against you ; and, as for this little lady, the best thing I can wish her is a little misfortune y So she touched Rosalba with her black wand, looked severely at the courtiers, motioned the Queen an adieu with her hand, and sailed slowly up into the air out of the window. When she was gone, the Court people, who had been awed and silent in her presence, be- gan to speak. " What an odious Fairy she is [they said] — a pretty Fairy, indeed ! Why, she went to the King of Paflagonia's christening, and pretended to do all sorts of things for that family ; and what has happened — the Prince, her godson, has been turned off his throne by his uncle. Would we allow our sweet Princess to be deprived of her rights by any enemy? Never, never, never, never ! " And they all shouted in a chorus, " Never, never, never, never ! " Now, I should like to know, and how did 26 ^be IRose anD tbe IRina these fine courtiers show their fidelity ? One of King Cavolfiore's vassals, the Duke Padella just mentioned, rebelled against the King, who went out to chastise his rebellious subject. ' ' Any one rebel against our beloved and august Monarch ! " cried the courtiers ; "an}^ one re- sist hhn ? He is invincible, irresistible. He will bring home Padella a prisoner ; and tie him to a donkey's tail, and drive him round the town, saying : ' This is the way the Great Cavolfiore treats rebels.' " The King went forth to vanquish Padella ; and the poor Queen, who was a very timid, anxious creature, grew so frightened and ill, that I am sorry to say she died, leaving injunc- tions with her ladies to take care of the dear little Rosalba. Of course they said they would. Of course they vowed they would die rather than any harm should happen to the Princess. At first the Crim Tartar Court Journal stated that the King was obtaining great victories over the audacious rebel ; then it was announced that the troops of the infamous Padella were in flight; then it was said that the royal army XLbc IRose anD tbe IRing 27 would soon come up with the enemy ; and then — then the news came that King Cavolfiore was vanquished and slain by His Majesty, King Padella the First ! At this news, half the courtiers ran off to pay their duty to the conquering chief, and the other half ran away, laying hands on all the best articles in the palace, and poor little Rosalba was left there quite alone — quite alone ; and she toddled from one room to another, crying: " Countess ! Duchess ! [only she said ' Tountess, Duttess,' not being able to speak plain] bring me my mutton sop ; my Royal Highness hungry ! Tountess, Duttess ! " And she went from the private apartments into the throne-room and nobody was there ; and thence into the ball-room, and nobody was there ; and thence into the pages' room, and nobody was there ; and she toddled down the great stair- case into the hall, and nobody was there ; and the door was open, and she went into the court, and into the garden, and thence into the wilder- ness, and thence into the forest where the wild beasts live, and was never heard of any more ! 28 ^be IRose anD tbe IRing A piece of her torn mantle and one of her shoes were found in the wood in the mouths of two lioness' cubs, whom King Padeli^a and a royal hunting party shot — for he was King now, and reigned over Crim Tartary. " So the poor little Princess is done for," said he; "well, what 's done can't be helped. Gentlemen, let us go to luncheon ! " And one of the courtiers took up the shoe and put it in his pocket. And there was an end of Rosalba ! r^r-^:-^ ^sw> CHAPTER IV. How Blackstick Was Not Asked to the Princess Angeli- ca's Christening. WHEN the Princess Angelica was born, her parents not only did not ask the Fairy Blackstick to the christening party, but gave orders to their porter absolutely to refuse her if she called. This porter's name was GrufFanuff, and he had been selected for the post by their Royal Highnesses because he was a very tall, fierce man, who could say " Not at home " to a tradesman or an unwelcome visitor with a rude- ness which frightened most such persons away. He was the husband of that Countess whose picture we have just seen, and as long as they were together they quarrelled from morning till night. Now this fellow tried his rudeness once too often, as you shall hear. For the Fairy Blackstick coming to call upon the Prince and 30 tibe IRose auD tbe IRing Princess, who were actually sitting at the open drawing-room window, Gruffanuff not only de- nied them, but made the most odious vulgar sign as he was going to slam the door in the Fairy's face ! " Git away, hold Blackstick ! " said he. "I tell you, Master and Missis aint at home to 3'ou " ; and he was, as we have said, going to slam the door. But the Fairj% with her wand, prevented the door being shut ; and Gruffanuff came out again in a fury, swearing in the most abominable way, and asking the Fairy " whether she thought he was a-going to stay at that there door hall day ? " "You «r^ going to stay at that door all day and all night, and for many a long year," the Fairy said, very majestically : and Gruffanuff, coming out of the door, straddling before it with his great calves, burst out laughing, and cried : " Ha, ha, ha ! this is a good un ! Ha — ah — what 's this ? Let me down — O — o — H'm ! " and then he was dumb ! For, as the Fairy waved her wand over him, he felt himself rising off the ground, and fiut- Zbc IRose auD tbe IRincj 31 tering up against the door, and then, as if a screw ran into his stomach, he felt a dreadful pain there, and was pinned to the door ; and then his arms flew up over his head ; and his legs, after writhing about wildly, twisted under his body ; and he felt cold, cold, growing over him, as if he was turnino: into metal, and he 32 ^be IRose anC) tbe IRlng said : " O — o — H'm ! " and could say no more, because he was dumb. He was turned into metal ! He was from being brazen, brass ! He was neither more nor less than a knocker ! And there he was, nailed to the door in the blazing summer day, till he burned almost red-hot ; and there he was, nailed to the door all the bitter winter nights, till his brass nose was dropping with icicles. And the postman came and rapped at him, and the vulgarest boy with a letter came and hit him up against the door. And the King and Queen (Princess and Prince they were then), coming home from a walk that even- ing, the King said: "Hullo, my dear! yo\x have had a new knocker put on the door. Why, it 's rather like our porter in the face ! What has become of that boozy vagabond?" Zbc IRose anb tbe IRing 33 And the housemaid came and scrubbed his nose with sandpaper. And once, when the Princess Angelica's Httle sister was bom, he was tied up in an old kid glove ; and, another night, some larking j^oung men tried to wrench him off, and put him to the most excruciating agony with a turnscrew. And then the Queen had a fancy to have the color of the door al- tered ; and the painters dabbed him over the mouth and eyes, and nearly choked him, as they painted him pea-green. I warrant he had leisure to repent of having been rude to the Fairy Blackstick ! As for his wife, she did not miss him ; and as he was always guzzling beer at the public- house, and notoriously quarrelling with his wife, and in debt to the tradesmen, it was sup- posed he had run away from all these evils and emigrated to Australia or America. And when the Prince and Princess chose to become King and Queen, they left their old house, and no- body thought of the porter any more. CHAPTER V. How Princess Angelica Took a I^ittle Maid. ONE day, when the Princess Angelica was quite a little girl, she was walking in the garden of the palace, with Mrs. GnifFanuff, ^be IRo^e anD tbe IRlnc; 35 the governess, holding a parasol over her head to keep her sweet complexion from the freckles, and Angelica was carrying a bun to feed the swans and ducks in the royal pond. They had not reached the duck-pond, when there came toddling up to them such a funny little girl ! She had a great quantity of hair blowing about her chubby little cheeks, and looked as if she had not been washed or combed for ever so long. She wore a ragged bit of a cloak, and had only one shoe on. "You little wretch, who let you in here?" asked Gruffanuff. *' Dive me dat bun," said the little girl, "me vely hungy," "Hungry! what is that?" asked Princess Angelica, and gave the child the bun. ' ' Oh, Princess ! ' ' says Gruffanuff, ' ' how good, how kind, how truly angelical you are! See, your Majesties," she said to the King and Queen, who now came up, along with their nephew, Prince Giglio, "how kind the Princess is ! She met this little dirty wretch in the gar- den — I can't tell how she came in here, or why 36 tTbe IRose an& tbe IRlng the guards did not shoot her dead at the gate ! — and the dear darling of a Princess has given her the whole of her bun ! " ** I did n't want it," said Angelica. "But you are a darling little angel all the same," says the governess. '* Yes ; I know I am," said Angelica. " Dirty little girl, don't you think I am very pretty ? " Indeed, she had on the finest of little dresses and hats, and, as her hair was carefully curled, she really looked very well. "Oh, pooty, pooty ! " says the little girl, capering about, laughing, and dancing, and munching her bun ; and as she ate it she began to sing, * ' Oh what fun to have a plum bun ! how I wis it never was done ! " At which, and her funny accent, Angelica, Giglio, and the King and Queen began to laugh very merrily. " I can dance as well as sing," says the little girl. "I can dance, and I can sing, and I can do all sorts of ting." And she ran to a flower- bed, and pulling a few polyanthuses, rhododen- drons, and other flowers, made herself a little wreath, and danced before the King and Queen XLbc IRose atiD tbe IRincj 37 so drolly and prettily that everybody was delighted. ' ' Who was your mother — who were your re- lations, little girl ? ' ' said the Queen, The little girl said : " Little lion was my brud- der ; great big lioness my mudder ; neber heard of any udder." And she capered away on her one shoe, and everybody was exceedingly di- verted. 38 ^be tRose ant) tbe IRin^ So Angelica said to the Queen : " Mamma, my parrot flew away yesterday out of its cage, and I don't care any more for any of my toys, and I think this funny little dirty child will amuse me. I will take her home and give her some of my old frocks. ' ' " Oh, the generous darling ! " says Grufifanuff. ' ' Which I have worn ever so many times, and am quite tired of," Angelica went on ; ' ' and she shall be my little maid. Will you go home with me, little dirty girl ? " The child clapped her hands, and said : " Go home with you — yes ! You pooty Princess ! — Have a nice dinner and wear a new dress ! ' ' And they all laughed again, and took home the child to the palace, where, when she was washed and combed, and had one of the Prin- cess' frocks given to her, she looked as hand- some as Angelica, almost. Not that Angelica ever thought so ; for this little lady never imagined that anybody in the world could be as pretty, as good, or as clever as herself. In order that the little girl should not become too proud and conceited, Mrs. Gruffauuff took her XLhc 1R06C atiD tbe IRing 39 old ragged mantle and one shoe, and put them into a glass box, with a card laid upon them, upon which was written : ' ' These were the old clothes in which little Bktsinda was found when the great goodness and admirable kind- ness of her Royal Highness, the Princess Angelica, received this little outcast." And the date was added, and the box locked up. For a while little Betsinda was a great favor- ite with the Princess, and she danced, and sang, and made her little rhymes, to amuse her mis- tress. But then the Princess got a monkey, and afterwards a little dog, and afterwards a doll, and did not care for Betsinda any more, who became very melancholy and quiet, and sang no more funny songs, because nobody cared to hear her. And then, as she grew older, she was made a little lady's-maid to the Princess ; and though she had no wages, she worked and mended, and put Angelica's hair in papers, and was never cross when scolded, and was always eager to please her mistress, and was always up earl}^ and to bed late, and at hand when wanted, and in fact became a per- 40 CTbc IRosc anD tbe IRing feet little maid. So the two girls grew up, and wiien the Princess came out, Betsinda was never tired of waiting on her ; and made her dresses better than the best milliner, and was useful in a hundred ways. Whilst the Princess was having her masters, Betsinda would sit and watch them ; and in this way she picked up a great deal of learning ; for she was always awake, though her mistress was not, and listened to the wise professors when Angelica was yawning, or thinking of the next ball. And when the dancing-master came, Betsinda learned along with Angelica ; and when the music-master came, she watched him, and prac- tised the Princess' pieces when Angelica was away at balls and parties ; and when the draw- ing-master came, she took note of all he said and did ; and the same with French, Italian, and all other languages — she learned them from the teacher who came to Angelica. When the Princess was going out of an evening she would say: "My good Betsinda, you may as well finish what I have begun." " Yes, Miss," Betsinda would say, and sit down very cheer- tTbe IRose anO tbe IRtng 41 63^ ful, not to finish what Angeli- ca begun, but to do it. For instance, the Princess would begin a head of a war- rior, let us say, and when iti was begun it was something like this. But when it was done, the warrior was like this (only- handsomer still if possible), and the Princess put her name to the drawing ; and the Court and King and Queen, and above all poor Giglio, admired the picture of all things, and said : ** Was there ever a ge- nius like Angelica?" So, I am sorry to say, was it with the Princess' embroidery and other accom- plishments ; and Angelica actually believed that she did these things herself, and received all the flattery of the Court as if every word of it was true. Thus she began to think that there was no young woman in all the world equal to 42 Zbc IRose anD tbe IRing herself, and that there was no young man good enough for her. As for Betsinda, as she heard none of these praises, she was not puffed up by them, and being a most grateful, good-natured girl, she was only too anxious to do every thing which might give her mistress pleasure. Now you begin to perceive that Angelica had faults of her own, and was by no means such a won- der of wonders as people represented her Royal Highness to be. ^a^l^^^d^ CHAPTER VI. How Prince Giglio Behaved Himself. AND now let lis speak about Prince Giglio, the nephew of the reigning monarch of Paflagonia. It has already been stated, in page 14, that as long as he had a smart coat to wear, a good horse to ride, and money in his pocket, or rather to take out of his pocket, for he was very good-natured, my young Prince did not care for the loss of his crown and sceptre, be- ing a thoughtless youth, not much inclined to politics or any kind of learning. So his tutor had a sinecure. Giglio would not learn classics or mathematics, and the Lord Chancellor of Pafla- 44 C^be IRose ant) tbe IRlng gonia, Squaretoso, pulled a very long face because the Prince could not be got to study the Paflagonian laws and constitution ; but on the other hand, the King's gamekeepers and huntsmen found the Prince an apt pupil ; the dancing-master pronounced that he was a most elegant and assiduous schol- ar ; the First Lord of the Billiard Table gave the most flattering reports of the Prince's skill ; so did the Groom of the Tennis Court ; and as for the Captain of the Guard and Fencing Master, the valiant and veteran Count KUTASOFF HEDZOFF, he avowed that since he ran the General of Crim Tartary, the dreadful Grumbuskin, through the body, he never had encountered so expert a swordsman as Prince Giglio. I hope you do not imagine that there was any impropriety in the Prince and Princess XLbc IRose anD tbe IRing 45 walking together in the palace garden, and be- cause Giglio kissed Angelica's hand in a polite manner. In the first place they are cousins ; next, the Queen is walking in the garden too (you cannot see her for she happens to be be- hind that tree), and her Majesty always wished that Angelica and Giglio should marry : so did 46 ^be TRose anD tbe IRing Giglio : so did Angelica sometimes, for she thought her cousin very handsome, brave, and good-natured ; but then you know she was so clever and knew so many things, and poor Gig- lio knew nothing, and had no conversation. When they looked at the stars, what did Giglio know of the heavenly bodies ? Once, when on a sweet night in a balcony where they were standing, Angelica said : '*' There is the Bear." " Where? " says Giglio ; " don't be afraid, An- gelica ! if a dozen bears come, I will kill them rather than they shall hurt you. " " Oh, you silly creature ! " says she, *' you are very good, but you are not very wise. ' ' When they looked at the flowers, Giglio was utterly unacquainted with botany, and had never heard of Linnaeus. When the butterflies passed, Giglio knew noth- ing about them, being as ignorant of ento- mology as I am of algebra. So you see, An- gelica, though she liked Giglio pretty well, despised him on account of his ignorance. I think she probably valued her oiun learning rather too much ; but to think too well of one's self is the fault of people of all ages and both Zbc IRose anO tbe IRlncj 47 sexes. Finally, when nobody else was there, Angelica liked her cousin well enough. King Valoroso was very delicate in health, and wnthal so fond of good dinners (which were prepared for him by his French cook, Marmito- nio), that it was supposed he could not live long. Now the idea of any thing happening to the King struck the art- ful Prime-Minister and the designing old lady- in-waiting with terror. For, thought Glum- boso and the Countess, ' ' when Prince Giglio marries his cousin and comes to the throne, what a pretty position we shall be in, whom he dislikes, and who have always been unkind to him. We shall lose our places in a trice ; GrufFanufF will have to give up all the jewels, laces, snufif-boxes, rings, and watches which belonged to the Queen, Giglio's mother ; and Glumboso will be forced to refund two