They little thought what
I could be, if I had the chance. If I were but in this good, kind,
loving, generous king's palace, I should soon be such a great lady
as they never saw! Then they would understand what a good little
girl I had always been! And I shouldn't forget my poor parents like
some I have read of. _I_ would be generous. _I_ should never be
selfish and proud like girls in story-books!"
As she said this, she turned her back with disdain upon the picture
of her home, and setting herself before the picture of the palace,
stared at it with wide ambitious eyes, and a heart whose every beat
was a throb of arrogant self-esteem.
The shepherd-child was now worse than ever the poor princess had
been. For the wise woman had given her a terrible lesson one of
which the princess was not capable, and she had known what it meant;
yet here she was as bad as ever, therefore worse than before. The
ugly creature whose presence had made her so miserable had indeed
crept out of sight and mind too--but where was she? Nestling in her
very heart, where most of all she had her company, and least of all
could see her.
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