 Chapter 10 of The Wise Woman. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Nathan at antipodeanwriter.wordpress.com The Wise Woman by George McDonald. Chapter 10. After the thunderstorm, Agnes did not meet with a single obstruction or misadventure. Everybody was strangely polite, gave her whatever she desired and answered her questions, but asked none in return and looked all the time as if her departure would be a relief. They were afraid, in fact, from her appearance, lest she should tell them that she was lost when they would be bound on pain of public execution to take her to the palace. But no sooner had she entered the city than she saw it would hardly do to present herself as a lost child at the palace gates. For how would they to know that she was not an impostor, especially since she really was one, having run away from the wise woman. So she wandered about looking at everything until she was tired and bewildered by the noise and confusion all around her. The wearier she got, the more was she pushed in every direction. Having been used to a whole hill to wander upon, she was very awkward in the crowded streets and often on the point of being run over by the horses, which seemed to her to be going every way like a frightened flock. She spoke to several persons, but no one stopped to answer her and at length, her courage giving away, she felt lost indeed and began to cry. A soldier saw her and asked, what was the matter? I've nowhere to go to. She's sold. Where's your mother? asked the soldier. I don't know, answered Agnes. I was carried off by an old woman who then went away and left me. I don't know where she is or where I am myself. Come, said the soldier. So saying, he took her by the hand, led her to the palace and begged an audience of the king and queen. The porter glanced at Agnes, immediately admitted them and showed them into a great splendid room where the king and queens had every day to review lost children in the hope of one day thus finding their rosamond. But they were by this time beginning to get tired of it. The moment they cast their eyes upon Agnes, the queen threw back her head, threw up her hands and cried, what a miserable conceited white-faced little ape! And the king turned upon the soldier in wrath and cried, forgetting his own decree. What do you mean by bringing such a dirty, vulgar-looking, pert creature into my palace? The dullest soldier in my army could never for a moment imagine a child like that. One hares breath like the lovely angel we lost. I humbly beg your Majesty's pardon, said the soldier. But what was I to do? There stands your Majesty's proclamation and gold letters on the brazen gates of the palace. I shall have it taken down, said the king. Remove the child. Please, your Majesty, what am I to do with her? Take her home with you. I have six already, Sire, and do not want her. Then drop her where you picked her up. If I do, Sire, someone else will find her and bring her back to your Majesty's. Oh, that will never do, said the king. I cannot bear to look at her. For all her ugliness, said the queen, she is plainly lost, and so is our rosamond. It may be only a pretence to get into the palace, said the king. Take her to the head scullion, soldier, said the queen, and tell her to make her useful. If she should find out she has been pretending to be lost, she must let me know. The soldier was so anxious to get rid of her that he caught her up in his arms, hurried her from the broom, found his way to the scullery, and gave her, trembling with fear, in charge to the headmaid with the queen's message. As it was evident that the queen had no favour for her, the servants did as they pleased with her and often treated her harshly. Not one amongst them liked her, nor was it any wonder, seeing that with every step she took from the wise woman's house she had grown more contemptible, for she had grown more conceited. Every simple answer given her she attributed to the impression she made, not to the desire to get rid of her, and every kindness to approbation of her looks and speech instead of friendliness to a lonely child. Hence, by this time, she was twice as odious as before, for whoever has had such severe treatment as the wise woman gave her and is not the better for it always grows worse than before. They drove her about, boxed her ears on the smallest provocation, laid everything to her charge, called her all manner of contemptuous names, jeered and scoffed at her awkwardnesses, and made her life so miserable that she was in a fair way to forget everything she had learned and know nothing but how to clean saucepins and kettles. It would not have been so hard upon her, however, but for her irritating behaviour. She dared not refuse to do as she was told, but she obeyed now with a pursed up mouth and now with a contemptuous smile. The only thing that sustained her was her constant contriving how to get out of the painful position in which she found herself. There is but one true way, however, of getting out of any position we may be in, and that is to do the work of it so well that we grow fit for a better. I need not say this was not the plan upon which Agnes was cunning enough to fix. She had certain learned from the talk around her the reason of the proclamation which had brought her hither. It was the lost princess so very beautiful, she said one day to the youngest of her fellow servants. Beautiful, screamed the maid, she was just the ugliest little toad you ever set eyes upon. What was she like? asked Agnes. She was about your size and quite as ugly, only not in the same way, for she had red cheeks and a cocked little nose and the biggest ugliest mouth you ever saw. Agnes, fellow thinking, is there a picture of her anywhere in the palace? She asked, how should I know? You can ask a housemate. Agnes soon learned that there was one and contrived to get a peep of it. Then she was certain of what she had suspected from the description given of her, namely that she was the same she had seen in the picture at the wise woman's house. The conclusion followed that the lost princess must be staying with her father and mother, for assuredly in the picture she wore one of her own frocks. She went to the head scullion, and with humble manner that proud heart begged her to procure for her the favour of a word with the queen. A likely thing indeed was the answer accompanied by a resounding box on the ear. She tried the head cook next, but with no better success, and so was driven to her meditations again, the result of which was that she began to drop hints that she knew something about the princess. This came at length to the queen's ears, and she sent her. Absorbed in her own selfish ambitions, she never thought of the risk to which she was about to expose her parents, but told the queen that in her wanderings she had caught sight of just such a lovely creature as she described the princess, only dressed like a peasant, saying that if the king would permit her to go and look for her, she had little doubt of bringing her back safe and sound within a few weeks. But although she spoke the truth, she had such a look of cunning on her pinched face that the queen could not possibly trust her, but believed that she made the proposal merely to get away and have money for the journey. Still, there was a chance, and she would not say anything until she had consulted the king. They then had Agnes up before the Lord Chancellor, who after much questioning of her, arrived at last, he thought, at some notion of the part of the country described by her, that was if she spoke the truth, which from her looks and behaviour he also considered entirely doubtful. There upon, she was ordered back to the kitchen in a band of soldiers under a clever lawyer, sent out to search every foot of the supposed region. They were commanded not to return until they brought with them, bound hand and foot, such