of unkindness had not been uttered! "Kind fairy,
I thank thee!" she whispered to herself.

'The following day the same state of things continued. Many times before
its close did Elizabetha's hasty temper endeavour to express itself in
rash speech, but each time the tongue remained faithful to its new
mistress. Whenever Elizabetha attempted to speak hastily, the words that
issued from her lips were exactly the opposite of those she had
intended to utter; and as her real disposition was amiable and good, not
once did she regret the metamorphosis.

'Her parents, her brothers and sisters, and even the servants of the
family, were amazed and delighted at the change.

'"Go on as thou hast begun, my child," said her father, on the morning
of the day on which Elizabetha was again to meet the fairy, "and soon
the name of Elizabetha will be associated with gentleness and discretion
in speech as in deed."

'Elizabetha blushed. She would have liked to confess that the credit of
the improvement was not her own; but a moment's reflection reminded her
that she had not received permission to divulge the secret, and kissing
affectionately her father's hand, she thanked him for his encouragement.

'At the appointed hour she was on the spot, awaiting the fairy, who soon
appeared. A benignant smile overspread her features.

'"Well, Elizabetha," she said, "and hast thou found that I have deserved
thy gratitude?"

'"Kind fairy," cried the young girl, "I cannot thank thee enough. Ask of
me what thou wilt, I shall be only too ready to perform it."

'The fairy smiled. "My condition is a very simple one," she said. "It is
only this. Whenever, Elizabetha, you feel yourself in the least degree
discomposed or out of temper, utter no word till you have mentally
counted the magic number seven. And if you follow this rule, it will be
but seldom that your tongue, of which I now restore to you the full
control" (she touched it again with her wand as she spoke) "will lead
you into trouble. Your disposition, though generous, is naturally hasty
and impulsive, and till by a long course of self-restraint you have
acquired complete mastery over yourself, you will find that I was right
in my experiment of obliging your tongue to utter the exact opposite of
what you, in your first haste, would have expressed."

'And before Elizabetha could reply, she had disappeared.

'But Elizabetha kept her promise, and to thus following her fairy
friend's advice