第5章

Earlythenextmorninghesettowork。Hisscythedancedthroughthegrassmuchmoreeasilythanhehadhoped，andsoonhehadenoughtofillthemanger。Heputitinthecrib，andreturnedwithasecondsupply，whentohishorrorhefoundthecribempty。

Thenheknewthatwithoutthemaiden’sadvicehewouldcertainlyhavebeenlost，andbegantoputitintopractice。Hetookouttherusheswhichhadsomehowgotmixedupwiththehay，andplaitedthemquickly。

’Myson，whatareyoudoing？’askedthehorsewonderingly。

’Oh，nothing！’repliedhe。’Justweavingachinstraptobindyourjawstogether，incaseyoumightwishtoeatanymore！’

Thewhitehorsesigheddeeplywhenitheardthis，andmadeupitsmindtobecontentwithwhatithadeaten。

Theyouthnextbegantocleanoutthestall，andthehorseknewithadfoundamaster;andbymid—daytherewasstillfodderinthemanger，andtheplacewasascleanasanewpin。Hehadbarelyfinishedwheninwalkedtheoldman，whostoodastonishedatthedoor。

’Isitreallyyouwhohavebeencleverenoughtodothat？’heasked。’Orhassomeoneelsegivenyouahint？’

’Oh，Ihavehadnohelp，’repliedtheprince，’exceptwhatmypoorweakheadcouldgiveme。’

Theoldmanfrowned，andwentaway，andtheprincerejoicedthateverythinghadturnedoutsowell。

Intheeveninghismastersaid，’To—morrowIhavenospecialtasktosetyou，butasthegirlhasagreatdealtodointhehouseyoumustmilktheblackcowforher。Buttakecareyoumilkherdry，oritmaybetheworseforyou。’

’Well，’thoughttheprinceashewentaway，’unlessthereissometrickbehind，thisdoesnotsoundveryhard。Ihavenevermilkedacowbefore，butIhavegoodstrongfingers。’

Hewasverysleepy，andwasjustgoingtowardhisroom，whenthemaidencametohimandasked:’Whatisyourtaskto—morrow？’

’Iamtohelpyou，’heanswered，’andhavenothingtodoallday，excepttomilktheblackcowdry。’

’Oh，youareunlucky，’criedshe。’Ifyouweretotryfrommorningtillnightyoucouldn’tdoit。Thereisonlyonewayofescapingthedanger，andthatis，whenyougotomilkher，takewithyouapanofburningcoalsandapairoftongs。Placethepanonthefloorofthestall，andthetongsonthefire，andblowwithallyourmight，tillthecoalsburnbrightly。Theblackcowwillaskyouwhatisthemeaningofallthis，andyoumustanswerwhatIwillwhispertoyou。’Andshestoodontip—toeandwhisperedsomethinginhisear，andthenwentaway。

Thedawnhadscarcelyreddenedtheskywhentheprincejumpedoutofbed，and，withthepanofcoalsinonehandandthemilkpailintheother，wentstraighttothecow’sstall，andbegantodoexactlyasthemaidenhadtoldhimtheeveningbefore。

Theblackcowwatchedhimwithsurpriseforsometime，andthensaid:’Whatareyoudoing，sonny？’

’Oh，nothing，’answeredhe;’IamonlyheatingapairoftongsincaseyoumaynotfeelinclinedtogiveasmuchmilkasIwant。’

Thecowsigheddeeply，andlookedatthemilkmanwithfear，buthetooknonotice，andmilkedbrisklyintothepail，tillthecowrandry。

Justatthatmomenttheoldmanenteredthestable，andsatdowntomilkthecowhimself，butnotadropofmilkcouldheget。

’Haveyoureallymanageditallyourself，ordidsomebodyhelpyou？’

’Ihavenobodytohelpme，’answeredtheprince，’butmyownpoorhead。’Theoldmangotupfromhisseatandwentaway。

Thatnight，whentheprincewenttohismastertohearwhathisnextday’sworkwastobe，theoldmansaid:’Ihavealittlehay—stackoutinthemeadowwhichmustbebroughtintodry。

To—morrowyouwillhavetostackitallintheshed，and，asyouvalueyourlife，becarefulnottoleavethesmalleststrandbehind。’Theprincewasoverjoyedtohearhehadnothingworsetodo。

’Tocarryalittlehay—rickrequiresnogreatskill，’thoughthe，’anditwillgivemenotrouble，forthehorsewillhavetodrawitin。Iamcertainlynotgoingtosparetheoldgrandmother。’

By—and—bythemaidenstoleuptoaskwhattaskhehadforthenextday。

Theyoungmanlaughed，andsaid:’ItappearsthatIhavegottolearnallkindsoffarmer’swork。To—morrowIhavetocarryahay—rick，andleavenotastalkinthemeadow，andthatismywholeday’swork！’