hundred and seventeen thousand millions 48 Zbc IRose aiiD tbe IRing nine hundred and eighty-seven thousand four hundred and thirty-nine pounds, thirteen shil- lings, and sixpence halfpenny, money left to Prince Giglio by his poor dead father. ' ' So the Lady of Honor and the Prime Minister hated Giglio because they had done him a wrong ; and these unprincipled people invented a hun- dred cruel stories about poor Giglio, in order to influence the King, Queen, and Princess against him : how he was so ignorant that he could not spell the commonest words, and actually wrote Valoroso Valloroso, and spelt Angelica with two I's ; how he drank a great deal too much wine at dinner, and was always idling in the stables with the grooms ; how he owed ever so much money at the pastry- cook's and the haberdasher's ; how he used to go to sleep at church ; how he was fond of play- ing cards with the pages. So did the Queen like playing cards ; so did the King go to sleep at church, and eat and drink too much ; and if Giglio owed a trifle for tarts, who owed him two hundred and seventeen thousand millions nine hundred and eighty-seven thousand four hun- XLbc IRose anO tbc IRing 49 dred and thirty-nine pounds, thirteen shillings, and sixpence halfpenny, I should like to know ? Detractors and tale-bearers (in my humble opin- ion) had better look at home. All this back- biting and slandering had effect upon Princess Angelica, who began to look coldly on her cousin, then to laugh at him and scorn him for being so stupid, then to sneer at him for having vulgar associates ; and at court balls, dinners, and so forth, to treat him so unkindly that poor Giglio be- came quite ill, took to his bed, and sent for the doctor. His Majesty King Valo- roso, as we have seen, had his own reasons for disliking' his nephew ; and as for those innocent readers who ask why ? I beg (with the permission of their dear pa- rents) to refer them to Shakspeare's pages, where they will read why King John disliked Prince Arthur. With the Queen, his royal but weak- 50 tTbe IRose anD tbe IRing minded aunt, when Giglio was out of sight he was out of mind. While she had her whist and her evening parties, she cared for little else. I dare say two villains, who shall be name- less, wished Doctor Pil- drafto, the Court Physi- cian, had killed Giglio right out, but he onl}' bled and physicked him so severely that the Prince w^as kept to his room for several months and grew as thin as a post. Whilst he was lying sick in this way, there came to the Court of Paflagonia a famous painter, whose name was Tomaso Lorenzo, and who was Painter in Ordinary to the King of Crim Tartar}^ Paflagonia' s neighbor. Tomaso Lorenzo painted all the Court, who were de- lighted with his work ; for even Countess Gruff- XTbc IRose anD tbe IRfng 51 anuff looked young and Glumboso good-hu- uiored in liis pictures. ' ' He lEiatters very much, ' ' some people said. "Nay!" says Princess Angelica, " I am above flattery, and I think he did not make my picture handsome enough. I can't bear to hear a man of genius unjustly cried down, and I hope my dear papa will make IvOrenzo a knight of his Order of the Cucum- ber." The Princess Angelica, although the courtiers vowed Her Royal Highness could draw so beautifully that the idea of her taking lessons was absurd, yet chose to have Lorenzo for a teacher, and it was wonderful, as lo?ig as she painted in his studio^ what beautiful pictures she made ! Some of the performances were engraved for the Book of Beauty ; others were sold for enormous sums at Charity Bazaars. vShe wrote the signatures under the drawings, no doubt, but I think I know who did the pictures — this artful painter, who had come with other designs on Angelica than merely to teach her to draw. One day, Lorenzo showed the Princess a por- 52 ^be IRose ant) tbe IRing trait of a young man in armor, with fair hair and the loveliest blue eyes, and an expression at once melancholy and interesting. " Dear Signor Lorenzo, who is this ? " asked the Princess. " I never saw any one so hand- some," says Countess Gruffanuff (the old hum- bug). * ' That, ' ' said the painter, ' ' that, madam, is the portrait of my august young master, His Royal Highness Bulbo, Crown Prince of Crim Tartary, Duke of Acroceraunia, Marquis of Poluphloisboio, and Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Pumpkin. That is the Order of the Pumpkin glittering on his manly breast, and received by his Royal Highness from his august father, his Majesty King PADEl//y." 6o XL\)c IRose ant) tbe IRtncj "What do I know about fowls and jellies, that you allude to them in that rude way?" says Angelica. ** Why, did n't — did n't you send them, An- gelica dear?" says Giglio. " I send them indeed ! Angelica dear ! No, Giglio dear," says she, mocking him, "/ was engaged in getting the rooms ready for His Royal Highness the Prince of Crim Tartary, who is coming to pay my papa's Court a visit." " The — Prince — of— Crim — Tartary ! " Giglio said, aghast. '* Yes, the Prince of Crim Tartary," says An- gelica, mocking him. "I dare say you never heard of such a country. What did you ever hear of? You don't know w^hether Crim Tar- tary is on the Red Sea or on the Black Sea, I dare say. ' ' "Yes, I do ; it 's on the Red Sea," says Gig- lio ; at which the Princess burst out laughing at him, and said : " Oh, you ninny ! You are so ignorant, you are really not fit for society ! You know nothing but about horses and dogs ; and are only fit to dine with my Royal Father's ^be IRose anD tbe IRing 6i heaviest dragoons. Don't look so surprised at me, sir ; go and put 3^our best clothes on to re- ceive the Prince, and let me get the drawing- room ready." Giglio said : " O Angelica, Angelica, I did n't think this of you. This was n't your language to me when you gave me this ring, and I gave you mine in the garden, and you gave me that k " But what k was we never shall know, for An- gelica, in a rage, cried : ' ' Get out, you saucy, rude creature ! How dare you to remind me of your rudeness ? As for your little trumpery twopenny ring, there, sir, there ! " And she flung it out of the window. "It was my mother's marriage ring," cried Giglio, "/don't care whose marriage ring it was," cries Angelica, ' ' Marry the person who picks it up if she 's a woman, you sha'n't marry me. And give me back my ring. I 've no patience with people who boast about the things they give away ! /know who '11 give me much finer things than you ever gave me, A beggarly ring indeed, not worth five shillings ! " 62 ^be IRose an& tbe IRing Now Angelica little knew that the ring which Giglio had given her was a fairy ring : if a man wore it, it made all the women in love with him ; if a woman, all the gentlemen. The Queen, Giglio's mother, quite an ordinary look- ing person, was admired immensely while she wore this ring, and her husband was frantic when she was ill. But when she called her lit- tle Giglio to her, and put the ring on his finger. King Savio did not seem to care for his wife so much any more, but transferred all his love to little Giglio. So did everybody love him as long as he had the ring, but when, as quite a child, he gave it to Angelica, people began to love and admire her ; and Giglio, as the saying is, played only second fiddle. "Yes," says Angelica, going on in her fool- ish, ungrateful way, "/know who '11 give me much finer things than your beggarly little pearl nonsense." " Very good. Miss ! You may take back your ring, too ! " says Giglio, his eyes flashing fire at her, and then, as if his eyes had been suddenly opened, he cried out; "Ha, what does this ^be IRose anD tbe IRina 63 mean ? Is this the woman I have been in love with all my life ? Have I been such a ninny as to throw away my regard upon you? Why — actually — yes — you are a little crooked ! " " Oh, you wretch ! '' cries Angelica. *' And, upon my conscience, you — you squint a little." ** B ! " cries Angelica. .** And your hair is red — and you are marked with the small-pox — and what ? you have three false teeth — and one leg shorter than the other ! ' ' ''You brute, you brute, you!" Angelica screamed out ; and as she seized the ring with one hand, she dealt Giglio one, two, three, smacks on the face, and would have pulled the hair off his head had he not started laughing, and crying : " O dear me, Angelica, don't pull out fny hair, it hurts ! You might remove a great deal oi your own, as I perceive, without scissors or pulling at all. O, ho, ho ! ha, ha, ha ! he, he, he!" And he nearly choked himself with laughing, and she with rage, when, with a low bow, and 64 ^be IRose anD tbe IRing dressed in his Court habit, Count Gambabella, the first lord-in-waiting, entered and said : " Royal Highnesses ! Their Majesties expect you in the Pink Throne-room, where they await the arrival of the Prince of Crim TarTary." VIII. How Gruffanuff Picked the Fairy Ring Up, and Prince Bulbo Came to Court. PRINCE BUIvBO'S arrival liad set all the Court in a flutter : everybody was ordered to put his or her best clothes on : the footmen had their gala-liveries ; the Lord Chancellor his new wig ; the Guards their last new tunics ; and Countess GrufFanufF you may be sure was glad of an opportunity of decorating her old person with her finest things. She was walk- ing through the court of the Palace on her way to wait upon their Majesties, when she spied something glittering on the pavement, and bade the boy in buttons who was holding up her train, to go and pick up the article shining yon- der. He was an ugly little wretch, in some of the late groom-porter's old clothes cut down, 66 Zbc IRose ant) tbe tding and much too tight for him ; and yet, when he had taken up the ring (as it turned out to be), and was carrying it to his mistress, she thought he looked like a little cupid. He gave the ring ^,-^;i^ to her ; it was a trumpery little thing enough, but too small for any of her old knuckles, so she put it into her pocket. ** O mum !" says the boy, looking at her, ^be IRose an& tbe IRlng 67 "how, how beyoutiful you do look, mum, to- day, mum ! " "And you, too, Jacky," she was going to say ; but, looking down at him — no, he was no longer good-looking at all — but only the car- rotty-haired little Jacky of the morning. How- ever, praise is welcome from the ugliest of men or boys, and Gruffanuff, bidding the boy hold up her train, walked on in high good-humor. The Guards saluted her with peculiar respect. Captain Hedzoff, in the ante-room, said: "My dear madam, you look like an angel to-day. ' ' And so, bowing and smirking, Gruffanuff went in and took her place behind her Royal Master and Mistress, who were in the throne-room, awaiting the Prince of Crim Tartary. Princess Angelica sat at their feet, and behind the King's chair stood Prince Giglio, looking very savage. The Prince of Crim Tartary made his appear- ance, attended by Baron Sleibootz, his cham- berlain, and followed by a black page, carrying the most beautiful crown you ever saw ! He was dressed in his travelling costume, and his hair, as you see, was a little in disorder. "I 68 XLbe IRose anD tbe IRin^ have ridden three hundred miles since break- fast," said he, "so eager was I to behold the Prin — the Court, and august family of Paflago- nia, and I could not wait one minute before ap- pearing in your Majesties' presences." Giglio, from behind the throne, burst out into a roar of contemptuous laughter ; but all the Royal party, in fact, were so flurried, that they did not hear this little outbreak. "Your R. H. is welcome in any dress," says the King. "Glumboso, a chair for his Royal Highness." "Any dress his Royal Highness wears, is a Court dress," says Princess Angelica, smiling graciously. " Ah ! but you should see my other clothes," said the Prince. " I should have had them on, but that stupid carrier has not brought them. Who 's that laughing ? " It was Giglio laughing. " I was laughing," he said, "because you said just now that you were in such a hurr>' to see the Princess, that you could not wait to change your dress ; and now you say you come in those clothes because you have no others." 70 Xlbc IRosc anD tbe IRing " And who are you ? " says Prince Bulbo, very fiercely. "My father was King of this country, and I am his only son, Prince ! " replies Giglio, with equal haughtiness. " Ha ! " said the King and Glumboso, look- ing very flurried ; but the former, collecting himself, said : ' ' Dear Prince Bulbo, I forgot to introduce to your Royal Highness my dear nephew, his Royal Highness Prince Giglio ! Know each other ! Embrace each other ! Giglio, give his Royal Highness your hand ! " and Giglio, giving his hand, sqeezed poor Bulbo's until the tears ran out of his eyes. Glumboso now brought a chair for the royal visitor, and placed it on the platform on which the King, Queen, and Prince were seated ; but the chair was on the edge of the platform, and as Bulbo sat down, it toppled over, and he with it, roll- ing over and over, and bellowing like a bull. Giglio roared still louder at this disaster, but it was with laughter : so did all the Court when Prince Bulbo got up, for though when he en- tered the room he appeared not very ridiculous. ^be 1Ro5e anO tbe 1Rxng 71 as lie stood up from his fall for a moment, he looked so exceedingly plain and foolish, that nobody could help laughing at him. When he had entered the room, he was observed to carry a rose in his hand, which fell out as he tumbled. "My rose! my rose!" cried Bulbo, and his chamberlain dashed forwards and picked it up, and gave it to the Prince, who put it in his waistcoat. Then people wondered why they had laughed, there was nothing particularly ridiculous in him. He was rather short, rather stout, rather red-haired, but in fine for a Prince not so bad. So they sat and talked, the royal personages together, the Crim Tartar ofiB.cers with those of Paflagonia — Giglio very comfortable with Gruff- anufF behind the throne. He looked at her with such tender eyes, that her heart was all in aflutter. "Oh, dear Prince," she said, " how could you speak so haughtily in presence of their Majesties ? I protest I thought I should have fainted." " I should have caught you in my arms," said Giglio, looking raptures. 72 XLbc IRose auD tbe IRtng "Why were you so cruel to Prince Bulbo, dear Prince ? " says Gruff. "Because I hate him," says Gil. "You are jealous of him, and still love poor Angelica; " cries Grufifanuff, putting her hand- kerchief to her eyes. "I did, but I love her no more!" Giglio i cried. " I despise her ! Were she heiress to twenty thou- sand thrones, I would despise her and scorn her. But why speak of thrones ? I have lost mine. I am too weak to re- cover it — I am alone, and have no friend." "Oh, say not so, dear Prince ! " says GruffanujBf. "Besides," says he, "I am so happy here behind the throne that I would not change my place, no, not for the throne of the world ! ' ' " What are you two people chattering about there ? ' ' says the Queen, who was rather good- natured, though not overburthened with wis- ^be IRose aiiD tbe IRing 73 dom. " It is time to dress for dinner. Giglio, show Prince Bulbo to his room. Prince, if your clothes have not come we shall be very happy to see you as you are." But when Prince Giglio got to his bedroom, his luggage was there and unpacked ; and the hairdresser coming in, cut and curled him entirely to his own satisfaction ; and when the dinner-bell rang, the royal com- pany had not to wait above five-and-twenty minutes until Bulbo appeared, during which time the King, who could not bear to wait, grew as sulky as possible. As for Giglio, he never left Madam Gruffanufif all this time, but stood with her in the embrasure of a win- dow paying her compliments. At length the Groom of the Chambers announced his Royal Highness the Prince of Crim Tartary ! and the noble company went into the royal din- ing-room. It was quite a small party : only the King and Queen, the Princess, whom Bulbo took out, the two Princes, Countess Grufifanuff, Glumboso the Prime Minister, and Prince Bulbo's chamberlain. You may be sure they had a very good dinner — let every boy 74 XLbc IRose anD tbe IRing and girl think of what he or she likes best, and fancy it on the table.