Untitled

THE BEAUTY SLEEPING. 121
polity, and simplicity, and innocence that should make
the chamber of a young girl different from, any other.
Upon an ivory bedstead in the centre of the room lay
the princess, fast asleep, one hand beneath her cheek,
the other closely folded like that of a little child in pain.
The golden rippling hair, thrown back from the pure
pale face, lay in great shining masses npon the bine silk
counterpane ;
but the heavy eyelashes so closely folded
over the great eyes were darker by many shades, as
were the perfect brows above. About the little month,
so curved and rosy, hnng a tremulous pout, as if even
in her long, long sleep, Donna dreamed of the cruel
spindle that had wounded her. Beneath the hem of her
white and gold-embroidered robe peeped a little foot, its
blue velvet shoe ornamented with the royal cipher in
gold thread ;
while the open sleeve falling away from
the wounded hand showed an arm of exquisite beauty
circled by a bracelet of quaint device.
" Poor little lamb !
your hand is quite well now ;
you had better guard your heart instead,'' murmured the
fairy godmother, stooping over this lovely figure and
smiling half kindly, half mournfully. Then rising, she
drew Ehoda a little aside, saying quietly :
" Wait here, my dear. He never will look at us.
IIark! r
Ehoda listened, and from the forest, whose tangled
trees grew almost into the windows of the sleeping palace,
she heard the shrill notes of the bagpiper still playing