Gov. Flibbie, how heartless you are! And besides, how do you know that she has a pet rabbit?
Flib. She looks that sort of girl.
Hya. (to Alice). All that you hold dear is forfeited.
Alice. Spare me! Forgive me!
Hya. I would spare you, I would forgive you, but I am powerless to do so, except under one condition.
Alice. Oh, what is it? I promise faithfully to perform any condition.
Hya. I may not tell you. It is a secret entrusted to me, and only to me, by the Queen of the Fairies.
Gov. (to Hyacinthia). Mistress, have pity! Long, long ago, when I was a mortal child I disobeyed my Governess and came into Hyacinth Dell. For all these weary years I have borne the bitter punishment of being Governess to this Elf. I have lost every happiness, and there only remains the memory of the bright and golden days of my childhood to make me more unhappy still. Ah! do not doom poor Alice to such a fate as mine. I know that by the laws of Fairy Land the coming of this mortal child releases me from my dreadful post. I know that she will have to fill this, and that I shall be appointed to a lighter punishment; but rather than that she should suffer as I have suffered, ah! let me remain still a Governess, and set Alice free!
Hya. All your pleadings would have been in vain, but you yourself, unknowingly, have fulfilled the condition. Your loving words of self-denial have broken the charm, and Alice is free.
Alice. Free!