* The Princess talked incessantly all dinner- time to the Prince of Crimea, who ate an im- mense deal too much, and never took his eyes off his plate, except when Giglio, who was carving a goose, sent a quantity of stuffing and onion sauce into one of them. Giglio only burst out a-laughingasthe Crimean Prince wiped his shirt-front and face with his scented pocket- * Here a very pretty game may be played by all the children saying what they like best for dinner. ^be TRose anD tbe TRiiiG 75 handkerchief. He did not make Prince Bulbo any apology. When the Prince looked at him, Giglio would not look that way. When Prince Bulbo said: "Prince Giglio, may I have the honor of taking a glass of wine with you?" Giglio wouldn't answer. All his talk and his eyes were for Countess Gruffanuff, who you may be sure was pleased with Giglio' s atten- tions, the vain old creature ! When he was not complimenting her, he was making fun of Prince Bulbo, so loud that Gruffanuff was always tapping him with her fan, and saying: " O you satirical Prince ! O fie, the Prince will hear!" "Well, I don't mind," says Giglio, louder still. The King and Queen luckily did not hear ; for her Majesty was a little deaf, and the King thought so much about his own din- ner, and, besides, made such a dreadful noise, hobgobbling in eating it, that he heard nothing else. After dinner his Majesty and the Queen went to sleep in their arm-chairs. This was the time when Giglio began his tricks with Prince Bulbo, plying that young gentleman with port, sherry, madeira, cham- 76 Zbc IRose ant> the IRing pagne, marsala, cherry-brandy, and pale ale, of all of which Master Bulbo drank without stint. But in plying his guest, Giglio was obliged to drink himself, and, I am sorry to say, took more than was good for him, so that the young men were very noisy, rude, and foolish when they joined the ladies after dinner ; and dearly did they pay for that imprudence, as now, my darlings, you shall hear ! Bulbo w^ent and sat by the piano, where Angelica was playing and singing, aud he sang out of tuue, and he upset the coffee when the footman brought it, and he laughed out of place, and talked absurdly, and fell asleep and snored horridly. Booh, the nasty pig ! But as he lay there stretched on the pink satin sofa, Angelica still persisted in thinking him the most beautiful of human beings. No doubt the magic rose which Bulbo wore caused this infat- uation on Angelica's part : but is she the first young woman who has thought a silly fellow charming ? Giglio must go and sit by Gruffanuff, whose old face he too every moment began to find ^be IRose anD tbe IRlncj 77 more lovely. He paid the most outrageous compliments to her : There never was such a darling — Older than he was ? — Fiddle-de-dee ! He would marry her — he would have nothing but her ! To marry the heir to the throne ! Here was a chance ! The artful hussy actually got a sheet of paper and wrote upon it : " This is to give notice that I, Giglio, only son of Savio, King of Paflagonia, hereby promise to marry the charm- ing and virtuous Barbara Griselda, Countess Gruffanuff, and widow of the late Jenkins Gruffanuff, Esq." " What is it you are writing? you charming Gruffy ! " says Giglio, who was lolling on the sofa by the writing-table. " Only an order for you to sign, dear Prince, for giving coals and blankets to the poor this cold weather. Look ! the King and Queen are both asleep, and your Royal Highness' order will do." So Giglio, who was very good-natured, as Gruffy well knew, signed the order immediate- ly ; and when she had it in her pocket you may 78 ^be IRose ant) tbe IRing fancy what airs she gave herself. She was ready to flouuce out of the room before the Queen herself, as now she was the wife of the rightful King of Paflagonia ! She would not speak to Glumboso, whom she thought a brute for depriving her dear husband of the crown ! And when candles came, and she had helped to undress the Queen and Princess, she wxnt into her own room, and actually practised on a sheet of paper, " Griselda Paflagonia," "Bar- bara Regina," " Grizelda Barbara, Paf. Reg.," and I don't know what signatures besides, against the day when she should be Queen, forsooth ! CHAPTER IX. How Betsinda Got the Wanning-Pan. T ITTLB Betsinda came in to put Gruffanuff 's -'— ' hair in paper ; and the Countess was so pleased, that, for a wonder, she complimented Betsinda. " Betsinda ! " she said, "you dressed my hair very nicely to-day ; I promised you a little present. Here are five sh — no, here is a pretty litte ring, that I picked — that I have had some time." And she gave Betsinda the ring she had picked up in the court. It fitted Bet- sinda exactly. " It 's like the ring the Princess used to wear," says the maid. "No such thing," says Gruffanuff, " I have had it ever so long. There — tuck me up quite comfortable ; and now, as it 's a very cold night (the snow is beating in at the window), you may go and warm dear Prince Giglio's bed, 8o zhc 1R06e anO tbc IRing like a good girl, and then you may unrip my green silk, and then you can just do me up a little cap for the morning, and then you can mend that hole in my silk stocking, and then you can go to bed, Betsinda. Mind, I shall want my cup of tea at five o'clock in the morning." " I suppose I had best warm both the young gentlemen's beds, ma'am," says Betsinda. GruffanufF, for reply, said, " Hau-au-ho ! — Grau-haw-hoo ! — Hong-hrho ! " In fact, she was snoring sound asleep. Her room, you know, is next to the King and Queen, and the Princess is next to them. So pretty Betsinda went away for the coals to the kitchen, and filled the royal warming-pan. Now, she was a very kind, merry, civil, pretty girl ; but there must have been something very captivating about her this evening, for all the women in the servants' hall began to scold and abuse her. The housekeeper said she was a pert, stuck-up thing ; the upper-housemaid asked, how dare she wear such ringlets and ribbons, it was quite improper ! The cook (for ^be IRoee auD tbe TRing there was a woman-cook as well as a mau-cook) said to the kitcheu-maid that she never could see any thing in that creetur; but as for the men, every one of them, coachman John, But- tons the page, and Monseur, the Prince of Crim Tartary's valet, started up, and said — "My eyes!" 1 " O mussy ! " [ what a pretty girl Betsin- "Ojemmany!" ^a is ! "Ociel!" " Hands off ; none of your impertinence, you vulgar, low people!" says Betsinda, walking off with her pan of coals. She heard the young genlemen playing at billiards as she went up stairs : first to Prince Giglio's bed, which she warmed, and then to Prince Bulbo's room. He came in just as she had done ; and as soon as he saw her, "O! O! O! O! O! O! what a beyou — oo — ootiful creature you are. You angel — you peri — you rose-bud, let me be thy bulbul — thy Bulbo, too ! Fly to the desert, fly with me I I never saw a young gazelle to glad me with its dark blue eye that had eyes like thine. Thou nymph of beauty, take, take this 82 ^be 1Ro6e anD tbe IRfng young heart. A truer never did itself sustain within a soldier's waistcoat. Be mine ! Be mine ! Be Princess of Crim Tartary ! My Royal father will approve our union ; and, as for that little carrotty -haired Angelica, I do not care a fig for her any more." * ' Go away, your Royal Highness, and go to bed, please, ' ' said Betsinda, with the warming- pan. But Bulbo said : " No, never, till thou swearest to be mine, thou lovely, blushing, chamber- maid divine ! Here, at thy feet, the Royal Bulbo lies, the trembling captive of Betsinda's eyes." And he went on, making himself so absurd and ridiculous, that Betsinda, who was full of fun, gave him a touch with the warming-pan, which, I promise you, made him cry " O-o-o-o ! " in a very different manner. Prince Bulbo made such a noise that Prince Giglio, who heard him from the next room, came in to see what was the matter. As soon as he saw what was taking place, Giglio, in a fury, rushed on Bulbo, kicked him in the rudest ^be IRose anO tbe IRin^ 8^ manner up to the ceiling, and went on kicking him till his hair was quite out of curl. Poor Betsinda did not know whether to laugh or to cry ; the kicking certainly must hurt the Prince, but then he looked so droll ! When Giglio had done knocking him up and down to the ground, and whilst he went into a comer rubbing himself, what do you think Giglio does? He goes down on his knees to Betsinda, takes 84 ^be 1R06e an5 tbc IRing her hand, begs her to accept his heart, and offers to marry her that moment. Fancy Bet- sinda's condition, who had been in love with the Prince ever since she first saw him in the Palace garden, when she was quite a little child. "Oh, divine Betsinda ! " says the Prince, "how have I lived fifteen years in thy com- pany without seeing thy perfections ? What woman in all Europe, Asia, Africa, and Amer- ica, nay, in Australia, only it is not yet dis- covered, can presume to be thy equal ? Angel- ica? Pish! Gruffanuff? Phoo! The Queen? Ha, ha ! Thou art my Queen. Thou art the real Angelica, because thou art really angelic." "Oh, Prince ! I am but a poor chambermaid," says Betsinda, looking, however, very much pleased. "Didst thou not tend me in my sickness, when all forsook me ? ' ' continues Giglio. "Did not thy gentle hand smooth my pillow, and bring me jelly and roast chicken? " "Yes, dear Prince, I did," says Betsinda, "and I sewed your Royal Highness' shirt- ^be IRose anD tbe 1Ring 85 buttons on too, if you please, your Royal High- ness," cries this artless maiden. When poor Prince Bulbo, who was now madly in love with Betsinda, heard this declaration, when he saw the unmistakable glances which she flung upon Giglio, Bulbo began to cry bitterly, and tore quantities of hair out of his 86 XLhc 1Ro6e anD tbe IRina head, till it all covered the room like so much tow. Betsinda had left the warming-pan on the floor while the Princes were going on with their conversation, and as they began now to quarrel and be very fierce with one another, she thought proper to run away. "You great big blubbering booby, tearing your hair in the corner there ; of course you will give tne satisfaction for insulting Betsinda. Vou dare to kneel down at Princess Giglio's knees and kiss her hand ! " "She 's not Princess Giglio ! " roars out Bulbo. "She shall be Princess Bulbo, no other shall be Princess Bulbo." "You are engaged to my cousin!" bellows out Giglio. " I hate your cousin," says Bulbo. ' ' You shall give me satisfaction for insulting her ! " cries Giglio in a fury. "I '11 have your life." "I '11 run you through." "I '11 cut your throat." "I '11 blow your brains out." ^bc IR06C auD tbe IRina 87 "I '11 knock your head off." " I '11 send a friend to you in the morning," "I '11 send a bullet into you in the after- noon." " We '11 meet again," says Giglio, shaking his fist in Bulbo's face ; and seizing up the warming-pan, he kissed it because, forsooth, Betsinda had carried it, and rushed down stairs. What should he see on the landing but his Majesty talking to Betsinda, whom he called by all sorts of fond names. His Majesty had heard a row in the building, so he stated, and smelling something burning had come out to see what the matter was, "It 's the young gentlemen smoking, per- haps, sir," says Betsinda. "Charming chambermaid," says the King (like all the rest of them), "never mind the young men ! Turn thy eyes on a middle-aged autocrat, who has been considered not ill-look- ing in his time." " Oh, sir ! what will her Majesty say ? " cries Betsinda. " Her Majesty ! " laughs the monarch. "Her 83 ^be IRoge anD tbe IRin^ Majesty be hanged. Am I not Autocrat of Paflagonia? Have I not blocks, ropes, axes, hangmen — ha ? Runs not a river by my palace wall? Have I not sacks to sew up wives withal? Say but the word, that thou wilt be mine own, — your mistress straightway in a sack is sewn, and thou the sharer of my heart and throne." "When Giglio heard these atrocious senti- ments, he forgot the respect usually paid to Royalty, lifted up the warming-pan and knocked down the King as flat as a pancake ; after which, Master Giglio took to his heels and ran away, and Betsinda went off screaming, and the Zbc iRose anD tbe IRfng 89 Queen, the Princess, and GruffanufF all came out of their rooms. Fancy their feelings on beholding their husband, father, sovereign, in this posture ! CHAPTER X. How King Valoroso was in a Dreadful Passion. A S soon as the coals begau to burn him, the ^*- King came to himself and stood up. " Ho ! my captain of the guards ! '' His Majesty exclaimed, stamping his royal feet with rage. O piteous spectacle ! the King's nose was bent quite crooked by the blow of Prince Giglio ! His Majesty ground his teeth with rage. *' Hedzoflf," he said, taking a death warrant out of his dressing-gown pocket, "Hed- zofF, good Hedzoff, seize upon the Prince. Thou 'It find him in his chamber two pair up. But now he dared, with sacrilegious hand, to strike the sacred night-cap of a king — Hedzoff, and floor me with a warming-pan ! Away, no more demur, the villain dies ! See it be done, or else, — h'm ! — ha ! — h'm ! mind thine own eyes!" and followed by the ladies, and lifting ^be IRoee aiiD tbe IRing 91 up tlie tails of his dressing-gown, the King entered his own apartment. Captain HedzofF was very much affected, having a sincere love for Giglio. "Poor, poor Giglio ! " he said, the tears rolling over his manly face, and dripping down his mous- tachios; "my noble young prince, is it my hand must lead thee to death, ? ' ' 92 XLbc 1R03C anO tbe IRing "Lead him to fiddlestick, Hedzoff," said a female voice. It was GrufFanuff, who had come out in her dressing-gown when she heard the noise. " The King said you were to hang the Prince. Well, hang the Prince." " I don't understand you," says Hedzoff, who was not a very clever man. ' ' You Gaby ! he did n't say which Prince," says Gruffa- nuff. "No ; he did n't say which, certainly," said Hedzoff. •'Well, then, take B u 1 b o , and hang him ! " When Captain Hedzoff heard this he be- gan to dance about for joy. "Obedience is a soldier's honor," says he. "Prince Bul- bo's head will do capitally, and he went to ^be IRose anD tbe IRing 93 arrest the Prince the very finst thing next morning. He knocked at the door. " Who 's there ? " says Bulbo. " Captain HedzofF? Step in, pray, my good Captain. I 'm delighted to see you. I have been expecting you." " Have you ? " says HedzofF. ** Sleibootz, my Chamberlain, will act for me," says the Prince. "I beg your Royal Highness' pardon, but you v.'ill have to act for yourself, and it 's a pity to wake Baron Sleibootz." The Prince Bulbo still seemed to take the matter very coolly. ' ' Of course, Captain, ' ' says he, "you are come about that affair with Prince Giglio." "Precisely," says Hedzoff, "that affair of Prince Giglio." "Is it to be pistols or swords. Captain ? ' ' asks Bulbo. "I 'm a pretty good hand with both, and I '11 do for Prince Giglio as sure as my name is my Royal Highness Prince Bulbo." "There 's some mistake, my Lord," says the Captain. "The business is done with a:x:es among us," 94 tTbe IRose anD tbe IRing "Axes? That 's sharp work," says Bulbo. " Call my Chamberlain; he '11 be my second, and in ten minutes I flatter myself you '11 see Master Giglio's head off his impertinent shoul- ders. I 'm hungry for his blood ! Hoo-oo, aw! " and he looked as savage as an ogre. " I beg your pardon, sir, but by this warrant I am to take you prisoner, and hand you over to — to the executioner." ^be IRoee anD tbe IRlng 95 *'Pooh, pooh, my good man ! — Stop, I say — ho! — hulloa ! " was all that this luckless prince was enabled to say, for HedzofPs Guards seizing him, tied a handkerchief over his mouth and face, and carried him to the place of execution. The King, who happened to be talking to Glumboso, saw him pass, and took a pinch of snuff, and said: "So much for Giglio. Now let 's go to breakfast." The Captain of the Guard handed over his prisoner to the Sheriff, with the fatal order : ''AT SIGHT CUT OFF THF BFARER'S HFAD. "VAI.OROSO XXIV." " It 's a mistake," said Bulbo, who did not seem to understand the business in the least. ' ' Poo — poo — pooh, ' ' says the Sheriff. ' ' Fetch Jack Ketch instantly. Jack Ketch ! " And poor Bulbo was led to the scaffold, where an executioner with a block and a tremendous axe was always ready in case he should be wanted. But we must now revert to Giglio and Bet- sinda. CHAPTER XI. What Gruffanuflf Did to Giglio and Betsinda. GRUFFANUFF who had seen what had happened with the King, and knew that Giglio must come to grief, got up very early the next morning, and went to devise some plans for rescuing her darling husband, as the silly old thing insisted on calling him. She found nim walking up and down the garden, thinking of a rhyme for Betsinda {tifidej^ a.n.6. ivinda were all he could find), and indeed having forgotten all about the past evening, except that Betsinda was the most lovely of beings. " Well, dear Giglio," says Gruff. "Well, dear Gruffy," says Giglio, only he was quite satirical. *' I have been thinking, darling, what you XLbc IR06C and tbe IRing 97 must do in this scrape. You must fly the coun- try for a while. ' ' "What scrape? — fly the country? Never without her I love, Countess," says Giglio. " No, she will accompany you, dear Prince," she says, in her most coaxing accents. * ' First we must get the jewels belonging to our royal parents, and those of her and his present Majesty. Here is the key, duck ; they are all yours you know by right, for you are the right- ful King of Paflagonia, and your wife will be the rightful Queen." " Will she ? " says Giglio. **Yes; and having got the jewels, go to Glumboso's apartment, where, under his bed, you will find sacks containing money to the amount of ^217,000,000,987,439 13^. 6|^., all belonging to you, for he took it out of your royal father's room on the day of his death. With this we will fly." " We will fly ? " says Giglio. '*Yes, you and your bride — your affianced love — your Gruffy ! " says the Countess, with a languishing leer. 98 ^be IR06C an^ tbe IRing " You, my bride ! " says Giglio. "You, you hideous old woman ! " "O you, you wretch! didn't you give me this paper promising marriage ? " cries Gruff. " Get away, you old goose ! I love Betsinda, and Betsinda only ! " And in a fit of terror he ran from her as quickly as he could, " He ! he ! he ! " shrieks out Gruff, " a prom- ise is a promise, if there are laws in Paflagonia ! And as for that monster, that wretch, that fiend, that ugly little vixen — as for that upstart, ^be IRose anO tbe IRina 99 that ingrate, that beast, Betsinda, Master Giglio will have uo little difficulty in discovering her whereabouts. He may look very long before finding her, I warrant. He little knows that Miss Betsinda is " Is — what ? Now, you shall hear. Poor Bet- sinda got up at five in winter's morning to bring her cruel mistress her tea ; and instead of finding her in a good humor, found Gruffy as cross as two sticks. The Countess boxed Bet- sinda's ears half a dozen times whilst she was dressing ; but as poor little Betsinda was used to this kind of treatment, she did not feel any special alarm. "And now," says she, "when her Majesty rings her bell twice, I '11 trouble you, miss, to attend." So when the Queen's bell rang twice, Bet- sinda came to her Majesty and made a ptetty little curtsey. The Queen, the Princess, and GrujBfanuff were all three in the room. As soon as they saw her they began, "You wretch ! " says the Queen. "You little vulgar thing J " says the Princess. Zbc IRose anD tbe IRlng " You beast ! " says GruffanufF. " Get out of my sight ! " says the Queen. " Go away with you, do ! " says the Princess. ' ' Quit the premises ! ' ' says GruffanufF. Alas ! and woe is me ! very lamentable events had occurred to Betsinda that morning, and all in consequence of that fatal warming-pan busi- ness of the previous night. The King had of- fered to marry her ; of course her Majesty the Queen was jealous : Bulbo had fallen in love with her ; of course Angelica was furious : Giglio was in love with her, and O what a fury Gruffy was in ! r cap "I I gave you," "Take off that \ petticoat V they said, all at [ gown J once, and began tearing the clothes off poor Betsinda. " How r the King?" "j cried the Queen, dare you \ Prince Bulbo ? " [ the Princess, flirt with [ Prince Giglio?" J and Countess. " Give her the rags she wore when she came into the house, and turn her out of it ! " cries the Queen. *' Mind she does not go with i/iy shoes on, 102 Xlbc IRose an& tbe IRing which I lent her so kindly," says the Princess ; and indeed the Princess' shoes were a great deal too big for Betsinda. " Come with me, you filthy hussy ! " and taking up the Queen's poker, the cruel Gruff- anufF drove Betsinda into her room. The Countess went to the glass box in which she had kept Betsinda's old cloak and shoe this ever so long, and said : " Take those rags, you little beggar creature, and strip off every^ thing belonging to honest people, and go about your business" ; and she actually tore off the poor little delicate thing's back almost all her things, and told her to be off out of the house. Poor Betsinda huddled the cloak round her back, on which were embroidered the letters PRIN . . . ROSAi^ . . . and then came a great rent. As for the shoe, what was she to do with one poor little tootsey sandal ? the string was still to it, so she hung it round her neck. " Won't you give me a pair of shoes to go out in the snow, mum, if you please, mum i " cried the poor child. Zbc 1Ro0e ant) tbc IRlng 103 "No, you wicked beast!" says GrufFanuff, driving lier along with tlie poker — driving her down the cold stairs — driving her through the cold hall — flinging her out into the cold street, so that the knocker itself shed tears to see her! But a kind fairy made the soft snow warm for her little feet, and she wrapped herself up in the ermine of her mantle and was gone. "And now let us think about breakfast," says the greedy Queen. "What dress shall I put on, mamma? the pink or the pea-green," says Angelica. " Which do 3'ou think the dear Prince will like best? " ' ' Mrs. V. ! " sings out the King from his dressing-room, " Let us have sausages for breakfast ! Remember we have Prince Bulbo staying with us ! " And they all went to get ready. Nine o'clock came, and they w^ere all in the breakfast-room, and no Prince Bulbo as yet. The nrn was hissing and humming ; the muf- fins w^ere smoking — such a heap of muffins ! 