she had got used; for the
selfishness in her love had blinded her to the thin pinched nose and
the mean self-satisfied mouth. It was well for the princess, though,
sad as it is to say, that the shepherdess did not take to her, for then
she would most likely have only done her harm instead of good.

"Now, my girl," she said, "you must get up, and do something. We can't
keep idle folk here."

"I'm not a folk," said Rosamond; "I'm a princess."

"A pretty princess--with a nose like that! And all in rags too! If you
tell such stories, I shall soon let you know what I think of you."

Rosamond then understood that the mere calling herself a princess,
without having any thing to show for it, was of no use. She obeyed and
rose, for she was hungry; but she had to sweep the floor ere she had
any thing to eat.

The shepherd came in to breakfast, and was kinder than his wife. He
took her up in his arms and would have kissed her; but she took it as
an insult from a man whose hands smelt of tar, and kicked and screamed
with rage. The poor man, finding he had made a mistake, set her down at
once. But to look at the two, one might well have judged it
condescension rather than rudeness in such a man to kiss such a child.
He was tall, and almost stately, with a thoughtful forehead, bright
eyes, eagle nose, and gentle mouth; while the princess was such as I
have described her.

Not content with being set down and let alone, she continued to storm
and scold at the shepherd, crying she was a princess, and would like to
know what right he had to touch her! But he only looked down upon her
from the height of his tall person with a benignant smile, regarding
her as a spoiled little ape whose mother had flattered her by calling
her a princess.

"Turn her out of doors, the ungrateful hussy!" cried his wife. "With
your bread and your milk inside her ugly body, this is what she gives
you for it! Troth, I'm paid for carrying home such an ill-bred tramp in
my arms! My own poor angel Agnes! As if that ill-tempered toad were one
hair like her!"

These words drove the princess beside herself; for those who are most
given to abuse can least endure it. With fists and feet and teeth, as
was her wont, she rushed at the shepherdess, whose hand was already
raised to deal her a sound box on the ear, when a better appointed
minister of vengeance suddenly showed himself. Bounding in at the
cottage-door came one of the sheep-dogs, who was called Prince