The Fairy Godmothers. 55

painter, or a Mozart or a philofopher, Hermione?
what is the ufe of all your labour and poking ?’
What could I fay? I felt myfelf colour up, and I
laughed out, ‘ Vanity of vanities, faith the preacher,
all is vanity!’ Yet certainly God has fet before
us the things of earth in order that we may ad-
mire and find them out; and that is the an-
fwer to all fuch foolifh queftions!” And Her-
mione was turning to leave the room, but fhe
came back and faid—‘ Do you know, Mamma,
though you will laugh at the idea, I do think Au-
rora would be a very nice girl, and very happy,
if fhe either could grow very ugly all at once, or
if any thing in the world could make her forget her
beauty. —And,” added fhe, in a half whifper, “ if
there is any thing in Fairy lore, I could almoft
fancy fome cruel Fairy had owed her family a
grudge, and had given her this gift of exceflive
beauty on purpofe to be the plague and misfortune
of her life.”

%* * * * * * *

“© Enough, enough, and too much,” cried Eu-
phrofyne impatiently. The matter is now, I think,
concluded. Janthe and I have failed, and though
you are fuccefsful, Ambrofia, even you have not
come off without a rebuff. Now, farewell to—
earth. I am weary of it. I do not know your
gift, and I am fick of liftening to converfations I
cannot underftand. Let us begone. If we de-