104 tTbc IRose auD tbe TRlng the eggs were done, there was a pot of rasp- berry jam, and coffee, and a beautiful chicken and tongue on the side table. Marmitonio the cook brought in the sausages. O how nice they smelt ! *' Where is Bulbo ? " said the King. "John, where is His Royal Highness ? " John said he had a took hup His Roil- ighnessesses sha\ang-water, and his clothes and things, and he was n't in his room, which he sposed His Royliness was just step- ped hout. "Stepped out before breakfast in the snovr ! Impossible ! " says the King, sticking his fork into a sausage. " My dear, take one. Angelica won't you have a saveloy?" The Princess took one, being very fond of them ; and at this moment Glumboso entered with Captain Hed- zoff, both looking very much disturbed. "I am afraid your Majesty — " cries Glumboso. "No business before breakfast, Glum!" says the King. "Breakfast first, business next. Mrs. v., some more sugar ! " "Sire, I am afraid if we wait till after break- trbe IRose anO tbc IRing 105 fast it will be too late," says Glumboso. " He — lie — he '11 be hanged at half-past nine." " Don't talk about hanging and spoil my breakfast, you unkind, vulgar man you ! ' ' cries the Princess. "John, some mustard. Pray who is to be hanged ? ' ' "Sire, it is the Prince," whispers Glumboso to the King, . "Talk about business after breakfast, I tell you ! " says his Majesty, quite sulky. "We shall have a war, Sire, depend on it," says the Minister. "His father, King Padella "His father, King whof'' says the King, "King Padella is not Giglio's father. My brother, King Savio, was Giglio's father." "It 's Prince Bulbo they are hanging, Sire, not Prince Giglio, ' ' says the Prime Minister. " You told me to hang the Prince, and I took the ugly one," says HedzofiF. "I didn't, of course, think your Majesty intended to murder your own flesh and blood ! " The King for all reply flung the plate of sausages at Hedzoff's head. The Princess cried io6 ^be IRose anO tbe IRing out Hee-karee-karee ! and fell down in a faint- ing fit. " Turn the cock of the urn upon her Royal Highness," said the King, and the boiling water gradually revived her. His Majesty looked at his watch, compared it by the clock in the par- lor, and by that of the church in the square opposite ; then he wound it up ; then he looked at it again. "The great question is," says he, " am I fast or am I slow ? If I 'm slow, we may as well go on with breakfast. If I 'm fa.st, why there is just the possibility of saving Prince Bulbo. It 's a doosid awkward mistake, and upon my word, Hedzoff, I have the greatest mind to have you hanged too." "Sire, I did but my duty ; a soldier has but his orders. I didn't expect after forty-seven years of faithful service that my sovereign would think of putting me to a felon's death I " "A hundred thousand plagues upon you! Can't you see that while you are talking my Bulbo is being hung ! " screamed the Princess. " By Jove ! she 's always right, that girl, and I 'm so absent," says the King, looking at his ^be IRose anO tbe IRincj 107 watch again. "Ha! there go the drums ! What a doosid awkward think though ! " * ' O papa, you goose ! Write the reprieve, and let me run with it," cries the Princess — and she got a sheet of paper, and pen and ink, and laid them before the King. " Confound it ! Where are my spectacles ! " the monarch exclaimed. "Angelica! Go up into my bedroom, look under my pillow, not your mamma's ; there you '11 see my keys. Bring them dow^n to me, and — Well, well ! what impetuous things these girls are ! " Angelica was gone, and had run up panting to the bed- room, and found the keys, and was back again before the King had finished a muflQn. " Now love," says he, " you must go all the way back for my desk, in which my spectacles are. If you would but have heard me out ... Be hanged to her ! There she is off again ! Angel- ica 1 Angewca !" When his Majesty called in his loud voice, she knew she must obey, and came back. "My dear, when you go out of a room, how often have I told you, shut the door. That 's a io8 ^be IRose auD tbe IRing darling. That 's all." At last the keys and the desk and the spectacles were got, and the King mended his pen, and signed his name to a re- prieve, and Angelica ran with it as swift as the wind. "You 'd better stay, my love, and fin- ish the mufiins. There 's no use going. Be sure it 's too late. Hand me over that rasp- berry jam, please," said the monarch. "Bong ! Bawong ! There goes the half hour. I knew it was." Angelica ran, and ran, and ran, and ran. She ran up Fore Street, and down High Street, and through the Market-place, and down to the left, and over the bridge, and up the blind alley, and back again, and round by the Castle, and so along by the Haberdasher's on the right, op- posite the lamp-post, and round the square, and she came — she came to the Execution place, where she saw Bulbo laying his head on the block ! ! ! The executioner raised his axe, but at that moment the Princess came panting up and cried Reprieve. * ' Reprieve ! ' ' screamed the Princess. ' ' Reprieve ! ' ' shouted all the people. Up the scaffold stairs she sprang, with the agility K] ^^ . ITbe IRose anD tbe IRing of a lighter of lamps ; and flinging herself in Bulbo's arms, regardless of all ceremony, she cried out: " O my Prince ! my lord ! my love ! my Bulbo ! Thine Angelica has been in time to save thy precious existence, sweet rosebud ; to prevent thy being nipped in thy young bloom ! Had aught befallen thee, Angelica too had died, and welcomed death that joined her to her Bulbo." " H'm ! there 's no accounting for tastes," said Bulbo, looking so very much puzzled and uncomfortable that the Princess, in tones of tenderest strain, asked the cause of his disquiet. "I tell you what it is, Angelica," said he, "Since I came here yesterday there has been such a row, and disturbance, and quarrelUng, and fighting, and chopping of heads off, and the deuce to pay, that I am inclined to go back to Crim Tartary." ' ' But with me as thy bride, my Bulbo ! Though wherever thou art is Crim Tartary to me, my bold, my beautiful, my Bulbo ! " " Well, well, I suppose we must be married," says Bulbo. "Doctor, you came to read the Zbc IRoee anD tbe IRincj funeral service — read the marriage service, will you ? What must be, must. That will satisfy Angelica, and then, in the name of peace and quietness, do let us go back to breakfast." Bulbo had carried a rose in his mouth all the time of the dismal ceremony. It was a fairy rose, and he was told by his mother that he ought never to part with it. So he had kept it between his teeth, even when he laid his poor head upon the block, hoping vaguely that some chance would turn up in his favor. As he began to speak to Angelica, he forgot about the rose, and of course it dropped out of his mouth. The romantic Princess instantly stooped and seized it. "Sweet rose!" she exclaimed, "that bloomed upon my Bulbo's lip, never, never will I part from thee ! " and she placed it in her bosom. And you know Bulbo coidd n't ask her to give the rose back again. And they went to breakfast ; and as they walked, it ap- peared to Bulbo that Angelica became more exquisitely lovely every moment. He was frantic until they were married ; and now, strange to say, it was Angelica who did n't 112 ^be IRose anD tbe IRing care about him ! He knelt down, he kissed her hand, he prayed and begged ; he cried with ad- miration, while she for her part said she really thought they might wait ; it seemed to her he was not handsome any more — no, not at all, quite the reverse, and not clever, no, very stupid, and not well-bred, like Giglio ; no, on the contrary, dreadfully vul What, I cannot say, for King Valoroso roared out " Poo/i, stuff !" in a terrible voice. "We will have no more of this shilly-shallying ! Call the Archbishop, and let the Prince and Princess be married off-hand ! " So, married they were, and I am sure for my part I trust they will be happy. CHAPTER XII. How Betsinda Fled, and What Became of Her. BETSINDA wandered on and on, till she passed through the town gates, and so on the great Crim Tartary road, the very way on which Giglio, too, was going. "Ah ! " thought she, as the diligence passed her, of which the conductor was blowing a delightful tune on his horn, " how I should like to be on that coach ! " But the coach and the jingling horses were very soon gone. She little knew who was in it, though very likely she was thinking of him all the time. Then came an empty cart, returning from mar- ket ; and the driver being a kind man, and see- ing such a very pretty girl trudging along the road with bare feet, most good-naturedly gave her a seat. He said he lived on the confines of 114 ^be IR06C anD tbe IRing the forest, where his old father was a woodman, and, if she liked, he would take her so far on her road. All roads were the same to little Betsinda, so she very thankfully took this one. And the carter put a cloth round her bare feet, and gave her some bread and cold bacon, and was very kind to her. For all that she was very cold and melancholy. When after travel- ling on and on, evening came, and all the black pines were bending with snow, and there, at last, was the comfortable light beaming in the woodman's windows, and so they arrived, and went into his cottage. He was an old man, and had a number of children, who were just at supper, with nice hot bread-aud-milk, when their elder brother arrived with the cart. And they jumped and clapped their hands ; for they were good children, and he had brought them toys from the town. And when they saw the pretty stranger they ran to her, and brought her to the fire, and rubbed her poor little feet, and brought her bread-and-milk. " Look, Father !" they said to the old wood- man, "look at this poor girl, and see what ^be 1R06e ant) tbe IRfng 115 pretty cold feet she has. They are as white as our milk ! And look and see what an odd cloak she has, just like the bit of velvet that hangs up in our cupboard, and which you found that day the little cubs were killed by King Padella in the forest ! And look, why bless us all ! she has got round her neck just such another little shoe as that you brought home, and have shown us so often — a little blue velvet shoe ! " "What," said the old woodman, "What is all this about a shoe and a cloak ? " And Betsinda explained that she had been ii6 tTbe H^ose anD tbc tlim left, wlieu quite a little child, at tlie town with this cloak and this shoe. And the persons who had taken care of her had — had been angry with her for no fault, she hoped, of her owm. And they had sent her away with her old clothes — and here, in fact, she was. She remembered hav- ing been in a forest — and perhaps it was a dream —it was so very odd and strange — having lived in a cave with lions there ; and, before that, having lived in a very, very fine house, as fine as a king's, in a town. When the woodman heard this, he was so as- tonished, it was quite curious to see how aston- ished he was. He went to his cupboard, and took out of a stocking a five-shilling piece of King Cavolfiore, and vowed it was exactly like the young woman. And then he produced the shoe and piece of velvet which he had kept so long, and compared them with the things w^hich Betsinda wore. In Betsinda's little shoe was written, "Hopkins, maker to the Royal Fam- ^be IRosc an& tbc IRin^ 117 ily ; " so in the other shoe was written, " Hop- kins, maker to the Royal Famih\" In the inside of Betsinda's piece of cloak was embroi- dered, "PRiN ROSAiv " ; in the other piece of cloak was embroidered. " CESS ba No. 246.'' So that when put together you read, " princkSS ROSAi^BA. No. 246." On seeing this, the dear old woodman fell down on his knee^ saying : " O my Princess, O my gracious royal lady, O my rightful Queen of Crim Tartary, — I hail thee — I acknowledge thee — I do thee homage!" And in token of his fealty, he rubbed his venerable nose three times on the ground, and put the Princess' foot on his head. "Why," said .she, " ui}^ good woodman, you must be a nobleman of my royal father's court ! " For in her lowly retreat, and under the name of Betsinda, Her Majesty, Rosai^ba, Queen of Crim Tartary, had read of the customs of all foreign courts and nations. " Marry, indeed, am I, my gracious liege — the poor Ivord Spinachi, once — the humble wood- man these fifteen years syne. Ever since the iis ^be IRose an^ tbc URim tyrant, Padella (may ruin overtake the treach- erous knave !), dismissed me from my post of First Ivord." "First Lord of the Toothpick and Joint Keeper of the Snuff-box ? I mind me ! Thou heldest these posts under our royal Sire. They are restored to thee, Lord vSpinachi ! I make thee knight of the second class of our Order of the Pumpkin (the first class being reserved for crowned heads alone). Rise Marquis of Spina- chi ! " And with indescribable majest}-, the Queen, who had no sword handy, waved the pewter spoon with which she had been taking her bread-and-milk, over the bald head of the old nobleman, whose tears absolutely made a puddle on the ground, and whose dear children went to bed that night Lords and Ladies Bar- tolomeo, Ubaldo, Catarina, and Ottavia degli Spinachi ! The acquaintance Her Majesty showed with the history, and noble families of her empire, was wonderful. "The House of Broccoli should remain faithful to us," she said; " they were ever welcome at our Court. Have the Arti- tTbe t^ose ant) tbe IRing 119 ciocchi, as was their wont, turned to the Rising Sun ? The family of Sauerkraut must sure be with us — they were ever welcome in the halls of King Cavolfiore." And 530 she went on enu- merating quite a list of the nobility and gentry of Crim Tartary, so admirably had her Majesty profited by her studies while in exile. The old Marquis of Spiuachi said he could answer for them all ; that the whole country groaned under Padella's tyranny, and longed to return to its rightful sovereign ; and late as it was, he sent his children who knew the for- est well, to summon this nobleman and that ; and when his eldest son, who had been rubbing the horse down and giving him his supper, came into the house for his own, the Marquis told him to put his boots on, and a saddle on the mare, and ride hither and thither to such and such people. When the young man heard who his com- panion in the cart had been, he too knelt down and put her royal foot on his head ; he too be- dewed the ground with his tears ; he was fran- tically in love with her as everybody now was XLbc 1Ro6e anD tbe IRing who saw her ; so w^ere the young Lords Bartol- omeo and Ubaldo, who punched each other's little heads out of jealousy : and so when they came from the east and west, at the summons of the Marquis degli Spinachi, were the Crim Tartar Lords who still remained faithful to the House of Cavolfiore. They were such verj' old gentlemen for the most part, that her Majesty never suspected their absurd passion, and went among them quite unaware of the havoc her beauty was causing, until an old blind Lord who had joined her party, told her what the truth w^as ; after which, for fear of making the people too much in love with her, she always wore a veil. She went about, privately, from one nobleman's castle to another ; and they visited amongst themselves again, and had meet- ings, and composed proclamations and counter- proclamations, and distributed all the best places of the kingdom amongst one another, and selected who of the opposition party should be executed when the Queen came to her own. And so in about a year they were ready to move. The party of Fidelity was in truth composed ^be iR06e anO tbe IRing 121 of very feeble old fogies for the most part ; they went about the country waving their old swords and flags, and calling " God save the Queen ! " and King Padella happening to be absent upon an invasion, they had their own way for a lit- \ tie, and to be sure the people were very enthu- siastic whenever they saw the Queen ; other- wise the vulgar took matters very quietly, for they said, as far as they could recollect, they were pretty well as much taxed in Cavolfiore's time, as now in Padella's. CHAPTER XIII. How Queen Rosalba Came to the Castle of the Bold Count Hogginarmo. T T BR Majesty, having indeed nothing else to -I- * give, made all her followers Knights of the Pumpkin, and marquises, earls, and baro- nets, and they had a little court for her, and made her a little crown of gilt paper, and a robe of cotton velvet, and they quarrelled about the places to be given away in her court, and about rank and precedence and dignities ; — you can't think how they quarrelled ! The poor Oueen was very tired of her honors before she had had them a month, and I dare say sighed sometimes even to be a lady's maid again. But we must all do our duty in our respective stations, so the Queen resigned herself to perform hers. We have said how it happened that none of the Usuqier's troops came out to oppose this Tlbc IRosc anD tbc 1Rtn(i . 