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

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

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

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

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

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

Some days passed, without the princess's offering to stir out of the
grove; and in that time she gave a willing and patient ear to all her
mother's instructions, and seemed th