a shepherd pair as that of which they received, a full description. And now Agnes was worse off than before, for to her other miseries was added the fear of what would befall her when it was discovered that the persons of whom they were in quest, and whom she was certainly must find, were her own father and mother. By this time, the king and queen were so tired of seeing lost children, genuine or pretended, for they cared for no child any longer, then there seemed a chance of its turning out their own child, that with this first hope, which however poor and vague at first, soon began to grow upon such imaginations as they had, they commanded the proclamation to be taken down from the palace gates, and directed the various sentries to admit no child whatever lost or found, be the reason or pretence what it might until further orders. I'm sick of children, said the king to his secretary, as he finished dictating the direction. End of chapter 10, recording by Nathan at antipodeanwriter.wordpress.com Chapter 11 of The Wise Woman This is LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Nathan at antipodeanwriter.wordpress.com The Wise Woman by George McDonald Chapter 11 After Prince was gone, the princess by degrees fell back into some of her bad old ways, from which only the presence of the dog, not her own betterment, had kept her. She never grew nearly so selfish again, but she began to let her angry old self lift up its head once more until by and by. She grew so bad that the sheppardess declared she should not stop in the house a day longer, for she was quite unendurable. Does all very well for you husband, she said, for you haven't her all day about you and only see the best of her, but had her in work instead of play hours you would like her no better than I do and then it's not her ugly passions only, but when she's in one of her tantrums it's impossible to get any work out of her. At such times she's just as obstinate as as as she was going to say, as Agnes but the feelings of a mother overcame her and she could not utter the words. In fact, she said instead she makes my life miserable. The sheppard felt he had no right to tell his wife she must submit to have her life made miserable and therefore although he was really much attached to Rosamond he would not interfere and the sheppardess told her she must look out for another place. The princess was, however, this much better than before, even in respect of her passions, that they were not quite so bad and after one was over she was really ashamed of it, but not once ever since the departure of Prince had she tried to check the rush of the evil temper when it came upon her. When she was out of it and that was something but while she was in it she went full swing with it wherever the prince of the power of it pleased to carry her nor was this all. Although she might by this time have known well enough that as soon as she was out of it she was certain to be ashamed of it she would yet justify to herself with 20 different arguments that looked very good at the time but would have looked very poor indeed afterwards if then she had ever remembered them. She was not sorry to leave the sheppard's cottage for she felt certain of soon finding her way back to her father and mother and she would indeed have set out long before but that her foot had somehow got hurt when Prince gave her his last admonition and she had never since been able to go for long walks which she sometimes blamed as the cause of her temper growing worse, but if people are good tempered only when they are comfortable what thanks are they. Her foot was now much better and as soon as the sheppard's had thus spoken she resolved to set out at once and work or beg her way home at the moment she was quite unmindful of what she owed the good people and indeed was as yet incapable of understanding a tenth part of her obligation to them so she bade them goodbye without a tear and limped her way down the hill leaving the sheppard as weeping on the sheppard looking very grave when she reached the valley she followed the course of the stream knowing only that it would lead her away from the hill where the sheep fed into richer lands where there were farms and cattle rounding one of the roots of the hill where a poor woman walking slowly along the road with a burden of heather upon her back and presently past her but had gone only a few paces farther when she heard her calling after her in a kind old voice, your shoe ties loose my child. But Rosamond was growing tired for her foot had become painful and so she was cross and neither returned answered nor paid heed to the warning for when we are cross all our other faults grow busy and poke up their ugly heads like maggots and the princess's disliked to doing anything that came to her with the least air of advice about it returned in full force my child said the woman again if you don't fasten your shoe tie it will make you fall. Mind your own business said Rosamond without even turning her head and had not gone more than three steps when she fell flat on her face on the path she tried to get up but the effort forced from her a scream for she had sprained the ankle of the foot that was already lame the old woman was by her side where you hurt child she asked throwing down her burden and kneeling beside her go away! screamed Rosamond you made me fall you bad woman the woman made no reply but began to fill her joints and soon discovered the sprain then in spite of Rosamond's abuse and the violent pushes and even kicks she gave her she took the hurt ankle in her hands and stroked and pressed it gently kneading it as it were with her thumbs as if coaxing every particle of the muscles right place nor had she done so long before Rosamond lay still at length she ceased and said now my child you may get up I can't get up and I'm not your child cried Rosamond go away without another word the woman left her took up her burden and continued her journey a little while Rosamond tried to get up and not only succeeded but found she could walk and indeed presently discovered that her ankle and foot also were now perfectly well I wasn't much hurt after all she said to herself nor sent a single grateful thought after the poor woman whom she speedily passed once more upon the road without even a greeting late in the afternoon she came to a spot where the path divided into two and was taking the one she liked to look of better when she started the sound of the poor woman's voice whom she thought she had left far behind again calling her she looked around and there she was toiling under her load of heather as before you were taking the wrong turn child she cried how can you tell that said Rosamond you know nothing about where I want to go I know that road will take you where you don't want to go said the woman I shall know when I get there then returned Rosamond and no thanks to you she set off running the woman took the other path and was soon out of sight by and by Rosamond found herself in the midst of a pit moss a flat lonely dismal black country she thought however that the road would soon lead her to the other side of it among the farms and went on without anxiety but the stream which had hitherto been her guide had now vanished and when it began to grow dark Rosamond found that she could no longer distinguish the track she turned therefore but only to find that the same darkness covered it behind as well as before still she made the attempt to go back by keeping as direct a line as she could for the path was straight as an arrow but she could not see enough even to start her in a line and she had not gone far before she found herself hemmed in apparently on every side by ditches and pools of black dismal slimy water and now it was so dark that she could see nothing more than the gleam of a bit of clear sky now and then in the water again and again she stepped knee deep