123 Army of Fidelity : it pottered along as nimbly as the gout of the principal commanders allowed ; it consisted of twice as many officers as soldiers ; and at length passed near the estates of one of the most powerful noblemen of the country, who had not declared for the Queen, but of whom her party had hope, as he was always quarrelling with King Padella. . When they came close to his park gates, this nobleman sent to say he would wait upon her Majesty ; he was a most powerful warrior, and his name was Count Hogginarmo, whose hel- met it took two strong negroes to carry. He knelt down before her and said : " Madam and liege lady ! it becomes the great nobles of the Crimean realm to show every outward sign of respect to the wearer of the crown, whoever that may be. We testify to our own nobility in acknowledging yours. The bold Hogginarmo bends the knee to the first of the aristocracy of his country." Rosalba said, " The bold Count of Hoggi- narmo was uncommonly kind." But she felt afraid of him, even while he was kneeling, and 524 XLbc IRose anO tbe IRing "his eyes scowled at her from between his whisk- ers, which grew up to them. "The first Count of the Empire, madam," Sie went on, "salutes the Sovereign. The !l*rince addresses himself to the not more noble lady ! Madam ! my hand is free, and I offer it, and my heart and my sword to your service ! My three wives lie buried in my ancestral vaults. The third perished but a year since, and this heart pines for a consort ! Deign to be mine, and I swear to bring to your bridal table the head of King Padella, the eyes and nose of his son, Prince Bulbo, the right hand and ears of the usurping sovereign of Paflago- nia, which country shall thenceforth be an appanage to your — to our Crown ! Say yes ; Hogginarmo is not accustomed to be denied. Indeed, I cannot contemplate the possibility of a refusal : for frightful would be the result, dreadful the murders, furious the devastations, horrible the tyranny, tremendous the tortures, misery, taxation, which the people of this realm will endure if Hoggiuarmo's wrath be aroused ! I see consent in your Majesty's 26 Zbc IRose an& tbe IRing lovely eyes — their glances fill my soul with rapture ! " " O sir," Rosalba said, withdrawing her hand in great fright. "Your Lordship is ex- ceedingly kind, but I am sorry to tell you that I have a prior attachment to a 3'oung gentle- man by the name of — Prince — Giglio — and never — never can marry any one but him. Who can describe Hogginarmo's wrath at this remark ? Rising up from the ground, he ground his teeth so that fire flashed out of his mouth, from which at the same time issued re- marks and language so /oud, violent, and im- proper^ that this pen shall never repeat them ! " R-r-r-r-r-r — Rejected ! Fiends and perdition ! The bold Hogginarmo rejected ! All the world shall hear of my rage ; and you, Madam, you above all shall rue it ! " And kicking the two negroes before him, he rushed away, his whisk- ers streaming in the wind. Her Majesty's Privy Council was in a dread- ful panic when they saw Hogginarmo issue from the royal presence in such a towering rage, making footballs of the poor negroes, — a ^bc IRosc anD the IRing 127 panic which the events justified. They inarched off from Hogginarmo's park very crestfallen, and in another half-hour they were met by that rapacious chieftain with a few of his followers, ^<::^ ■'^•;,e-^ who cut, slashed, charged, whacked, banged, and pommelled amongst them, took the Queen prisoner, and drove the Army of Fidelity to I don't know where. 128 XLhc IRoee anD tbe fding Poor Queen ! Hoggiuarmo, her conqueror, would not condescend to see her. "Get a horse-van ! " he said to his grooms, ' ' Clap the hussy into it, and send her, with my compli- ments, to his Majesty King Padella." Along with his lovely prisoner, Hogginarmo sent a letter full of servile compliments and loathsome flatteries to King Padella, for whose life and that of his royal family the hypocritical humbug pretended to offer the most fulsome prayers. And Hogginarmo promised speedily to pay his humble homage at his august mas- ter's throne, of which he begged leave to be counted the most loyal and constant defender. Such a zvary old bird as King Padella was not to be caught by Master Hogginarmo's chaff, and we shall hear presently how the tyrant treated his upstart vassal. No, no ; -vdepend on 't two such rogues do not trust one another. So this poor Queen was laid in the straw, like Margery Daw, and driven along in the dark ever so many miles to the Court, where King Padella had now arrived, having vanquished all his enemies, murdered most of them, and 130 ^be tRoec nnt> tbe Klim brought some of the richest into captivity with him for the purpose of torturing them and find- ing out where they had hidden their money. Rosalba heard their shrieks and groans in the dungeon in which she was thrust ; a most awful black hole, full of bats, rats, mice, toads, frogs, mosquitoes, bugs, fleas, serpents, and every kind of horror. No light was let into it, otherwise the gaolers might have seen her and fallen in love with her, as an owl that lived up in the roof of the tower did, and a cat you know, who can see in the dark, and having set its green eyes on Rosalba never would be got to go back to the turnkey's wife to whom it belonged. And the toads in the dungeon came and kissed her feet, and the vipers wound round her neck and arms, and never hurt her, so charming was this poor Princess in the midst of her misfortunes. At last, after she had been kept in this place ever so long, the door of the dungeon opened and the terrible King Padei.i.a came in. But w^hat he said and did must be reserved for another chapter, as w^e must now back to Prince Giglio. ?^^^ ^^s CHAPTER XIV. What Became of Giglio. T^HB idea of marrying such an old creature ^ as Gruffanuff frightened Prince Giglio so that he ran up to his room, packed his trunks, fetched in a couple of porters, and was off to the diligence office in a twinkling. It was well that he was so quick in his opera- tions, did not dawdle over his luggage, and took the early coach, for as soon as the mistake about Prince Bulbo was found out, that cruel Glum- boso sent up a couple of policemen to Prince Giglio' s room, with orders that he should be carried to Newgate, and his head taken off be- fore twelve o'clock. But the coach was out of the Paflagonian dominions before two o'clock ; and I dare say the express that was sent after 132 Zbc IRose anD tbe IRincj Prince Giglio did not ride verj- quick, for many people in Paflagonia had a regard for Giglio, as the son of their old sovereign ; a Prince who, with all his weaknesses, was very much better than his brother — the reigning, usurping, lazy, careless, passionate, tyrannical, reigning mon- arch. That prince busied himself with the balls, fetes, masquerades, hunting parties, and so forth, which he thought proper to give, on occasion of his daughter's marriage, to Prince Bulbo ; and let us trust was not sorry in his own heart that his brother's son had escaped the scaffold. It was very cold weather, and the snow was on the ground, and Giglio, who gave his name as simple Mr. Gills, was very glad to get a com- fortable place in the coupe of the diligence, where he sat with the conductor and another gentleman. At the first stage from Blombo- dinga, as they stopped to change horses, there came up to the diligence a very ordinary, vul- gar-looking woman, with a bag under her arm, who asked for a place. All the inside places were taken, and the young woman was in- formed that if she wished to travel, she must 134 ^be IRosc anC) tbe URim go upon the roof; and the passenger inside with Giglio (a rude person, I should think) put his head out of the window, and said : " Nice weather for travelling outside ! I wish you a pleasant journey, my dear." The poor woman coughed very much, and Giglio pitied her. ' ' I will give up my place to her," says he, " rather than she should travel in the cold air with that hor- rid cough." On which the vulgar traveller said : "K<9;/V keep her warm, I am sure, if it 's a nn(J^ she wants," On which Giglio pulled his nose, boxed his ears, hit him in the eye, and gave this vulgar person a warning never to call him viuffsigain. Then he sprang up gaily on to the roof of the diligence, and made himself very comfortable in the straw. The vulgar traveller got down only at the next station, and Giglio took his place again, and talked to the person next to him. vShe appeared to be a most agreeable, well- ^be IRose anD tbe IRing 135 informed, and entertaining female. They trav- elled together till night, and she gave Giglio all sorts of things out of the bag which she carried, and which indeed seemed to contain the most wonderful collection of articles. He was thirsty — out there came a pint bottle of Bass' pale ale, and a silver mug ! Hungry — she took out a cold fowl, some slices of ham, bread, salt, and a most delicious piece of cold plum-pudding, and a little glass of brandy afterwards. As they travelled, this plain-looking, queer woman talked to Giglio on a variety of subjects, in which the poor Prince showed his ignorance as much as she did her capacity. He owned, with many blushes, how ignorant he was ; on which the lady said : ' ' My dear Gigl — my good Mr. Gills, you are a young man, and have plenty of time before you. You have nothing to do but to improve yourself. Who knows but that you may find use for your knowledge some day ? When — when you may be wanted at home, as some people may be." " Good Heavens, madam ! " says he, "do you know me ? " 136 ^be 1R06e auD tbe IRing " I know a number of funny things," says the lady. " I have been at some people's christen- ings, and turned away from other folk's doors. I have seen some people spoilt by good fortune, and others, as I hope, improved by hardship. I advise you to stay at the town where the coach stops for the night. Stay there and study, and remember your old friend to whom you were kind." " And who is my old friend ? " asked Giglio. " When you want any thing," says the lady, "look in this bag, which I leave to you as a present, and be grateful to — " " To whom, madam ? " says he. "To the Fairy Blackstick," says the lady, flying out of the window. And when Giglio asked the conductor if he knew where the lady was, " What lady? " says the man ; "there has been no lady in this coach, except the old wo- man, who got out at the last stage." And Gig- lio thought he had been dreaming. But there was the bag which Blackstick had given him lying on his lap ; and when he came to the town he took it in his hand and went into the inn. XLbc IRose anD tbe IRing 137 They gave him a very bad bedroom, and Cig- lio, when he woke in the morning, fancying himself in the Royal Palace at home, called, "John, Charles, Thomas ! My chocolate — my dressing-gown — my slippers"; but nobody came. There was no bell, so he went and bawled out for waiter on the top of the stairs. The landlady came up, looking — looking like this— "What are you a hollaring and a bellaring for here, young man ? " says she, "There 's no warm water — no servants; my boots are not even cleaned." "He, he! Clean 'em yourself," says the landlady. "You young students give your- 138 ^be 1RO0C anD tbe mm selves pretty airs. I never heard such im- pudence." "I '11 quit the house this instant," says Giglio. "The sooner the better, young man. Pay your bill and be off. All my rooms is wanted for gentlefolks, and not for such as you." "You may well keep the Bear Inn," said Giglio. " You should have yourself painted as the sign." The landlady of the Bear went away growl- ing. And Giglio returned to his room, where the first thing he saw was the fairy bag lying on the table, which seemed to give a little hop as he came in. "I hope it has some breakfast in it, ' ' says Giglio, ' ' for I have only a very little money left." But on opening the bag, what do you think was there ; a blacking-brush and a pot of Warren's jet, and on the pot was written : " Poor young men their boots must black, Use me and cork me and put me back." So Giglio laughed and blacked his boots, and put back the brush and the bottle into the bag. ^bc IRosc aiiD tbc IRiiit} 139 When he had done drevSsing himself, the bag gave another little hop, and he went to it and took out — 1. A table-cloth and a napkin. 2. A sugar-basin full of the best loaf-sugar. 4, 6, 8, 10. Two forks, two teaspoons, two I40 ^be IRose aiiD tbe IRing knives, and a pair of sugar-tongs, and a butter-knife, all marked G. II, 12, 13. A teacup, saucer, and slop-basin. 14. A jug full of delicious cream. 15. A canister with black tea and green. 16. A large tea-urn and boiling water. 17. A sauce-pan, containing three eggs nicely done, 18. A quarter of a pound of best Epping butter. 19. A brown loaf. And if he had n't enough now for a good breakfast, I should like to know who ever had one ! Giglio, having had his breakfast, popped all the things back into the bag, and went out looking for lodgings. I forgot to say that this celebrated university town was called Bosforo. He took a modest lodging opposite the Schools, paid his bill at the inn, and went to his apartment with his trunk, carpet-bag, and not forgetting, we may be sure, his other bag. When he opened his trunk, which the day before he had filled with his best clothes, he 9l,iT 142 Xlbc 1R06e anD tbe IRin^ found it contained only books. And in the first of them which he opened there was writ- ten — "Clothes for the back, books for the head : Read, and remember them when they are read." And in his bag, when Giglio looked in it, he found a student's cap and gown, a writing-book full of paper, an inkstand, pens, and a John- son's dictionary, which was very useful to him, as his spelling had been sadly neglected. So he sat down and worked away, very, very hard for a whole year, during which * ' Mr. Giles ' ' was quite an example to all the students in the University of Bosforo. He never got into any riots or disturbances. The professors all spoke w^ell of him, and the students liked him, too ; so that, when at examination, he took all the prizes, viz, : — r The spelling Prize f The French Prize J The Writing Prize j The Arithmetic Prize The History Prize The Latin Prize I. The Catechism Prize L The Good Conduct Prize, all his fellow students said, "Hurray! Hurray for Giles ! Giles is the boy — the students' joy ! ^be IRose auD tbe IRincj 143 Hurray for Giles!" And he brought quite a quantity of medals, crowns, books, and tokens of distinction home to his lodgings. One day after the examinations, as he was diverting himself at a coffee-house with two friends (did I tell you that in his bag, every Saturday night, he found just enough to pay his bills, with a guinea over, for pocket-money? Did n't I tell you? Well, he did, as sure as twice twenty makes forty-five), he chanced to look in the " Bosforo Chronicle," and read off, quite easily (for he could spell, read, and write the longest words now) the following — "Romantic Circumstance. — One of the most extraordinary adventures that we have ever heard has set the neighboring country of Crim Tartary in a state of great excitement. " It will be remembered that when the pres ent revered sovereign of Crim Tartary, his Ma- jesty King Padella, took possession of the throne, after having vanquished, in the terrific battle of Blunderbusco, the late King Cavol- fiore, that Prince's only child, the Princess Rosalba, was not found in the royal palace, of 144 ^be IRose anD tbe IRing which King Padella took possession, and, it was said, had strayed into the forest (being aban- doned by all her attendants), where she had been eaten up by those ferocious lions, the last pair of which were captured some time since, and brought to the Tower, after killing several hundred persons. "His Majesty King Padella, who has the kindest heart in the world, was grieved at the accident which had occurred to the harmless little Princess, for whom his Majesty's known benevolence would certainly have provided a fitting establishment. But her death seemed to be certain. The mangled remains of a cloak, and a little shoe, were found in the forest, dur- ing a hunting part}^, in which the intrepid sov- ereign of Crim Tartary slew two of the lions' cubs with his own spear. And these interest- ing relics of an innocent little creature were carried home and kept by their finder, the Baron Spinachi, formerly an officer in Cavol- fiore's household. The Baron was disgraced in consequence of his known legitimist opinions, and has lived for some time in the humble ca- vTbe IR06C anO tbe TRiiicj 145 cacity of a wood-cutter, in a forest, on the out- skirts of the Kingdom of Crini Tartary. "Last Tuesday week Baron Spiuachi and a number of gentlemen, attached to the former dy- nasty, appeared in arms, crying ' God save Ro- salba, the First Queen of Crim Tartary ! ' and surrounding a lady whom report describes as 'beautiful exceedingly.'' Her history may be authentic, is certainly most romantic. "The personage calling herself Rosalba states that she was brought out of the forest, fifteen years since, by a lady in a car, drawn by dragons (this account is certainly improbable), that she was left in the Palace Garden of Blombodinga, where her Royal Highness the Princess Angel- ica, now married to his Royal Highness Bulbo, Crown Prince of Crim Tartary, found the child, and, with that elegant benevolence which has always distinguished the heiress of the throne of Paflagonia, gave the little outcast a shelter aftd a home! Her parents not being known, and her garb very humble, the foundling was educated in the Palace in a menial capacity, under the name oi Betsinda. 