Page:The Complete Works of William Makepeace Thackeray Vol.20.pdf/204

176 little wreath, and danced before the King and Queen so drolly and prettily, that everybody was delighted.

“Who was your mother — who were your relations, little girl?” said the Queen.

The little girl said, “Little lion was my brudder; great big lioness my mudder; neber heard of any udder.” And she capered away on her one shoe, and everybody was exceedingly diverted.

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 Gruffanuff.

“—Which I have worn ever so many times, and am quite tired of,” Angelica went on; “and she shall be my littlle maid. Will you come 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 Princess’s frocks given to her, she looked as handsome 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. Gruffanuff took her 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 was found when the great goodness and admirable kindness 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 favorite with the Princess, and she danced, and sang, and made her little rhymes, to amuse her mistress. 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;