in black mud and once tumbled down in the shallow edge of a terrible pool after which she gave up the attempt to escape the meshes of the watery net stood still and began to cry bitterly despairingly she saw now that her unreasonable anger had made her foolish as well as rude and felt that she was justly punished for her wickedness to the poor woman who had been so friendly to her what would Prince think of her if he knew she cast herself on the ground hungry and cold and weary presently she thought she saw long creatures come heaving out of the black pools a toad jumped upon her and she shrieked and sprang to her feet and would have run away headlong when she spied in the distance a faint glimmer she thought it was a willow the wisp what could he be after was he looking for her she dared not run, lest he should see and pounce upon her the light came nearer and grew brighter and larger plainly the little fiend was looking for her he would torment her after many twistings and turnings among the pools it came straight towards her and she would have shrieked but that terror made her dumb it came nearer and nearer and glow it was born by a dark figure and on its back it was the poor woman and no demon that was looking for her she gave a scream of joy fell down weeping at her feet and clasped her knees and the poor woman threw away her burden laid down her lantern took the princess up in her arms folded her cloak around her and having taken up her lantern again carried her slowly and carefully through the midst of the black pools winding hither and thither all night long she carried her thus slowly and warily until at length her eyes grew a little thinner an uncertain hint of light came from the east and the poor woman, stopping on the brow of a little hill, opened her cloak and set the princess down I can carry you no further she said sit there on the grass till the light comes I will stand here by you Rosamond had been asleep now she rubbed her eyes and looked but it was too dark to see anything more than that there was a sky over her head slowly the light grew until she could see the form of the poor woman when she went on growing she began to think she had seen her somewhere before till all at once she thought of the wise woman and saw it must be she then she was so ashamed that she bent down her head and could look at her no longer but the poor woman spoke and the voice was that of the wise woman and every word went deep into the heart of the princess Rosamond she said all this time ever since I carried you from your father's palace I have been doing what I could to make you a lovely creature and I have succeeded all of her past story since she found herself first under the wise woman's cloak a rose and glided past the inner eyes of the princess and she saw and in a measure understood it all but she sat with her eyes on the ground and made no sign then said the wise woman below there is the forest which surrounds my house I'm going home if you're pleased to come there to me I will help you in a way I could not do before now to be good and lovely I will wait for you there all day but if you started once you may be there long before noon I shall have your breakfast waiting for you one thing more the beasts have not yet all gone home to their holes but I give you my word not one will touch you so long as you keep coming nearer to my house she ceased Rosamond sat waiting to hear something more but nothing came she looked up she was alone once more always being left alone because she would not yield to what was right she had felt under the wise woman's cloak she had indeed been good to her and she had in return behaved like one of the hyenas the awful wood what a wonderful house it was she lived in and again all her own story came up into her brain from her repentant heart why didn't she take me with her she said I would have gone gladly and she wept but her own conscience told her that in the very middle of her shame and desire to be good she had returned no answer to the words of the wise woman she had sat like a tree stump and done nothing she tried to say there was nothing to be done but she knew at once that she could have told the wise woman she had been very wicked and asked her to take her with her now there was nothing to be done nothing to be done said her conscience cannot you rise and walk down the hill and through the wood but the wild beasts there it is you don't believe the wise woman yet did she not tell you the beasts would not touch you but they are so horrid yes they are but it would be far better to be eaten up alive by them on such a worthless creature as you now are why you're not fit to be thought of by any but bad ugly creatures this is how the princess talked to herself end of chapter 11 recording by Nathan at antipodianwriter.wordpress.com chapter 12 of the wise woman this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Nathan at antipodianwriter.wordpress.com the wise woman by George McDonald chapter 12 all at once she jumped to her feet and ran at full speed down the hill and into the wood she heard howlings and yellings on all sides of her but she ran straight on as near as she could judge her spirits rose as she ran suddenly she saw before her in the dusk of the thick wood a group of some dozen wolves and hyenas standing all together right in her way with their green eyes fixed upon her staring she folded one step then be thought her of what the wise woman had promised and keeping straight on dashed right into the middle of them they fled howling as if she had struck them with fire she was no more afraid after that and ere the sun was up she was out of the wood and upon the heath which no bad thing could step upon and live with the first peep of the sun above the horizon she saw the little cottage before her and ran as fast as she could run towards it when she came near it she saw that the door was open and ran straight into the outstretched arms of the wise woman the wise woman kissed her and stroked her hair set her down by the fire and gave her a bowl of bread and milk when she had eaten it she drew her before her where she sat and spoke to her thus rosamond if you would be a blessed creature instead of a mere wretch you must submit to be tried was that something terrible asked the princess turning white no my child but it is something very difficult to come well out of nobody who has not been tried knows how difficult it is but whoever has come well out of it and those who do not overcome never do come out of it always looks back with horror not on what she has come through but on the very idea of the possibility of having failed and being still the same miserable creature as before you will tell me what it is before it begins said the princess I will not tell you exactly but I will tell you some things to help you one great danger is that perhaps you will think you are in it before it has really begun and say to yourself oh this is really nothing to me it may be a trial to some but for me I am sure it is not worth mentioning and then before you know it will be upon you and you will fail utterly and shamefully I will be very very careful said the princess only don't let me be frightened you should not be frightened except it be your own doing you are already a brave girl and there is no occasion to try you more that way I saw how you rushed into the middle of the ugly creatures and as they ran from you so all kinds of evil things as long as you keep them outside of you and do not open the cottage of your heart to let them in I will tell you something more about what you will have to go through nobody can be a real princess do not imagine you have yet been anything more than a mock one until she is a princess over herself that is until she makes herself unwilling to do the thing that is right she makes herself do it so long as any mood she is in makes her do the things she will be