146 ^be IRose anD tbc IRing " She did not give satisfaction, and was dis- missed, carrying with her, certainly, part of a mantle and a shoe, which she had on when first found. According to her statement she quitted Blombodinga about a year ago, since which time she has been with the Spinachi family. On the very same morning the Prince Giglio, nephew to the King of Paflagonia, a young Prince whose character for talent and order were, to say truth, none of the highest, also quitted Blombodinga, and has not been since heard of ! " "What an extraordinary story ! " said Smith and Jones, two young students, Giglio' s espe- cial friends. '*Ha! what is this?" Giglio went on read- ing— "Second Edition, Express. — We hear that the troop under Baron Spinachi has beeu sur- rounded, and utterly routed, by General Count Hogginarmo, and the i't'Z-rt'/i'rt';//' Princess is sent a prisoner to the capital. "University News. — Yesterday, at the Schools, the distinguished vomisj student, Mr. XLbc IRose anO tbc IRinc; 147 Giles, read a Ivatin oratiou, and was compli- mented by the Chancellor of Bosforo, Dr. Prug- naro, with the highest University honor — the wooden spoon,*' "Never mind that stuff," says Giles, greatly disturbed, " Come home with me, my friends — partakers of my academic toils — I have that to tell shall astonish your honest minds." ** Go it, old boy ! " cried the impetuous Smith. "Talk away, my buck ! " says Jones, a lively fellow. With an air of indescribable dignity, Giglio, checked their natural, but no more seemly fa- miliarity. "Jones, Smith, my good friends," said the Prince, "disguise is henceforth use- less, I am no more the humble student Giles, I am the descendant of a royal line." '•'■ Atavis editeregibus, I know, old co ," cried Jones, he was going to say old cock, but a flash from THE royai^ Eye again awed him. " Friends," continued the Prince, " I am that Giglio, I am, in fact, Paflagonia. Rise, Smith, and kneel not in the public street. Jones, thou true heart ! My faithless uncle, when I was a 148 ^be IRosc anD tbe IRin^ baby, filched from me that brave crown my father left me, bred me all young and careless of my rights, like unto hapless Hamlet, Prince of Denmark ; and had I any thoughts about my wrongs, soothed me with promises of near redress. I should espouse his daughter young Angelica ; we two indeed should reign in Pafla- gonia. His words were false — false as Angelica's heart ! — false as Angelica's hair, color, front teeth ! She looked with her skew eyes upon young Bulbo, Crim Tartary's stupid heir, and she preferred him. 'Twas then I turned my eyes upon Betsinda — Rosalba, as she now is. And I saw in her the blushing sum of all per- fection ; the pink of maiden modesty ; the nymph that my fond heart had ever woo'd in dreams," etc., etc. (I don't give this speech, which was very fine, but very long ; and though Smith and Jones knew nothing about the circumstances, my dear reader does, so I go on.) The Prince and his young friends hastened home to his apartment, highly excited by the intelligence, as no doubt by the royal narrator'' s XLbc IRoee anO tbe IRing 149 admirable manner of recounting it, and they ran up to his room where he had worked so hard at his books. On his writing-table was his bag, grown so long that the Prince could not help remarking it. He went to it, opened it, and what do you think he found in it ? A splendid long, gold-handled, red-velvet- scabbarded, cut-and-thrust sword, and on the sheath was embroidered, " R0SAI.B a forBvkr! " He drew out the sword, which flashed and illuminated the whole room, and called out '* Rosalba for ever ! " Smith and Jones follow- ing him, but quite respectfully this time, and taking the time from his Royal Highness. And now his trunk opened with a sudden pong, and out there came three ostrich feathers in a gold crown, surrounding a beautiful shining steel helmet, a cuirass, a pair of spurs, finally a complete suit of armor. The books on Giglio's shelves were all gone. Where there had been some great dictionaries, Giglio's friends found two pairs of Jack-boots, labelled ' * Ivieutenant Smith," *' Jones, I50 XLbe IRose anD tbe IRina Bsq.," which fitted them to a nicety. Besides, there were helmets, back and breast plates, swords, etc., justlike in Mr. G. P. R. James's nov- els, and that evening three cavaliers might have been seen issuing from the gates of Bosforo, in whom the porters, proctors, etc. , never thought of recognizing the young Prince and his friends. They got horses at a livery stable-keeper's, and never drew bridle until they reached the last town on the frontier, before you come to Crim Tartary. Here, as their animals were tired, and the cavaliers hungry, they stopped and refreshed at an hostel. I could make a chapter of this if I w^ere like some waiters, but I like to cram my measure tight down, you see, and give you a great deal for your money, and in a word, they had some bread and cheese and ale upstairs on the balcony of the inn. As the}- were drinking, drums and trumpets sounded nearer and nearer, the market-place was filled with soldiers, and his Royal Highness looking forth, recognized the Paflagonian banners, and the Paflagonian national air which the bands were playing. ^be 1Ro6e ant) tbc IRing 151 The troops all made for the tavern at once, and as they came up Giglio exclaimed, on be- holding their leader : "Whom do I see ? Yes ! No ! It is, it is ! Phoo ! No, it can't be ! Yes ! It is my friend, my gallant faithful vet- eran, Captain Hedzoff! Ho! Hedzoff! Know- est thou not thy Prince, thy Giglio? Good Corporal, methinks we once were friends. Ha, Sergeant, an' my memory serves me right, we have had many a bout at single stick." "I' faith, we have a many, good my Lord," says the Sergeant. "Tell me, what means this mighty arma- ment," continued his Royal Highness from the balcony, " and whither march my Paflagon- ians?" Hedzoff 's head fell. "My I^ord," he said, " we march as the allies of great Padella, Crim Tartary's monarch." "Crim Tartary's usurper, gallant Hedzoff! Crim Tartary's grim tyrant, honest Hedzoff!" said the Prince, on the balcony, quite sarcas- tically. "A soldier, Prince, must needs obey his 152 ^be 1Ro6e anO tbe IRina orders : mine are to help his Majesty Padella. And also (though alack that I should say it !) to seize wherever I should light upon him — " "First catch your hare ! ha, Hedzoff ! " ex- claimed his Royal Highness. " — On the body of Giglio^ whilome Prince of Paflagonia," Hedzoff went on, with indescrib- able emotion. " My Prince, give up your sword without ado. Look ! we are thirty thousand men to one ! " " Give up my sword ! Giglio give up his sword ! " cried the I^rince ; and stepping well forward on to the balcony, the royal youth, without preparation^ delivered a speech so magnificent, that no report can do justice to it. It was all in blank verse (in which, from this time, he invariably spoke, as more becoming his majestic station). It lasted for three days and three nights, during which not a single person who heard him was tired, or remarked the difference between daylight and dark. The soldiers only cheering tremendously, when occasionally, once in nine hours, the Prince paused to suck an orange, which Jones took out ■ftf^^^yW' 154 ^bc IRose ant> tbe IRing of the bag. He explained in terms which we say we shall not attempt to convey, the whole history of the previous transaction : and his determination not only not to give up his sword, but to assume his rightful crown : and at the end of this extraordinary, this truly gigantic effort, Captain Hedzoff flung up his helmet, and cried: "Hurray! Hurray! Long live King Giglio!" Such were the consequences of having em- ployed his time well at College ! When the excitement had ceased, beer was ordered out for the army, and their Sovereign himself did not disdain a little ! And now it was with some alarm that Captain Hedzoff told him his division was only the advanced guard of the Paflagonian contingent, hastening to King Padella's aid. The main force being a day's march in the rear under his Royal High- ness Prince Bulbo. " We will wait here, good friend, to beat the Prince," his Majesty said, " and then will make bis roval Father wince." CHAPTER XV. We Return to Rosalba. KING PADElvLA made very similar propo- sals to Rosalba to those which she had received from the various princes who, as we have seen, had fallen in love with her. His Majesty was a widower, and offered to marry his fair captive that instant, but she declined his invitation in her usual polite, gentle manner, stating that Prince Giglio was her love, and that any other union was out of the question. Having tried tears and supplications in vain, this violent-tempered monarch menaced her with threats and tortures ; but she declared she would rather suffer all these than accept the hand of her father's murderer, who left her finally, uttering the most awful imprecations, and bidding her prepare for death on the fol- lowing morning. 156 XLhc IRose anD tbc IRing All night long the King spent in advising how he should get rid of this obdurate young creature. Cutting off her head was much too easy a death for her ; hanging was so common in his Majesty's dominions that it no longer afforded him any sport : finally, he bethought himself of a pair of lions which had lately been sent to him as presents, and he determined, with these ferocious brutes, to hunt poor Rosalba down. Adjoining his castle was an amphitheatre where the Prince indulged in bull-baiting, rat- hunting, and other ferocious sports. The two lions were kept in a cage under this place ; their roaring might be heard over the whole city, the inhabitants of which, I am sorry to say, thronged in numbers to see a poor young lady gobbled up by two wild beasts. The King took his place in the royal box, having the ofl&cers of his court around and the Count Hogginarmo by his side, upon whom his Majesty was observed to look very fiercely; the fact is royal spies had told the monarch of Hog- ginarmo's behaviour, his proposals to Rosalba, and his offer to fight for the crown. Black as Zhc IRoee aiiD tbe IRing 157 tliunder looked King Padella at this proud noble, as they sat in the front seats of the thea- tre waiting to see the tragedy whereof poor Ro- salba was to be the heroine. At length that princess was brought out in her night-gown, with all her beautiful hair falling down her back, and looking so pretty that even the beef-eaters and keepers of the wild animals 158 ^be IRose anD tbe IRing wept plentifully at seeing her. And she walked with her poor little feet (only luckily the arena was covered with sawdust), and went and leaned up against a great stone in the centre of the amphitheatre, round which the court and the people were seated in boxes with bars before them, for fear of the great, fierce, red-maned, black-throated, long-tailed, roaring, bellowing, rushing lions. And now the gates were opened, and with a wurrawar-rurawarar two great lean, hungry, roaring lions rushed out of their den where they had been kept for three weeks on nothing but a little toast-and-water, and dashed ^be IRoee auD tbe TRing 159 straight up to the stoue where poor Rosalba was waiting. Commend her to your patron saints, all you kind j^eople, for she is in a dreadful state. There was a hum and a buzz all through the circus, and the fierce King Padella even felt a lit- tle compassion. But Count Hogginarmo, seated by his Majesty, roared out, "Hurray ! Now for it ! Soo-soo-soo ! " that nobleman being uncom- monly angry still at Rosalba's refusal of him. But O strange event ! O remarkable circum- stance ! O extraordinary coincidence, which I am sure none of you could by a?iy possibility have divined ! When the lions came to Ro- salba, instead of devouring her with their great teeth, it was with kisses they gobbled her up ! They licked her pretty feet, they nuzzled their noses in her lap, they moo'd; they seemed to say: "Dear, dear sister, don't you recollect your brothers in the forest ? " And she put her pretty white arms round their tawny necks, and kissed them. King Padella was much astonished. The Count Hogginarmo was extremely disgusted. *' Pooh ! " the Count cried. " Gammon ! " ex- i6o ^be IRose ant) tbe IRing claimed his Lordship, " These lions are tame beasts come from Wombwell's or Astley's. It is a shame to put people off in this way. I believe they are little boys dressed up in door-mats. They are no lions at all." "Ha!" said the King, "you dare to say 'gammon ' to your sovereign, do you? These lions are no lions at all, arn't they ? Ho ! my beef-eaters ! Ho ! my body-guard ! Take this Count Hogginarmo and fling him into the cir- cus ! Give him a sword and buckler ; let him keep his armor on, and his weather-eye out, and fight these lions." The haughty Hogginarmo laid down his opera-glass, and looked scowling round at the King and his attendants. "Touch me not, dogs ! " he said, " or by St. Nicholas the Elder I will gore you ! Your majesty thinks Hog- ginarmo is afraid ? No, not of a hundred thou- sand lions ! Follow me down into the circus, King Padella, and match thyself against one of yon brutes. Thou darest not. Let them both come on, then !" And opening a grating of the box, he jumped lightly down into the ciicus. ^be IRose anD tbe IRinc; lOi Wurra wiirra luurra zuur-aw-aw-aw ! ! ! In about two minutes The Count Hogginarmo was GOBBIvED UP by those lions, bones, boots, and all, and There was an End of him. At this the King said : ' ' Serve him right, the rebellious ruffian ! And now, as those lions won't eat that young woman " "Let her off! — let her off! " cried the crowd. "NO!" roared the King. " I^et the beef- eaters go down and chop her into small pieces. If the lions defend her, let the archers shoot them to death. That hussy shall die in tor- tures ! " "A-a-ah!" cried the crowd. "Shame! shame ! " ' ' Who dares cry out shame ? ' ' cried the fu- rious potentate (so little can tyrants command their passions). "Fling any scoundrel who i62 ^be IRoee an5 tbe IRina says a word down among the lions ! " I war- want you there was a dead silence then, which was broken by a pang arang pang pangkarang- pang, and a knight and a herald rode in at the farther end of the circus. The knight, in full armor, with his visor up, and bearing a letter on the point of his lance. ** Ha ! " exclaimed the King, " by my fay, 't is Elephant and Castle, pursuivant of my brother of Paflagonia, and the Knight, an my memory serves me, is the gallant Captain Hedzoff! What news from Paflagonia, gallant Hedzoff? Elephant and Castle, beshrew me, thy trumpet- ing must have made thee thirsty. What will my trusty herald like to drink ? " "Bespeaking first safe conduct from your Lordship," said Captain Hedzoff, "before we take a drink of any thing, permit us to deliver our king's message." "My Lordship, ha?" said Crim Tartarj', frowning terrifically. "That title soundeth strange in the anointed ears of a crowned king. Straightway speak out your message, knight and herald ! " ^be IRose aiiD tbe IRincj 163 Reining up his charger in a most elegant manner close under the King's balcony, Hedz- ofF turned to the herald and bade him begin. Elephant and Castle, dropping his trumpet over his shoulder, took a large sheet of paper out of his hat, and began to read : " O yes ! O yes ! O yes ! Know all men by these presents, that we, Giglio, King of Pafla- gonia. Grand Duke of Cappadocia, Sovereign Prince of Turkey and the Sausage Islands, having assumed our rightful throne and title, long time falsely borne by our usurping uncle, styling himself King of Paflagonia — " "Ha! " growled Padella. *' — Hereby summon the false traitor, Padella, calling himself King of Crini Tartar}^ " The King's curses were dreadful. " Go on, Elephant and Castle ! " said the intrepid Hedz- off. " — To release from cowardly imprisonment his liege lady and rightful sovereign, Ro- SAivBA, Queen of Crim Tartary, and restore her to her royal throne, in default of which, I, Giglio, proclaim the said Padella sneak, traitor. i64 ^be IRose m\b tbe IRing humbug, usurper, and coward. I challenge him to meet me, with fists or with pistols, with battle-axe or sword, with blunderbuss or single- stick, alone or at the head of his army, on foot or on horseback, and will prove my words upon his wicked, ugly body ! ' ' " God save the King ! " said Captain Hedzoff, executing a demivolte, twosemilunes, and three caracols. ** Is that all ? " said Padella, with the terrific calm of concentrated fury. "That, sir, is all my Royal Master's mes- sage. Here is his Majesty's letter in autograph, and here is his glove, and if any gentleman of Crim Tartary chooses to find fault with his Majesty's expressions, I, Tuffskin HedzofF, Captain of the Guard, am very much at his service," and he waved his lance and looked at the assembly all round. "And what says my good brother of Pafla- gonia, my dear son's father-in-law to this rub- bish ? " asked the King. " The King's uncle hath been deprived of the crown he unjustly wore," said HedzofF gravely. tLbc IRose an^ tbe IRina i^S "He aud his ex-minister, Glumboso, are now in prison waiting the sentence of my Royal Master, After the battle of Bombardaro ' ' " Of what ? " asked the surprised Padella. " Of Bombardaro, where my liege, his present Majesty, would have performed prodigies of valor, but that the whole of his uncle's army came over to our side, with the exception of Prince Bui bo." "Ah! my boy, my boy, my Bulbo was no traitor ! " cried Padella, " Prince Bulbo, far from coming over to us, ran away, sir ; but I caught him. The Prince is a prisoner in our army, and the most terrific tortures await him if a hair of the Princess Rosalba's head is injured." "Do they?" exclaimed the furious Padella, who was now perfectly livid with rage. * ' Do they indeed ? So much the worse for Bulbo. I 've twenty sons as lovely each as Bulbo. Not one but is as fit to reign as Bulbo. Whip, whack, flog, starve, rack, punish, torture Bul- bo — break all his bones — roast him or flay him alive — pull all his pretty teeth out one by one ! i66 ZTbe IRose and tbe IRin^ But justly dear as Bulbo is to me, — joy of my eyes, fond treasure of my soul ! ha, ha, ha, ha ! revenge is dearer still. Ho ! torturers, rack-men, executioners — light up the fires and make the pincers hot ! get lots of boiling lead ! — Bring out ROSAI^BA ! " CHAPTER XVI. How Hedzoff Rode Back Again to King Giglio. CAPTAIN HEDZOFF rode away when King Padella uttered this cruel command, hav- ing done his duty in delivering the message with which his Royal Master had entrusted him. Of course he was very sorry for Rosalba, but what could he do ? So he returned to King Giglio's camp and found