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THE PRINCESS IN THE CAT-SKINS. 83
was a stranger, and alone in the world. He got off his
horse, and walked side by side with her to his palace, for
he was the young king of that country.
He sent for his housekeeper when he came to the hall-
door, and bid her employ the young girl about whatever
she was fit for, and then set off to follow the hounds again.
Well, there was great tittering in the servants' hall among
the maids at her colour and her dress, and the ganders of
footmen would like to be joking Avith her, but she made
no freedom with one or the other, and when the butler
thought to give her a kiss, she gave him a light slap on the
jaw that wouldn't kill a fly, but he felt as if a toothache was
at him for eight and forty-hours. By my word, the other
buckeens did not give her an excuse to raise her hand to
them. Well, she was so silent and kept herself to herself
so much, that she was no favourite, and they gave her
nothing better to do than help the scullery maid, and at
night she had to put up with a little box of a place under
the stairs for a bed-room.
The next day, when the prince returned from hunting, he
sent word to the housekeeper by the whipper-in to let the
new servant bring him up a basin and towel till he'd wash
before dinner. "Oh, ho !" says the cook, " there's an honour
for Cat-skin. I'm here for forty years and never was asked
to do such a thing ; how grand we are ! purslmin to all
impedent people !" The princess didn't mind their jibes
and their jeers. She took up the things, and the prince
delayed her ever so long with remarks and questions, striv-
ing to get out of her what rank of life she was born in.
As little as she said he guessed her to be a lady. I suppose
it is as hard for a lady or gentleman to pass for a vulgarian,
as for one of us to act like one of the quality. Well to be
sure ! all the cold and scornful noses that were in the big
kitchen before her ; and it was, " Cat-skin, will you hand
me this ? Cat-skin, will you grease my shoes ] Cat-skin,
will you draw a jug of beer for me 1" And she done every-
thing she was asked without a word or a sour look.
Xext night the prince was at a ball about three miles
away, and the princess got leave from the housekeeper to go
early to bed. Well, she couldn't get herself to lie down :
6*
was a stranger, and alone in the world. He got off his
horse, and walked side by side with her to his palace, for
he was the young king of that country.
He sent for his housekeeper when he came to the hall-
door, and bid her employ the young girl about whatever
she was fit for, and then set off to follow the hounds again.
Well, there was great tittering in the servants' hall among
the maids at her colour and her dress, and the ganders of
footmen would like to be joking Avith her, but she made
no freedom with one or the other, and when the butler
thought to give her a kiss, she gave him a light slap on the
jaw that wouldn't kill a fly, but he felt as if a toothache was
at him for eight and forty-hours. By my word, the other
buckeens did not give her an excuse to raise her hand to
them. Well, she was so silent and kept herself to herself
so much, that she was no favourite, and they gave her
nothing better to do than help the scullery maid, and at
night she had to put up with a little box of a place under
the stairs for a bed-room.
The next day, when the prince returned from hunting, he
sent word to the housekeeper by the whipper-in to let the
new servant bring him up a basin and towel till he'd wash
before dinner. "Oh, ho !" says the cook, " there's an honour
for Cat-skin. I'm here for forty years and never was asked
to do such a thing ; how grand we are ! purslmin to all
impedent people !" The princess didn't mind their jibes
and their jeers. She took up the things, and the prince
delayed her ever so long with remarks and questions, striv-
ing to get out of her what rank of life she was born in.
As little as she said he guessed her to be a lady. I suppose
it is as hard for a lady or gentleman to pass for a vulgarian,
as for one of us to act like one of the quality. Well to be
sure ! all the cold and scornful noses that were in the big
kitchen before her ; and it was, " Cat-skin, will you hand
me this ? Cat-skin, will you grease my shoes ] Cat-skin,
will you draw a jug of beer for me 1" And she done every-
thing she was asked without a word or a sour look.
Xext night the prince was at a ball about three miles
away, and the princess got leave from the housekeeper to go
early to bed. Well, she couldn't get herself to lie down :
6*
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| Early Gaelic Book Collections > J. F. Campbell Collection > Fireside stories of Ireland > (101) |
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| Permanent URL | https://digital.nls.uk/79184272 |
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| Description | By Patrick Kennedy. |
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| Shelfmark | Cam.1.f.17 |
| Additional NLS resources: | |
| Attribution and copyright: |
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More information
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| Description | Volumes from a collection of 610 books rich in Highland folklore, Ossianic literature and other Celtic subjects. Many of the books annotated by John Francis Campbell of Islay, who assembled the collection. |
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| Description | Selected items from five 'Special and Named Printed Collections'. Includes books in Gaelic and other Celtic languages, works about the Gaels, their languages, literature, culture and history. |
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