sorry for when that mood is over she is a slave and no princess a princess is able to do what is right even should she unhappily be in a mood that would make another unable to do it for instance if you should be cross and angry you are not a wit the less bound to be just yes kind even a thing most difficult in such a mood she is itself in a good mood loving and sweet whoever does what she is bound to do be she the dirtiest little girl in the street is a princess worshipful, honorable, name all her might goes farther than she could send it for if she act so the evil mood will wither and die and leave her loving and clean do you understand me dear Rosamond as she spoke the wise woman laid her hand on her head and looked oh so lovingly into her eyes I am not sure said the princess humbly perhaps you will understand me better if I say it just comes to this that you must not do what is wrong however much you are inclined to do it and you must do what is right however much you are disinclined to do it I understand that said the princess I am going then to put you in one of the mood chambers of which I have many in this house its mood will come upon you and you will have to deal with it she rose and took her by the hand the princess trembled a little but never thought of resisting the wise woman led her into the great hall with the pictures and through a door of the father inn opening upon another large hall which was circular and had doors close to each other all rounded of these she opened one pushed the princess gently in and closed it behind her the princess found herself in her old chanter as if his back were going to tumble over his head her nurse in her rocking chair by the chimney corner sat just as she had used the fire burned brightly and on the table were many of her wonderful toys on which however she now looked with some contempt her nurse did not seem at all surprised to see her any more than if the princess had but just gone from the room and returned again oh how different I am from what I used to be thought the princess to herself looking from her toys to her nurse the wise woman has done me so much good already I will go and see mama at once and tell her I am very glad to be at home again and very sorry I was so naughty she went towards the door your queen mama princess cannot see you now said her nurse I have yet to learn that it is my part to take orders from a servant said the princess with temper and dignity I beg your pardon princess returned her nurse politely it is my duty to tell you that your queen mama is at this moment engaged she is alone with her most intimate friend the princess of the frozen regions I shall see for myself returned the princess bridling and walked to the door now little bunny leapfrogging near the door happened that moment to get about her feet just as she was going to open it so that she tripped and fell against it striking her forehead a good blow she caught up the rabbit in a rage all your fault you ugly old wretch threw it with violence in her nurse's face her nurse caught the rabbit and held it to her face as if seeking to soothe its fright but the rabbit looked very limp and odd and to her amazement Rosamond presently saw that the thing was no rabbit but a pocket handkerchief the next moment she removed it from her face and Rosamond beheld not her nurse but the wise woman standing on her own heart while she herself stood by the door leading from the cottage into the hall first trial a failure said the wise woman quietly overcame the shame Rosamond fell to her fell down on her knees and hit her face in her dress need I say anything said the wise woman stroking her hair no no cried the princess I am horrid you know now the kind of thing you have to meet are you ready to try again may I try again cried the princess jumping up I'm ready I do not think I shall fail this time the trial will be harder Rosamond drew in her breath and set her teeth the wise woman looked at her pitifully but took her by the hand led her to the round hall opened the same door and closed it after the princess expected to find herself again in the nursery but in the wise woman's house no one ever has the same trial twice she was in a beautiful garden full of blossoming trees and the loveliest roses and lilies a lake was in the middle of it with a tiny boat so delightful was it that Rosamond forgot all about how or why she had come there and lost herself in the joy of the flowers and the trees and the water presently came the shout of the child Mary and glad and from a clump of tulip trees brushed a lovely little boy with his arms stretched out to her she was charmed at the sight ran to meet him caught him up in her arms kissed him and could hardly let him go again but the moment she set him down he ran from her towards the lake looking back as he ran and crying come come she followed he made straight for the boat clambered into it and held out his hand to help her in and he caught up the little boat hook and pushed away from the shore there was a great white flower floating a few yards off and that was the little fellow's goal but alas no sooner had Rosamond caught sight of it huge and glowing as a harvest moon and she felt a great desire to have it herself the boy however was in the boughs of the boat and caught it first it had a long stem reaching down to the bottom of the water and for a moment he tugged at it in vain but at last it gave way so suddenly that he tumbled back with the flower into the bottom of the boat then Rosamond almost wild of the danger it was in as he struggled to rise hurried to save it but somehow between them it came in pieces and all its petals of fretted silver were scattered about the boat and the boy got up and saw the ruin a companion had occasioned he burst into tears and having the long stalk of the flower still in his hand struck her with it across the face it did not hurt her much for he was a very little fellow but it was wet and slimy she tumbled rather than rushed at him seized him in her arms tore him from his fright and grasp and flung him into the water his head struck on the boat as he fell and he sank at once to the bottom where he lay looking up at her with white face and eyes the moment she saw the consequences of her deed she was filled with horrible dismay she tried hard to reach down to him through the water but it was far deeper than it looked and she could not neither could she get her eyes to leave the white face its eyes fascinated and fixed hers and there she lay leaning over the boat and staring at the death she had made but a voice crying Ali Ali shot to her heart and springing to her feet he came running down the grass to the brink of the water with her hair flying about her head where is my Ali she shrieked but Rosamond could not answer and only stared at the lady as she had before stared at her drowned boy then the lady caught sight of the dead thing at the bottom of the water and rushed in and plunging down struggled and groped until she reached it then she rose and stood up with the dead body of her little son in her arms his head hanging back from him see what you have made of him Rosamond she said holding the body out to her and this is your second trial and also a failure the dead child melted away from her arms and there she stood the wise woman on her own heart while Rosamond found herself beside the little well on the floor of the cottage with one arm wet up to the shoulder she threw herself on the heather bed and wept from relief and vexation both the wise woman walked out of the cottage shut the door and left her alone Rosamond was sobbing so that she did not hear her go when at length she looked up and saw that the wise woman was gone and misery returned a fresh and tend fold and she wept and wailed the hours passed the shadows of evening began to fall and the wise woman entered End of Chapter 12 Recording by Nathan at