’Oh，youunluckycreature！’criedshe;’andhowdoyouthinkyouaretodoit。Ifyouhadallthemenintheworldtohelpyou，youcouldnotclearoffthisonelittlehay—rickinaweek。Theinstantyouhavethrowndownthehayatthetop，itwilltakerootagainfrombelow。ButlistentowhatIsay。Youmuststealoutatdaybreakto—morrowandbringoutthewhitehorseandsomegoodstrongropes。Thengetonthehay—stack，puttheropesroundit，andharnessthehorsetotheropes。Whenyouareready，climbupthehay—stackandbegintocountone，two，three。

Thehorsewillaskyouwhatyouarecounting，andyoumustbesuretoanswerwhatIwhispertoyou。’

Sothemaidenwhisperedsomethinginhisear，andlefttheroom。

Andtheprinceknewnothingbettertodothantogetintobed。

Hesleptsoundly，anditwasstillalmostdarkwhenhegotupandproceededtocarryouttheinstructionsgivenhimbythegirl。

Firsthechosesomestoutropes，andthenheledthehorseoutofthestableandrodeittothehay—stack，whichwasmadeupoffiftycartloads，sothatitcouldhardlybecalled’alittleone。’Theprincedidallthatthemaidenhadtoldhim，andwhenatlasthewasseatedontopoftherick，andhadcounteduptotwenty，heheardthehorseaskinamazement:’Whatareyoucountingupthere，myson？’

’Oh，nothing，’saidhe，’Iwasjustamusingmyselfwithcountingthepacksofwolvesintheforest，buttherearereallysomanyofthemthatIdon’tthinkIshouldeverbedone。’

Theword’wolf’washardlyoutofhismouththanthewhitehorsewasofflikethewind，sothatinthetwinklingofaneyeithadreachedtheshed，draggingthehay—stackbehindit。Themasterwasdumbwithsurpriseashecameinafterbreakfastandfoundhisman’sday’sworkquitedone。

’Wasitreallyyouwhoweresoclever？’askedhe。’Ordidsomeonegiveyougoodadvice？’

’Oh，Ihaveonlymyselftotakecounselwith，’saidtheprince，andtheoldmanwentaway，shakinghishead。

Lateintheeveningtheprincewenttohismastertolearnwhathewastodonextday。

’To—morrow，’saidtheoldman，’youmustbringthewhite—headedcalftothemeadow，and，asyouvalueyourlife，takecareitdoesnotescapefromyou。’

Theprinceanswerednothing，butthought，’Well，mostpeasantsofnineteenhavegotawholeherdtolookafter，sosurelyIcanmanageone。’Andhewenttowardshisroom，wherethemaidenmethim。

’TomorrowIhavegotanidiot’swork，’saidhe;’nothingbuttotakethewhite—headedcalftothemeadow。’

’Oh，youunluckybeing！’sighedshe。’Doyouknowthatthiscalfissoswiftthatinasingledayhecanrunthreetimesroundtheworld？TakeheedtowhatItellyou。Bindoneendofthissilkthreadtotheleftfore—legofthecalf，andtheotherendtothelittletoeofyourleftfoot，sothatthecalfwillneverbeabletoleaveyourside，whetheryouwalk，stand，orlie。’Afterthistheprincewenttobedandsleptsoundly。

Thenextmorninghedidexactlywhatthemaidenhadtoldhim，andledthecalfwiththesilkenthreadtothemeadow，whereitstucktohissidelikeafaithfuldog。

Bysunset，itwasbackagaininitsstall，andthencamethemasterandsaid，withafrown，’Wereyoureallysocleveryourself，ordidsomebodytellyouwhattodo？’

’Oh，Ihaveonlymyownpoorhead，’answeredtheprince，andtheoldmanwentawaygrowling，’Idon’tbelieveawordofit！Iamsureyouhavefoundsomecleverfriend！’

Intheeveninghecalledtheprinceandsaid:’To—morrowIhavenoworkforyou，butwhenIwakeyoumustcomebeforemybed，andgivemeyourhandingreeting。’

Theyoungmanwonderedatthisstrangefreak，andwentlaughinginsearchofthemaiden。

’Ah，itisnolaughingmatter，’sighedshe。’Hemeanstoeatyou，andthereisonlyonewayinwhichIcanhelpyou。Youmustheatanironshovelredhot，andholditouttohiminsteadofyourhand。’

Sonextmorninghewakenedveryearly，andhadheatedtheshovelbeforetheoldmanwasawake。Atlengthheheardhimcalling，’Youlazyfellow，whereareyou？Comeandwishmegoodmorning。’

Butwhentheprinceenteredwiththered—hotshovelhismasteronlysaid，’Iamveryillto—day，andtooweakeventotouchyourhand。Youmustreturnthisevening，whenImaybebetter。’