the young monarch in a disturbed state of mind, smoking cigars in the royal tent. His Majesty's agitation was not appeased by the news that was brought by his ambassador. "The brutal ruthless ruffian royal wretch!" Giglio exclaimed. "As England's poesy has well remarked, ' The man that lays his hand upon a woman, save in the way of kindness, is a villain.' Ha, Hedzoff ? " i68 ^be IRose anD tbe IRing "That he is, your Majesty," said the attend- ant. "And didst thou see her flung into oil? and did n't the soothing oil — the emollient oil, re- fuse to boil, good Hedzoff — and to spoil the fairest lady ever eyes did look on ? " "Faith, good, my liege, I had no heart to look and see a beauteous lady boiling down ; I took your royal message to Padella, and bore it back to you. I told him 3'ou would hold Prince Bulbo answerable. He only said that he had twenty sons as good as Bulbo, and forthwith he bade the ruthless executioners proceed." " O cruel father — O unhappy son ! " cried the King. " Go, some of you, and bring Prince Bulbo hither." Bulbo was brought in chains, looking very uncomfortable. Though a prisoner, he had been tolerably happy, perhaps because his mind was at rest, and all the fighting was over, and he was playing at marbles with his guards, when the King sent for him. " O my poor Bulbo," said his Majesty, with ^be IRoee anD tbc IRing 169 looks of infinite compassion, "hast thou heard the news (for you see Giglio wanted to break the thing gently to the Prince), thy brutal father has condemned Rosalba — p-p-p-ut her to death, P-p-p-prince Bulbo ! " "What, killed Betsinda, Boo-hoo-hoo," cried out Bulbo. "Betsinda! pretty Betsinda! dear Betsinda ! She was the dearest little girl in the world, I love her better twenty thousand times even than Angelica," and he went on express- ing his grief in so hearty and unaffected a man- ner that the King was quite touched by it, and said, shaking Bulbo' s hand, that he wished he had known Bulbo sooner. Bulbo, quite unconsciously, and meaning for the best, offered to come and sit with his Maj- esty, and smoke a cigar with him, and console him. The royal kindness supplied Bulbo with a cigar ; he had not had one, he said, since he was taken prisoner. And now think what must have been the feelings of the most merciful of nionarchs, when he informed his prisoner, that in consequence of King Padella's cruel and dastardly behavior I70 tTbe 1Ro0e an& tbe Wng to Rosalba, Prince Bulbo must instantly be ex- ecuted ! The noble Giglio could not restrain bis tears, nor could tbe Grenadiers, nor tbe ofl&- cers, nor could Bulbo himself, when the matter was explained to him ; and he was brought to understand that his Majesty's promise, of course, was adore every thing, and Bulbo must submit. So poor Bulbo was led out. Hedzoff trying to console him, by pointing out that if he had won the battle of Bombardaro he might have hanged Prince Giglio. "Yes! But that is no comfort to me now ! " said poor Bulbo ; nor indeed was it, poor fellow. He was told the business would be done the next morning at eight, and was taken back to his dungeon, where every attention was paid to him. The gaoler's wife sent him tea, and the turnkey's daughter begged him to write his name in her album, where a many gentlemen had wrote it on like occasions ! " Bother your album ! " says Bulbo, The imdertaker came and measured him for the handsomest coffin which money could buy — even this did n't con- sole Bulbo. The cook brought him dishes XLbc IRoee anD tbe IRincj 171 which he once used to like ; but he would n't touch them ; he sat down and began writing an adieu to Angelica, as the clock kept always ticking, and the hands drawing nearer to next morning. The barber came in at night, and offered to shave him for the next day. Prince Bulbo kicked him away, and went on writing a few words to Princess Angelica, as the clock kept always ticking, and the hands hopping nearer and nearer to next morning. He got up on the top of a hat-box, on the top of a chair. 172 ^be 1Ro6e anO tbe Wng on the top of his bed, on the top of his table, and looked out to see whether he might escape, as the clock kept always ticking and the hands drawing nearer, and nearer, and nearer. But looking out of the window was one thing. and jumping another ; and the town-clock struck seven. So he got into bed for a little sleep, but the gaoler came and woke him, and said: "Git up, your Royal Ighness, if you please, it 's fen minutes to eight ! " ^be IRose anD tbe IRlno L73 So poor Bulbo got up ; he had gone to bed in his clothes (the lazy boy), and he shook him- self, and said he did n't mind about dressing, or having any breakfast, thank you ; and he saw the soldiers who had come for him. " Lead on ! " he said ; and they led the way, deeply affected ; and they came into the court-yard, and out into the square, and there was King Giglio come to take leave of him, and his Majesty most kindly shook hands with him, and 'Cn^ gloomy procession marched on — when hark ! 174 ^be iRose anD tbc IRln^ Haw — wurraw — wurraw — aworr ! A roar of wild beasts was heard. And who should come riding into the town, frightening away the boys, and even the beadle and police- man, but ROSAI^BA ! The fact is, that when Captain Hedzoff en- tered into the court of vSnapdragon Castle, and was discoursing with King Padella, the lions made a dash at the open gate, gobbled up the six beef-eaters in a jiffy, and away they went with Rosalba on the back of one of them, and they carried her, turn and turn about, till they came to the city where Prince Giglio's army was encamped. When the King heard of the OuEEn's arrival, you may think how he rushed out of his break- fast-room to hand Her Majesty off her lion ! The lions were grown as fat as pigs now, hav- ing had Hogginarmo and all those beef-eaters, and were so tame any body might pat them. While Giglio knelt (most gracefully) and helped the Princess, Bulbo, for his part, rushed up and kissed the lion. He flung his arms round the forest monarch ; he hugged him, and Cbe IRoee anD tbe mm 175 laughed and cried for joy. " Oh, you darling old beast, Oh, how glad I am to see you, and the dear, dear Bets — that is, Rosalba." "What, is it you? poor Bulbo," said the Queen. " Oh, how glad I am to see you ; " and she gave him her hand to kiss. King Giglio 176 ^be IRose an& tbe IRing slapped him most kindly on the back, and said, " Bulbo, my boy, I am delighted, for your sake, that her Majesty has arrived." "So am I," said Bulbo; "and you know why.'''' Captain Hedzoff here came up. "Sire, it is half-past eight ; shall we proceed with the execution ? " " Execution, what for? " asked Bulbo. "An officer only knows his orders," replied Captain Hedzoff, showing his warrant, on which His Majesty King Giglio smilingly said, "Prince Bulbo was reprieved this time," and most gra- ciously invited him to breakfast. CHAPTER XVII. How a Tremendous Battle Took Place, and Who Won It. AS soon as King Padella heard, what we know already, that his victim, the lovely Rosalba, had escaped him, his Majesty's fury knew no bounds, and he pitched the Lord Chancellor, Lord Chamberlain, and every of- ficer of the crown whom he could set eyes on, into the caldron of boiling oil prepared for the Princess. Then he ordered out his whole army, horse, foot, and artillery ; and set forth at the head of an innumerable host, and I should think twenty thousand drummers, trumpeters, and fifers. King Giglio's advanced guard, you may be sure, kept that monarch acquainted with the enemy's dealings, and he was in no wise dis- concerted. He was much too polite to alarm 178 tTbe IRose and tbe IRing the Princess, his lovely guest, with any un- necessary rumors of battles impending ; on the contrary, he did every thing to amuse and divert her ; gave her a most elegant breakfast, dinner, lunch, and got up a ball for her that evening, when he danced with her every single dance. Poor Bulbo was taken into favor again, and allowed to go quite free now. He had new clothes given him, was called "My good cous- in" by his Majesty, and was treated with the greatest distinction by everybody. But it was easy to see he was very melanchol5\ The fact is, the sight of Betsinda, who looked perfectly lovely in an elegant new dress, set poor Bulbo frantic in love with her again. And he never thought about Angelica, now Princess Bulbo, whom he had left at home, and who, as w^e know, did not care much about him. The King, dancing the twenty-fifth polka with Rosalba, remarked with wonder the ring she wore ; and then Rosalba told him how she had got it from Gruffanuff, who no doubt had picked it up when Angelica flung it away. "Yes," says the Fairy Blackstick, who had XLbc IRose anD tbe IRincj 179 come to see tlie young people, and who had very likely certain plans regarding them. "That ring I gave the Queen, Giglio's mother, who was not, saving your presence, a very wise woman ; it is enchanted, and whoever wears it looks beautiful in the eyes of the world. I made poor Prince Bulbo, when he was chris- tened, the present of a rose which made him look handsome v;hile he had it ; but he gave it to Angelica, who instantly looked beautiful again, whilst Bulbo relapsed into his natural plainness." "Rosalba needs no ring, I am sure," says Giglio, with a low bow. "She is beautiful enough, in my eyes, without any enchanted aid." " O sir," said Rosalba. "Take off the ring and try," said the King, and resolutely drew the ring off her finger. In /lis eyes she looked just as handsome as before ! The King was thinking of throwing the ring away, as it was so dangerous and made all the people so mad about Rosalba, but being a prince of great humor, and good humor too, he i8o ^be IRose ant) tbe KlinQ cast his eyes upon a poor youth who happened to be looking on very disconsolately, and said : " Bulbo, my poor lad ! come and try on this ring. The Princess Rosalba makes it a present to you." The magic properties of this ring were uncommonly strong, for no sooner had Bulbo put it on, but lo and behold ! he appeared a personable, agreeable young prince enough, — with a fine complexion, fair hair, rather stout, and with bandy legs ; but these were encased in such a beautiful pair of yellow morocco boots that nobody remarked them. And Bulbo's spirits rose up almost immediately after he had looked in the glass, and he talked to their Majes- ties in the most lively, agreeable manner, and danced opposite the Queen with one of the pret- tiest maids of honor, and after looking at her Majesty, could not help saying: "How very odd ; she is very pretty, but not so eA'traordi- na^ily handsome." "Oh no, by no means!" says the Maid of Honor. "But what care I, dear sir," says the Queen, who overheard them, ''\i you think I am good- looking enough ? " ^be IRose an& tbe IRing His Majesty's glance in reply to this affection- ate speech was such that no painter could draw it. And the Fairy Blackstick said : "Bless you, my darling children ! Now you are united and happy ; and now you see what I said from the first, that a little misfortune has done you both good. Yoii, Giglio, had you been bred in pros- perity, would scarcely have learned to read or write, — you would have been idle and extrava- gant, and could not have been a good king as now you will be. You, Rosalba, would have been so flattered that your little head might have been turned like Angelica's, who thought herself too good for Giglio." '■'As if anybody could be good enough for hini,^'' cried Rosalba. "O you, you darling!" says Giglio. And so she was ; and he was just holding out his arms in order to give her a hug before the whole company, when a messenger came rushing in, and said : " My Lord, the ene- my ! " "To arms ! " cries Giglio. " Oh, mercy ! " says Rosalba, and fainted of i82 Ebc IRose an& tbe IRina course. He snatched one kiss from her lips, and rushedybr//? to the field of battle ! The fairy had provided King Giglio with a suit of armor, which was not only embroidered all over with jewels, and blinding to your eyes to look at, but was water-proof, gun-proof, and sword-proof; so that in the midst of the ver}^ hottest battles his Majesty rode about as calmly as if he had been a British grenadier at Alma, Were I engaged in fighting for my country, / should like such a suit of armor as Prince Giglio wore ; but you know he was a prince of a fairj- tale, and they always have these wonderful things. Besides the fairy armor, the Prince had a fairy horse, which would gallop at any pace you please ; and a fairy sword, which would lengthen, and run through a w^hole regiment of enemies at once. With such a weapon at com- mand, I wonder, for my part, he thought of or- dering his army out ; but forth they all came in magnificent new uniforms, Hedzoff and the Prince's two college friends each commanding a division, and his Majesty prancing in person at the head of them all. Zbc IRose an& tbe IRing 183 Ah ! if I had the pen of a Sir Archibald Ali- son, my dear friends, would I not now entertain you with the account of a most tremendous shindy ? Should not fine blows be struck ? dreadful wounds be delivered? arrows darken the air ? cannon balls crash through the battal- ions ? cavalry charge infantry ? infantry pitch into cavalry ? bugles blow ; drums beat ; horses neigh ; fifes sing ; soldiers roar, swear, hurray ; officers shout out: "Forward, my men!" " This way, lads ! " " Give it 'em, boys. Fight for King Giglio, and the cause of right!" * * King Padella forever ! ' ' Would I not describe all this, I say, and in the very finest language, too ? But this humble pen does not possess the skill necessary for the description of combats. In a word, the overthrow of King Padella's army was so complete, that if they had been Russians you could not have wished them to be more utterly smashed and confounded. As for that usurping monarch, having per- formed acts of valor much more considerable than could be expected of a royal ruffian and usurper, who had such a bad cause, and who i84 Zbc IR06C anD tbe IRin^ was so cruel to women, — as for King Padella, I say, when his army ran away the King ran away too, kicking his first general, Prince Punchikoff, from his saddle, and galloping away on the Prince's horse, having indeed had twenty-five or twenty-six of his own shot under him. Hedzoflf coming up, and finding Punchi- koff down, as you may imagine very speedily disposed of /ii?n. Meanwhile King Padella was scampering off as hard as his horse could lay legs to ground. Fast as he scampered, I prom- ise you somebody else galloped faster ; and that individual, as no doubt you are aware, was the Royal Giglio, who kept bawling out: "Stay, traitor! Turn, miscreant, and defend thyself ! Stand, tyrant, coward, ruffian, royal wretch, till I cut thy ugly head from thy usurping shoul- ders ! " And with his fairy sword, which elong- ated itself at will, his Majesty kept poking and prodding Padella in the back, until that wicked monarch roared with anguish. When he was fairly brought to bay, Padella turned and dealt Prince Giglio a prodigious crack over the sconce with his battle-axe, a 1 5V , 1 I !5' "V v-^«V'-r% 'T' i86 ^be 1Ro0e anD tbe IRing most enormous weapon, which had cut down I don't know how many regiments in the course of the afternoon. But, Law bless you ! though the blow fell right down on his Majesty's hel- met, it made no more impression than if Pa- della had struck him with a pat of butter ; his battle-axe crumpled up in Padella's hand, and the Royal Giglio laughed for very scorn at the impotent efforts of that atrocious usurper. At the ill success of his blow the Crim Tartar monarch was justly irritated. "If," says he to Giglio, * ' you ride a fairy horse, and wear fairy armor, what on earth is the use of my hitting you ? I may as well give myself up a prisoner at once. Your Majesty won't, I suppose, be so mean as to strike a poor fellow who can't strike again ? ' ' The justice of Padella's remark struck the magnanimous Giglio. " Do you yield yourself a prisoner, Padella? " says he. '* Of course I do," says Padella. *' Do you acknowledge Rosalba as your right- ful Queen, and give up the crown and all your treasures to your rightful mistress? " ^be IRose anC) tbc IRiiuj iSy " If I must I must," says Padella, who was naturally very sulky. By this time King Giglio's aids-de-camp had come up, whom his Majesty ordered to bind the prisoner. And they tied his hands behind him, and bound his legs tight under his horse, having set him with his face to the tail ; and in this fashion he was led back to King Giglio's quarters, and thrust into the very dungeon where young Bulbo had been confined. Padella (who was a very different person in the depth of his distress to Padella the proud wearer of the Crim Tartar crown) now most af- fectionately and earnestly asked to see his son — his dear eldest boy — his darling Bulbo ; and that good-natured young man never once re- proached his haughty parent for his unkind conduct the day before, when he would have left Bulbo to be shot without any pity, but came to see his father, and spoke to him through the grating of the door, beyond which he was not allowed to go, and brought him some sand- wiches from the grand supper which his Majesty was giving above stairs, in honor of ^be IRoee anD tbe IRing the brilliant victory which had just been achieved. "I cannot stay with you long, sir," says Bul- bo, who was in his best ball dress, as he handed his father in the prog, " I am engaged to dance the next quadrille with her Majesty Queen Rosalba, and I hear the fiddles playing at this very moment." So Bulbo went back to the ball-room, and the wretched Padella ate his solitary supper in silence and tears. All was now joy in King Giglio's circle. Dancing, feasting, fun, illuminations, and jol- lifications of all sorts ensued. The people through whose villages they passed were or- dered to illuminate their cottages at night, and scatter flowers on the roads during the day. They were requested, and I promise you they did not like to refuse, to serve the troops liberally with eatables and wine; besides, the army was enriched by the immense quantity of plunder which was found in King Padel- la's camp, and taken frorn his soldiers, who Q:be 1R06e anD tbe IRiiiQ 189 (after they had given up every thing) were allowed to fraternize with the conquerors, and the united forces marched back by easy stages towards King Giglio's capital, his royal banner and that of Queen Rosalba being car- ried in front of the troops. Hedzoff was made a Duke and a Field Marshal, Smith and Jones were promoted to be Earls, the Crini Tartar Order of the Pumpkin and the Paflagonian decoration of the Cucumber were freely distributed by their Majesties to the army. Queen Rosalba wore the Paflagonian Ribbon of the Cucumber across her riding habit, whilst King Giglio never appeared with- out the grand Cordon of the Pumpkin. How the people cheered them as they rode along side by side ! They were pronounced to be the handsomest couple ever seen : that was a mat- ter of course ; but they really were very hand- some, and, had they been otherwise, would have looked so, they were so happy ! Their Majesties were never separated during the whole day, but breakfasted, dined, and supped to- gether alw^ays, and rode side by side, inter^ iQo ^be IRose anO tbe IRing changing elegant compliments, and indulging in the most delightful conversation. At night, her Majesty's ladies of honor (who had all ral- lied round her the day after King Padella's de- feat) came and conducted her to the apart- ments prepared for her ; whilst King Giglio, surrounded by his gentlemen, withdrew to his own royal quarters. It was agreed they should be married as soon as they reached the capital, and orders were dispatched to the Archbishop of Blombodinga, to hold himself in readiness to perform the interesting ceremony. Duke Hed- zoff carried the message, and gave instructions to have the Royal Castle splendidly refurnished and painted afresh. The Duke seized Glum- boso, the Bx-Prime Minister, and made him re- fund that considerable sum of mone}- which the old scoundrel had secreted out of the late King's treasure. He also clapped Valoroso into prison (who, by the way, had been dethroned for some considerable period past), and when the ex- monarch weakly remonstrated, HedzofF said : " A soldier, sir, knows but his duty ; my orders are to lock you up along with the Ex-King ^be IRose auD tbe IRing [91 Padella, whom I have brought hither a prisoner under guard. ' ' So these two ex-royal person- ages were sent for a 3'ear to the House of Cor- rection, and thereafter were obliged to become monks, of the severest Order of Flagellants, in which state, by fasting, by vigils, by flogging 192 Zbc IRose auD tbe IRing (whicli they administered to one another, hum- bly but resolutely), no doubt they exhibited a repentance for their past misdeeds, usurpations, and private and public crimes. As for Glumboso, that rogue was sent to the galleys, and never had an opportunity to steal any more. CHAPTER XVIII. How They All Journeyed Back to the Capital. 