antipodeanwriter.wordpress.com Chapter 13 of the wise woman this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Nathan at antipodeanwriter.wordpress.com The Wise Woman by George McDonald Chapter 13 She went straight to the bed and taking Rosamond in her arms sat down with her by the fire my poor child she said two terrible failures and the more the harder stronger and stronger what is to be done couldn't you help me said Rosamond piteously perhaps I could now you ask me answered the wise woman when you are ready to try again we shall see I'm very tired of myself said the princess but I can't rest till I try again that is the only way to get rid of your weary shadowy self and find your strong true self come my child I will help you all I can for now I can help you yet again she led her to the same door and seemed to the princess to send her yet again alone into the room she was in a forest of place half wild half tended the trees were grand and full of the loveliest birds of all glowing gleaming and radiant colours which unlike the brilliant birds we know in our world sang deliciously everyone according to his colour the trees were not at all crowded but their leaves were so thick and their boughs spread so far that it was only here and there a sunbeam could get straight through all the gentle creatures in the forest were there but no creatures that killed not even a weasel to kill the rabbits were a beetle to eat the snails out of their striped shells as to the butterflies words would buck wrong them if they tried to tell how gorgeous they were the princess's delight was so great that she neither laughed nor ran but walked about with her solemn countenance and stately step but where are the flowers she said to herself at length they were nowhere neither on the high trees nor on the few shrubs that grew here to them were there any blossoms and in the grass that grew everywhere there was not a single flower to be seen ah well said Rosamond again to herself were all the birds and butterflies are living flowers we can do without the other sort still she could not help feeling that flowers were wanted to make the beauty of the forest complete suddenly she came out on a little open grave and there on the root of the great oak set the loveliest little girl with her lap full of flowers of all colours but of such kinds as Rosamond had never before seen she was playing with them bearing her hands in them tumbling them about and every now and then picking one from the rest and throwing it away all the time she never smiled except with her eyes which were as full as they could hold a laughter of the spirit a laughter which in this world is never heard only sets the eyes alight with a liquid shining rosamond drew nearer for the wonderful creature would have drawn a tiger to her side and tamed him on the way a few yards from her she came upon one of her cast away flowers and stooped to pick it up as well she might when none grew save in her own longing but to her amazement she found instead of a flower thrown away to wither one fast rooted and quiet at home she left it and went to another but it also was fast in the soil and growing comfortably in the warm grass what could it mean when after another she tried until at length she was satisfied that it was the same with every flower the little girl threw from her lap she watched then until she saw a throw one and instantly bounded to the spot but the flower had been quicker than she there it grew fast fixed in the earth and she thought looked at her roguishly something evil moved in her and she plucked it don't don't cry the child my flowers cannot live in your hands rosamond looked at the flower it was withered already she threw it from her offended the child rose with difficulty keeping her lap full together picked it up carried it back sat down again spoke to it kissed it sang to it oh such a sweet childish little song the princess never could recall a word of it and threw it away up rose it's little head and there it was busy growing again rosamond's bad temper soon gave way the beauty and sweetness of the child had overcome it and anxious to make friends with her she drew near and said won't you give me a little flower please you beautiful child there they are they are all for you pointing with her outstretched arm and forefinger all around but you told me a minute ago not to touch them yes indeed I did they can't be mine if I'm not to touch them if to call them yours you must kill them then they are not yours and never never can be yours they are nobody's when they are dead but you don't kill them I don't pull them I throw them away I live them how is it that you make them grow I say you darling and throw it away and there it is where do you get them in my lap I wish you would let me throw one away have you got any in your lap let me see no I have none then you can't throw one away if you haven't got one you are mocking me cried the princess I am not mocking you said the child looking her full in the face with her approach in her large blue eyes oh that's where the flowers come from said the princess to herself the moment she saw them hardly knowing what she meant then the child grows as if hurt and quickly throw away all the flowers she had in her lap but one by one and without any sign of anger when they were all gone she stood a moment and then in a kind of chanting cry called two or three times pecky pecky pecky a low glad cry like the wind of a horse answered and presently out of the wood on the opposite side of the glade came gently trotting the loveliest little snow white pony with great shining blue wings half lifted from his shoulders straight towards the little girl neither hurrying nor lingering elastic tread rosamond's love for animals broke into a perfect passion of delight at the vision she rushed to meet the pony with such haste that although clearly the best trained animal under the sun he started back plunged reared and struck out with his forefeet ere he had time to observe what sort of a creature it was that had so startled him when he perceived it was a little girl he dropped instantly upon all fours and content with avoiding her resumed his quiet trot in the direction of his rosamond stood gazing after him in miserable disappointment when he reached the child he laid his head on her shoulder and she put her arm up around his neck and after she had talked to him a little he turned and came trotting back to the princess almost beside herself with joy she began caressing him in the rough way which notwithstanding her love for them she was in the habit of using with animals and she was not gentle enough in herself even to see that he did not like it and was only putting it for the sake of his mistress but when that she might jump upon his back she laid hold of one of his wings and ruffled some of the blue feathers he wheeled suddenly about gave his tail a sharp whisk which threw her flat on the grass and trotting back to his mistress bent down his head before her as if asking excuse for ridding himself of the unbearable the princess was furious she had forgotten all her past life up to the time when she first saw the child her beauty had made her forget and yet she was now on the very borders of hating her what she might have done or rather tried to do had not Peggy's tail struck her down with such force that for a moment she could not rise I cannot tell but while she lay half stunned her eyes fell on a little flower just under them it stared up in her face like the living thing it was and she could not take her eyes off its face it was like a primrose trying to express doubt instead of confidence it seemed to put her half in mind of something and she felt as if shame were coming she put out her hand to pluck it but the moment her fingers touched it the flower withered up and hung as dead on its stalks as if a flame of fire had passed over it then a shudder thrilled through the heart of the princess and she thought with herself saying what sort of a creature am I that the flowers wither when I touch them and the ponies despise me with their tails what a wretched course ill-bred creature I must be there is that lovely child giving life instead of death to the flowers I was hating her I am made horrid and I shall be horrid and I hate myself and yet I can't help being myself she heard the sound of galloping feet and there was the pony with the child seated betwixt his wings coming straight on at full speed for where she lay I don't care she said they may trample me under their feet if they like I'm tired and sick of myself a creature at whose touch the flowers wither on came the winged pony but while yet some distance off he gave his living sails of blue rose yards and yards above her in the air and alighted as gently as a bird just a few feet on the other side of her the child slipped down and came and kneeled over her did my pony hurt you she said I am so sorry yes he hurt me answered the princess but not more than I deserved for I took liberties with him and he did not like it oh you dear said the little girl I love you for talking so of my piggy he is a good pony though a little playful sometimes would you like a ride upon him a beauty cried rosamond sobbing I do love you so you are so good how did you become so sweet do you like to ride my pony repeated the child with a heavenly smile in her eyes no no he is fit only for you my clumsy body would hurt him said rosamond you don't mind me having such a pony said the child what mind it cried rosamond almost indignantly then remembering certain thoughts that had but a few moments before passed through her mind she looked and was silent you don't mind it then repeated the child I am very glad there is such a you and such a pony and that such a you has got such a pony said rosamond still looking on the ground but I do wish the flowers would not die when I touched them I was crossed to see you make them grow but now I should be content if only I did not make them wither as she spoke she stroked that little child's bare feet which were by her half buried in the soft moss and as she ended she laid her cheek on them and kissed you princess of the little girl the flowers were not always wither at your touch try now only do not pluck it flowers ought never to be plucked except to give away touch it gently a silvery flower something like a snow drop grew just within her reach timidly she stretched out her hand and touched it the flower trembled but neither shrank nor withered touch it again said the child it changed color a little and rosamond fancied it grew larger touch it again said the child it opened and didn't grew until it was as large as a narcissist and changed and deepened in color till it was a red glowing gold rosamond gazed motionless when the transfiguration of the flower was perfected she sprang to her feet with clasped hands but for very ecstasy of joy stood speechless gazing at the child did you never see me before rosamond she asked no never answered the princess I never saw anything half so lovely look at me said the child and as rosamond looked the child began like the flower to grow larger quickly through every graduation of growth she passed until she stood before her a woman perfectly beautiful neither old nor young for hers was the old age of everlasting youth rosamond was utterly enchanted and stood gazing without word or movement until she could endure no more delight then her mind collapsed to the thought had the pony ground too she glanced round there was no pony no grass no flowers no bright birded forest but the cottage of the wise woman and before her on the heart of it the goddess child the only thing unchanged she gassed with astonishment you must set out for your father's palace immediately said the lady but where is the wise woman asked rosamond looking all about here said the lady and rosamond looking again saw the wise woman folded as usual in her long dark cloak and it was you all the time she cried in delight and kneeled before her burying her face in her garments it always is me all the time said the wise woman smiling but which is the real you asked rosamond this or that or a thousand others returned to the wise woman but the one you have just seen is the likeest to the real me that you are able to see just yet but and that me you could not have seen a little while ago my darling child she went on lifting her up and clasping her to a bosom you must not think because you have seen me once that therefore you are capable of seeing me at all times no there are many things in you yet that must be changed before that can be now however you will seek me every time you feel you want me that is a sign I'm wanting you there are yet many rooms in my house you may have to go through but when you need to know more of them then you will be able to throw flowers like the little girl you saw in the forest the princess gave a sigh do not think the wise woman went on that the things you have seen in my house and near empty shows you do not know you cannot yet think how living and true they are now you must go she let her once more into the great hall and there showed her the picture of her father's capital and his palace with the brazen gates there is your home she said go to it the princess understood and a flush of shame rose to her forehead she turned to the wise woman and said will you forgive all my naughtiness and all the trouble I have given you if I had not forgiven you I would never have taken the trouble to punish you if I had not loved you do you think I would not have gone away in my cloak how could you love such an ugly ill tempered rude hateful little wretch I saw through it all what you were going to be said the wise woman kissing her but remember you have yet only begun to be what I saw I will try to remember said the princess holding her cloak and looking up in her face go then said the wise woman Rosamond turned away on the instant ran to the picture stepped over the frame of it heard a door close gently gave one glance back to the callous front of alabaster gleaming in the pale yellow light of an early summer morning looked again to the eastwood saw the faint outline of her father's city against the sky and ran off to reach it it looked much further off now than when it seemed a picture but the sun was not yet up and she had the whole of a summer day before her end of chapter 13 recording by Nathan at antipodeanwriter.wordpress.com chapter 14 of the wise woman by George McDonald chapter 14 the soldiers sent out by the king had no great difficulty in finding Agnes's father and mother of whom they demanded if they knew any thing of such a young princess as they described the wise woman was a young woman and she was a young woman and she was a young woman and she was a young woman and she was a young woman princess as they described the honest pair told them the truth in every point that having lost their own child and found another they had taken her home and treated her as their own that she had indeed called herself a princess but they had not believed her because she did not look like one that even if they had they did not know how they could have done differently seeing they were poor people who could not afford to keep any idle person about the place they had done their best to teach her good ways and had not parted with her until her bad temper rendered it impossible to put up with her any longer that as to the king's proclamation they heard little of the world's news on their lonely hill and it had never reached them that if it had they did not know how either of them could have gone such a distance from home and left their sheep or their cottage one or the other uncared for both of you can go and your sheep must take care of your cottage said the lawyer and commanded the soldiers to bind