'T^HE) Fairy Blackstick, by whose means this ^ young King and Queen had certainly won their respective crowns back, would come not unfrequently to pay them a little visit — as they were riding in their triumphal progress towards Giglio's capital — change her wand into a pony, and travel by their Majesties' side, giving them the very best advice. I am not sure that King Giglio did not think the Fairy and her advice rather a bore, fancying it was his own valor and merits which had put him on his throne and conquered Padella ; and, in fine, I fear he rather gave himself airs towards his best friend and patroness. She exhorted him to deal justly by his subjects, to draw mildly on the taxes, 194 ^be IRoee an^ tbe IRin^ never to break his promise when he had once given it, — and in all respects to be a good king. "A good king, my dear Fairy ! " cries Ro- salba. " Of course he will. Break his promise ! Can you fancy my Giglio would ever do any thing so improper, so unlike him ? No ! never ! " And she looked fondly towards Giglio, whom she thought a pattern of per- fection. "Why is Fairy Blackstick always advising me, and telling me how to manage my govern- ment, and warning me to keep my word. Does she suppose that I am not a man of sense and a man of honor?" asks Giglio testily. " Me- thinks she rather presumes upon her position." "Hush! dear Giglio," says Rosalba. "You know Blackstick has been very kind to us, and we must not offend her." But the Fairy was not listening to Giglio's testy observations ; she had fallen back, and was trotting on her pony by Bulbo's side, who rode a donkey, and made himself generally beloved in the army by his cheerfulness, kindness, and good humor to everybody. He was eager to see his darling ^be 1RO0C anO tbe IRing 195 Angelica. He thought there never was such a charming being. Blackstick did not tell him it was the possession of the magic rose that made Angelica so lovely in his eyes. She brought him the very best accounts of his little wife, whose misfortunes and humiliations had indeed very greatly improved her ; and you see she could whisk off on her wand a hundred miles in a minute, and be back in no time, and so carry polite messages from Bui bo to Angelica, and from Angelica to Bulbo, and comfort that young man upon his journey. When the Royal party arrived at the last stage before you reach Blombodinga, who should be in waiting, in her carriage there with her lady of honor by her side, but the Princess Angelica. She rushed into her husband's arms, scarcely stopping to make a passing curt- sey to the King and Queen. She had no eyes but for Bulbo, who appeared perfectly lovely to her on account of the fairy ring which he wore, whilst she herself, wearing the magic rose in her bonnet, seemed entirely beautiful to the enraptured Bulbo. 196 ^be IRose anD tbe URUxg A splendid luncheon was served to the Royal party, of which the Archbishop, the Chancellor, Duke HedzofF, Countess Grufifanuff, and all our friends partook. The Fairy Elackstick being seated on the left of King Giglio, with Bulbo and Angelica beside her. You could hear the joy-bells ringing in the capital, and the guns which the citizens were firing off iu honor of their Majesties. "What can have induced that hideous old Gruffanuff to dress herself up in such an absurd way ? Did you ask her to be your bride' smaid, my dear?" says Giglio to Rosalba. "What a figure of fun Gruffy is ! " Gruffy was seated opposite their Majesties, between the Archbishop and the Lord Chancel- lor, and a figure of fun she certainly was, for she was dressed in a low white silk dress, with lace over, a wreath of white roses on her wig, a splendid lace veil, and her yellow old neck was covered with diamonds. She ogled the King in such a manner that His Majesty burst out laughing. " Eleven o'clock ! " cries Giglio, as the great Xlhc IRose anO tbe IRing 197 Cathedral bell of Blombodinga tolled that hour. *' Gentlemen and ladies, we must be starting. Archbishop, j^ou must be at church I think be- fore twelve ? ' ' ' ' We must be at church before twelve, ' ' sighs out Gruflfanuff in a languishing voice, hiding her old face behind her fan. " And then I shall be the happiest man in my dominions," cries Giglio, with an elegant bow to the blushing Rosalba. "O my Giglio! O my dear Majesty!" ex- claims Gruffanuff; "and can it be that this happy moment at length has arrived — " " Of course it has arrived," says the King. ** — And that I am about to become the en- raptured bride of my adored Giglio ! " continues Gruffanuff. " lycnd me a smelling-bottle, some- body. I certainly shall faint with joy." ' ' Voit my bride ? ' ' roars out Giglio. " Vou marry my Prince?" cries poor little Rosalba. " Pooh ! Nonsense ! The woman 's mad ! " exclaims the King. And all the courtiers ex- hibited by their countenances and expressions, igS ^be IRose auD tbc IRina marks of surprise, or ridicule, or incredulity, or wonder. " I should like to know who else is going to be married, if I am not?" shrieks out Gruff- anuff. '* I should like to know if King Giglio is a gentleman, and if there is such a thing as justice in Paflagonia ? Lord Chancellor ! my Lord Archbishop ! will your lordships sit by and see a poor, fond, confiding, tender creature put upon ? Has not Prince Giglio promised to m.arry his Barbara ? Is not this Giglio's signa- ture? Does not this paper declare that he is mine, and only mine ? " And she handed to his Grace the Archbishop the document which the Prince signed that evening when she wore the magic ring, and Giglio drank so much cham- pagne. And the old Archbishop, taking out his eye-glasses, read : " ' This is to give notice that I, Giglio, only son of Savio, King of Pafla- gonia, hereby promise to marry the charming Barbara Griselda Countess Gruffanuff and widow of the late Jenkins Gruffanuff, Esq.' " " H'm," says the Archbishop, " the document is certainly a — a document." Zbc IRose anD tbe IRlng 199 "Phoo," says the Lord Chancellor, "the signature is not in his Majesty's handwriting." Indeed, since his studies at Bosfora, Giglio had made an immense improvement in calig- raphy. " Is it your handwriting, Giglio? " cries the Fairy Blackstick, with an awful severity of countenance. ' ' Y — y — y — es, ' ' poor Giglio gasps out. ' ' I had quite forgotten the confounded paper ; she can't mean to hold me by it. You old wretch, what will you take to let me off? Help the Queen, some one, — HerMajesty has fainted." r Exclaim the im- petuous Hed- zofF, the ar- dent Smith, and the faith- [ ful Jones. But GruffanufF flung her arms round the Archbishop's neck, and bellowed out, "Justice, justice, my Lord Chancellor ! " so loudly, that her piercing shrieks caused everybody to pause. As for Rosalba, she was borne away lifeless by " Chop her head off ! " " Smother the old witch ! " " Pitch her into the river ! " 200 ^be IRose ant) tbe IRing her ladies ; and you may imagine the look of agony which Giglio cast towards that lovely being, as his hope, his joy, his darling, his all in all, was thus removed, and in her place the horrid old Gruffanuff rushed up to his side, and once more shrieked out, ''Justice ! justice ! " " Won't you take that sum of money which Glumboso hid?" says Giglio, "two hundred and eighteen thousand millions, or thereabouts. It 's a handsome sum." " I will have that and you too ! " says Grufif- anuff. '' Let us throw the crown jewels into the bar- gain," gasps out Giglio. " I will wear them by my Giglio's side ! " says Gruffanuff. "Will half, three-quarters, five-sixths, uine- teen-twentieths, of my kingdom do, Countess ? " asks the trembling monarch. " What were all Europe to me without you, my Giglio ? " cries Gruff, kissing his hand. "I won't, I can't, I shan't, — I '11 resign the crown first," shouts Giglio, tearing away his hand ; but Gruff clung to it. ^be TRose aiiD tbe IRincj "I have a competency, my love," she says, *' and with thee and a cottage thy Barbara will be happy." Giglio was half mad with rage by this time. "I will not marry her," says he. "O Fairy, Fairy, give me counsel ! " And as he spoke he looked wildly round at the severe face of the Fairy Blackstick. . "'Why is P'airy Blackstick always advising me, and warning me to keep my word ? Does she suppose that I am not a man of honor ? ' " said the Fairy, quoting Giglio' s own haughty words. He quailed under the brightness of her eyes ; he felt that there was no escape for him from that awful inquisition. "Well, Archbishop," said he, in a dreadful voice, that made his Grace start, "since this Fairy has led me to the height of happiness but to dash me down into the depths of despair, since I am to lose Rosalba, let me at least keep my honor. Get up. Countess, and let us be married ; I can keep my word, but I can die afterwards. ' ' "O dear Giglio," cries GruffanufF, skipping Xlbc IRose anD tbe IRing up, " I knew, I knew I could trust thee — I knew that my Prince was the soul of honor. Jump into your carriages, ladies and gentlemen, and let us go to church at once ; and as for dying, dear Giglio, no, no : — thou wilt forget that insignificant little chambermaid of a Queen — thou wilt live to be consoled by thy Barbara ! She wishes to be a Queen, and not a Queen Dowager, my gracious Lord ! " and hanging upon poor Giglio's arm, and leering and grin- ning in his face in the most disgusting manner, this old wretch tripped off in her white satin shoes, and jumped into the ver\' carriage which had been got ready to convey Giglio and Rosalba to church. The cannons roared again, the bells pealed triple-bobmajors, the people came out flinging flowers upon the path of the royal bride and bridegroom, and Gruif looked out of the gilt coach window and bowed and grinned to them. Phoo ! the horrid old wretch ! CHAPTER XIX. And Now We Come to the I^ast Scene in the Pantomime. nPHE many ups and downs of her life had / given the Princess Rosalba prodigious strength of mind, and that highly principled young woman presently recovered from her fainting-fit out of which Fairy Blackstick, by a precious essence which the Fairy always carried in her pocket, awakened her. Instead of tear- ing her hair, crying and bemoaning herself, and fainting again, as many young women would have done, Rosalba remembered that she owed an example of firmness to her subjects, and though she loved Giglio more than her life, was determined, as she told the Fairy, not to inter- fere between him and justice, or to cause him to break his royal word. " I cannot marry him, but I shall love him always," says she to Blackstick ; " I will go and 204 ^be TRose ant) tbe IRing be present at his marriage with the Countess, and sign the book, and wish them happy with all my heart. I will see, when I get home, whether I cannot make the new Queen some handsome presents. The Crim Tartary crown diamonds are uncommonly fine, and I shall never have any use for them. I will live and die unmarried like Queen Elizabeth, and, of course, I shall leave my crown to Giglio when I quit this world. Let us go and see them married, my dear Fairy, let me say my one last farewell to him ; and then, if you please, I will return to my own dominions." So the Fairy kissed Rosalba with peculiar ten- derness, and at once changed her wand into a very comfortable coach-and-four, with a stead}- coachman, and two respectable footmen behind ; and the Fairy and Rosalba got into the coach, which Angelica and Bulbo entered after them. As for honest Bulbo, he was blubbering in the most pathetic manner, quite overcome by Rosal- ba' s misfortune. She was touched by the hon- est fellow's sympathy, promised to restore to him the confiscated estates of Duke Padella his Zhc IRose anC) tbe IRiiiG 205 father, and created him, as he sat there in the coach, Prince, Highness, and First Grandee of the Crim Tarter Empire. The coach moved on, and, being a fairy coach, soon came up with the bridal procession. Before the ceremony at the church it was the custom in Paflagonia, as it is in other countries, for the bride and bridegroom to sign the Con- tract of Marriage, which was to be witnessed by the Chancellor, Minister, Lord Mayor, and principal officers of state. Now, as the Royal Palace was being painted and furnished anew, it was not ready for the reception of the King and his bride, who proposed at first to take up their residence at the Prince's palace, that one which Valoroso occupied when Angelica was born, and before he usurped the throne. So the marriage party drove up to the palace : the dignitaries got out of their carriages and stood aside ; poor Rosalba stepped out of her coach, supported by Bulbo, and stood almost fainting up against the railings, so as to have a last look of her dear Giglio. As for Blackstick, she, according to her custom, had flown out of 2o6 XLbc IRoee anD tbe IRing the coach window in some inscrutable manner, and was now standing at the palace door. Giglio came up the steps with his horrible bride on his arm, looking as pale as if he were going to execution. He only frowned at the Fairy Blackstick — he was angry with her, and thought she came to insult his misery. "Get out of the way, pray," says Gruffanuff, haughtily. "I wonder why you are always poking your nose into other people's affairs? " "Are you determined to make this poor young man unhappy ? " says Blackstick. " To marry him, yes ! What business is it of yours ? Pray, madam, don't say ' you ' to a Queen," cries Gruffanuff. "You won't take the money he offered you?" "No." "You won't let him off his bargain, though you know you cheated him when you made him sign the paper ? ' ' " Impudence ! Policemen, remove this wo- man ! " cries Gruffanuff. And the policemen were rushing forward, but with a wave of her 2o8 ^be IRose auD tbe IRing wand the Fairy struck them all like so many- statues in their places. " You won't take any thing in exchange for your bond, Mrs. GruffanufF," cries the Fairy, with awful severity. " I speak for the last time." "No!" shrieks GruffanufF, stamping with her foot. *'I '11 have my husband, my hus- band, my husband ! " "You Shai.1, have your Husband!" the Fairy Blackstick cried ; and advancing a step laid her hand upon the nose of the Knocker. As she touched it, the brass nose seemed to elongate, the open mouth opened still wider, and uttered a roar which made everybody start. The eyes rolled wildly ; the arms and legs un- curled themselves, writhed about, and seemed to lengthen with each twist ; the knocker ex- panded into a figure in yellow livery, six feet high ; the screws by which it was fixed to the door unloosed themselves, and Jenkins Grufe- ANUFF once more trod the threshold off which he had been lifted more than twenty years ago ! "Master 's not at home," says Jenkins, just ^be IRose anO tbe IRlng 209 in his old voice ; and Mrs. Jenkins, giving a dreadful youp, fell down in a fit, in which no- body minded her. For everybody was shouting : ' * Huzzay ! huzzay ! " "Hip, hip, hurray ! " " Long live the King and Queen ! " "Were such things ever seen?" "No, never, never, never!" " The Fairy Blackstick forever ! " The bells were ringing double peals, the guns roaring and banging most prodigiously. Bulbo was embracing everybody ; the Lord Chancel- lor was flinging up his wig and shouting like a madman ; Hedzoff had got the Archbishop round the waist, and they were dancing a jig for joy ; and as for Giglio, I leave you to imag- ine what he was doing, and if he kissed Rosalba once, twice — twenty thousand times, I 'm sure I don't think he was wrong. So Gruffanuff opened the hall door with a low bow, just as he had been accustomed to do, and they all went in and signed the book, and then they went to church and were married, and the Fairy Blackstick sailed away on her cane, and was never more heard of in Paflagonia. booksellers}