to them hand and foot heedless of their entreaties to be spared such an indignity the soldiers obeyed all them to a cart and set out for the king's palace leaving the cottage door open the fire burning the pot of potatoes boiling upon it the sheep scattered over the hill and the dogs not knowing what to do hardly were they gone however they walked up with Prince behind her peeped into the cottage, locked the door put the key in her pocket and then walked away up the hill in a few minutes there arose a great battle between Prince and the dog which filled his former place a well-meaning but dull fellow who could fight better than feed Prince was not long in showing him that he was meant for his master and then by his efforts and directions to the other dogs the sheep were soon gathered again and out of danger from foxes and bad dogs Prince was done the wise woman left them in charge of Prince while she went to the next farm to arrange for the folding of the sheep and the feeding of the dogs when the soldiers reached the palace they were ordered to carry their prisoners at once into the presence of the king and queen in the throne room their two thrones stood upon a high dais at one end and on the floor at the foot of the dais the soldiers laid their helpless prisoners the queen commanded that they should be unbound and ordered them to stand up they obeyed with the dignity of insulted innocence and their bearing offended their foolish majesties meantime the princess after a long day's journey arrived at the palace and walked up to the sentry at the gate stand back said the sentry I wish to go in if you please said the princess gently laughed the sentry for he was one of those dull people who formed their judgement from a person's clothes but out even looking in their eyes and as the princess happened to be in rags her request was amusing and the booby thought himself quite clever for laughing at her so thoroughly I am the princess Rosamond said quietly what princess bellow the man the princess Rosamond is there another she answered and asked but the man was so tickled at the wondrous idea of a princess in rags that he scarcely heard what she said for laughing as soon as he recovered a little he proceeded to chuck the princess under the chin saying you're a pretty girl my dear though you ain't no princess Rosamond drew back with dignity you have spoken three untruths at once she said I am not pretty and I am a princess and if I were dear to you as I ought to be you would not laugh at me because I am badly dressed but stand aside and let me go to my father and mother the tone of her speech and the review she gave him the man look at her and looking at her he began to tremble inside his foolish body and wonder whether he might not have made a mistake he raised his hand in salute and said I beg your pardon miss but I have express orders to admit no child whatever within the palace gates they tell me his majesty the king says he is sick of children he may well be sick of me thought the princess but it can't mean that he does not want me home again I don't think you can very well call a child she said looking the sentry full in the face you ain't very big miss answered the soldier but so be you say you ain't a child I'll take the risk the king can only kill me and a man must die once he opened the gate stepped aside and allowed her to pass had she lost her temper as everyone but the wise woman would have expected of her he certainly would not have done so she ran into the palace the door of which had been left open and locked her when he followed the soldiers and prisoners to the throne room and bound it up the stairs to look for her father and mother as she passed the door of the throne room she heard an unusual noise in it and running to the king's private entrance over which hung a heavy curtain she peeped past the edge of it and saw to her amazement the shepherd and shepherdess standing like culprits before the king and queen and the same moment heard the king say you ought to know said the king sire we could keep her no longer you confess then said the king suppressing the outbreak of the wrath that boiled up in him that you turned her out of your house for the king had been informed by a swift messenger of all that had passed long before the arrival of the prisoners we did sire that not only could we keep her no longer but we knew not that she was the princess you ought to have known the moment you cast your eyes upon her said the king anyone who does not know a princess the moment he sees her ought to have his eyes put out indeed he ought said the queen to this they returned no answer for they had none ready why did you not bring her at once to the palace pursued the king whether you knew her to be a princess or not my proclamation left nothing to your judgment every child we heard nothing of the proclamation sire you ought to have heard said the king it is enough that I make proclamations it is for you to read them are they not written in letters of gold upon the brazen gates of this palace a poor shepherd your majesty how often must he leave his flock and go hundreds of miles to look whether there may not be something in letters of gold upon the brazen gates we did not know that your majesty had made a proclamation or even that the princess was lost you ought to have known said the king the shepherd held his peace but said the queen taking up the word all that is as nothing when I think how you misused the darling the only ground the queen had for saying thus was what Agnes had told her as to how the princess was dressed and her condition seemed to the queen so miserable that she had imagined all sorts of oppression and cruelty but this was more than the shepherd's who had not yet spoken could bear she would have been dead and not buried long ago madame if I had not carried her home in my two arms why does she say her two arms said the king to himself has she more than two is there treason in that you dressed her in cast off clothes said the queen I dressed her in my own sweet child's Sunday clothes and this is what I get for it cried the shepherdess bursting into tears and what did you do with the clothes you took off her sell them put them in the fire madam they were not fit for the poorest child in the mountains they were so ragged that you could see her skin through them in 20 different places you cruel woman to torture a mother's feelings so cried the queen and in her turn burst into tears and I'm sure sobbed the shepherdess I took every pains to teach her what it was right for her to know I taught her to tidy the house and tidy the house moaned the queen my poor wretched offspring and peel the potatoes and peel the potatoes cried the queen oh horror and black her master's boots said the shepherdess black her master's boots shrieked the queen oh my white-handed princess oh my ruined baby what I want to know said the king paying no heed to this maternal jewel but patting the top of his scepter as if it had been the hilt of a sword which he was about to draw is where the princess is now the shepherd made no answer for he had nothing to say more had said already you have murdered her shouted the king you shall be tortured till you confess the truth and then you shall be tortured to death for you are the most abominable wretches in the whole wide world who accuses me of crime cried the shepherd indignant I accuse you said the king but you shall see face to face the chief witness to your villainy officer bring the girl silence filled the hall while they waited the king's face was swollen with anger the queen hid hers behind her handkerchief the shepherd and shepherdess bent their eyes on the ground wondering it was with difficulty Rosamond could keep her place but so wise had she already become that she saw it would be far better to let everything come out before she interfered at length the door opened and in came the officer followed by Agnes looking white as death and mean as sin the shepherdess gave a shriek and darted towards her with arms spread wide the shepherd followed but not so eagerly my child my lost darling my Agnes cried the shepherdess hold them asunder shouted the king here is more villainy what have I a scullery made in my house born of such parents the parents of such a child must be capable of anything take all three of them to the rack stretch them till their joints are torn asunder and give them no water away with them the soldiers approached to lay hands on them but behold a girl all in rags with such a radiant countenance that it was right lovely to see darted between and careless of the royal presence flung herself upon the shepherdess crying do not touch her she is my good kind mistress but the shepherdess could hear or see no one but her Agnes and pushed her away then the princess turned with the tears in her eyes to the shepherd and through her arms about his neck and pulled down his head and kissed him and the tall shepherd lifted her to his bosom and kept her there but his eyes were fixed on his Agnes what is the meaning of this cried the king starting up from his throne how did that ragged girl getting here take her away with the rest she is one of them too but the princess made the shepherd set her down and before anyone could interfere she had run up the steps of the dais and then the steps of the king's throne like a squirrel flung herself upon the king and began to smother him with kisses all stood astonished except the three peasants who did not even see what took place the shepherdess kept calling to her Agnes but she was so ashamed that she did not dare even lift her eyes to meet her mothers and the shepherd kept gazing on her in silence as for the king he was so breathless and aghast astonishment that he was too feeble to fling the ragged child from him as he tried to do but she left him and running down the steps of the one throne and up those of the other began kissing the queen next but the queen cried out get away you great rude child will nobody take her to the rack then the princess hardly knowing what she did for joy that she had come in time ran down the steps of the throne and the dais and placing herself between the shepherd and shepherd s took a hand of each and stood at the king and queen end of chapter 14 recording by Nathan at antipodeanwriter.wordpress.com chapter 15 of The Wise Woman this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information all to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Nathan at antipodeanwriter.wordpress.com The Wise Woman by George MacDonald chapter 15 their faces began to change at last they began to know her but she was so altered so lovelyly altered that it was no wonder they should not have known her at the first glance but it was the fault of the pride and anger and injustice with which their hearts were filled that they did not know her at the second the king gazed and the queen gazed both half risen from their thrones and looking as if about to tumble down upon her if only they could be right sure that the ragged girl was their own child a mistake would be such a dreadful thing my darling at last shrieked the mother a little doubtfully my pet of pets cried the father with an interrogative twist of tone another moment and they were halfway down the steps of the dais stop said a voice of command from somewhere in the hall and the queen as they were they stopped at once halfway then drew themselves up the stairs and began to grow angry again but durst not go farther the wise woman was coming slowly up through the crowd that filled the hall everyone made way for her she came straight on until she stood in front of the king and queen miserable man and woman she said in words they alone could hear I took your daughter away when she was worthy of such parents and they are unworthy of her that you did not know her when she came to you is a small wonder for you have been blind in soul all your lives now be blind in body until your better eyes are unsealed she threw her cloak open it fell to the ground and the radiance that flashed from her robe of snowy whiteness from her face of awful beauty and from her eyes that shone like pools of sunlight smote them blind Rosamond saw them give a great start shudder, wear the two and throw then sit down on the steps of the dais and she knew they were punished but knew not how she rushed up to them and catching a hand of each said father, dear father, mother, dear I will ask the wise woman to forgive you oh I am blind I am blind they cried together darkest night stone blind Rosamond left them spraying down the steps that her feet cried oh my lovely wise woman do let them see do open their eyes dear good wise woman the wise woman bent down to her and said so that none else could hear I will one day meanwhile you must be their servant as I have been yours bring them to me and I will make them welcome Rosamond rose went up the steps again to her father and mother where they sat like statues with closed eyes halfway from the top of the dais seated herself between them took a hand of each and was still all this time very few in the room saw the wise woman the moment she threw off her cloak she vanished from the sight of almost all who were present the woman who swept and dusted the hall and brushed the thrones saw her and the shepherd had a glimmering vision of her but no one else that I know of caught a glimpse of her the shepherd's did not see her nor did Agnes but she felt her presence upon her furnace seven times heated as soon as Rosamond had taken her place between her father and mother the wise woman lifted her cloak from the floor and threw it again around her then everybody saw her and Agnes felt as if a soft dewy cloud had come between her and the torrid rays of a vertical sun the wise woman turned to the shepherd and shepherds for you she said you are sufficiently punished by the work of your own hands instead of making your daughter obey you you left her to be a slave to herself you coaxed when you ought to have compelled you praised when you ought to have been silent you fondled when you ought to have punished you threatened when you ought to have inflicted and there she stands the full growing result of your foolishness she is your crime and your punishment take her home with you and live hour after hour with the pale heart and disgrace you call your daughter what she is the worm at her heart began to teach her when life is no longer in durable come to me madam said the shepherd may I not go with you now you shall said the wise woman husband husband cried the shepherds how are we two to get home without you I will see to that said the wise woman but little of home you will find it until you have come to me the king carried you hither and he shall carry you back but your husband shall not go with you you shall not now if you would the shepherds looked and saw that the shepherd stood in a deep sleep she went to him and sought to rouse him but neither tongue nor hands were of the slightest avail the wise woman turned to rosamond my child she said I shall never be far from you come to me when you will bring them to me rosamond smiled and kissed her hand but kept her place by her parents they also were now in a deep sleep like the shepherd the wise woman took the shepherd by hand and led him away and that is all my double story how double it is if you care to know you must find out if you think it is not finished I never knew a story that was I could tell you a good deal more concerning them all but I have already told you more than is good for those who read but with their foreheads and enough for those whom it has made look a little solemn and sigh as they close this book end of chapter 15 end of the wise woman by George Macdonald recording by Nathan at anti-pedionwriter.wordpress.com