Theprinceloiteredaboutallday，andintheeveningwentbacktotheoldman’sroom。Hewasreceivedinthemost;friendlymanner，and，tohissurprise，hismasterexclaimed，’Iamverywellsatisfiedwithyou。Cometomeatdawnandbringthemaidenwithyou。Iknowyouhavelonglovedeachother，andIwishtomakeyoumanandwife。’

Theyoungmannearlyjumpedintotheairforjoy，but，rememberingtherulesofthehouse，hemanagedtokeepstill。

Whenhetoldthemaiden，hesawtohisastonishmentthatshehadbecomeaswhiteasasheet，andshewasquitedumb。

’Theoldmanhasfoundoutwhowasyourcounsellor，’shesaidwhenshecouldspeak，’andhemeanstodestroyusboth。’Wemustescapesomehow，orelseweshallbelost。Takeanaxe，andcutofftheheadofthecalfwithoneblow。Withasecond，splititsheadintwo，andinitsbrainyouwillseeabrightredball。

Bringthattome。Meanwhile，Iwilldowhatisneedfulhere。

Andtheprincethoughttohimself，’Betterkillthecalfthanbekilledourselves。Ifwecanonceescape，wewillgobackhome。

ThepeaswhichIstrewedaboutmusthavesprouted，sothatweshallnotmisstheway。’

Thenhewentintothestall，andwithoneblowoftheaxekilledthecalf，andwiththesecondsplititsbrain。Inaninstanttheplacewasfilledwithlight，astheredballfellfromthebrainofthecalf。Theprincepickeditup，and，wrappingitroundwithathickcloth，hiditinhisbosom。Mercifully，thecowsleptthroughitall，orbyhercriesshewouldhaveawakenedthemaster。

Helookedround，andatthedoorstoodthemaiden，holdingalittlebundleinherarms。

’Whereistheball？’sheasked。

’Here，’answeredhe。

’Wemustlosenotimeinescaping，’shewenton，anduncoveredatinybitoftheshiningball，tolightthemontheirway。

Astheprincehadexpectedthepeashadtakenroot，andgrownintoalittlehedge，sothattheyweresuretheywouldnotlosethepath。Astheyfled，thegirltoldhimthatshehadoverheardaconversationbetweentheoldmanandhisgrandmother，sayingthatshewasaking’sdaughter，whomtheoldfellowhadobtainedbycunningfromherparents。Theprince，whoknewallabouttheaffair，wassilent，thoughhewasgladfromhisheartthatithadfallentohislottosetherfree。Sotheywentontillthedaybegantodawn。

Theoldmansleptverylatethatmorning，andrubbedhiseyestillhewasproperlyawake。Thenherememberedthatverysoonthecoupleweretopresentthemselvesbeforehim。Afterwaitingandwaitingtillquitealongtimehadpassed，hesaidtohimself，withagrin，’Well，theyarenotinmuchhurrytobemarried，’andwaitedagain。

Atlasthegrewalittleuneasy，andcriedloudly，’Manandmaid！

whathasbecomeofyou？’

Afterrepeatingthismanytimes，hebecamequitefrightened，but，callashewould，neithermannormaidappeared。Atlasthejumpedangrilyoutofbedtogoinsearchoftheculprits，butonlyfoundanemptyhouse，andbedsthathadneverbeensleptin。

Thenhewentstraighttothestable，wherethesightofthedeadcalftoldhimall。Swearingloudly，heopenedthedoorofthethirdstallquickly，andcriedtohisgoblinservantstogoandchasethefugitives。’Bringthemtome，howeveryoumayfindthem，forhavethemImust！’hesaid。Sospaketheoldman，andtheservantsfledlikethewind。

Therunawayswerecrossingagreatplain，whenthemaidenstopped。’Somethinghashappened！’shesaid。’Theballmovesinmyhand，andI’msurewearebeingfollowed！’andbehindthemtheysawablackcloudflyingbeforethewind。Thenthemaidenturnedtheballthriceinherhand，andcried，’Listentome，myball，myball。

Bequickandchangemeintoabrook，Andmyloverintoalittlefish。’

Andinaninstanttherewasabrookwithafishswimminginit。

Thegoblinsarrivedjustafter，but，seeingnobody，waitedforalittle，thenhurriedhome，leavingthebrookandthefishundisturbed。Whentheywerequiteoutofsight，thebrookandthefishreturnedtotheirusualshapesandproceededontheirjourney。

Whenthegoblins，tiredandwithemptyhands，returned，theirmasterinquiredwhattheyhadseen，andifnothingstrangehadbefallenthem。

’Nothing，’saidthey;’theplainwasquiteempty，saveforabrookandafishswimminginit。’

’Idiots！’roaredthemaster;’ofcourseitwasthey！’Anddashingopenthedoorofthefifthstall，hetoldthegoblinsinsidethattheymustgoanddrinkupthebrook，andcatchthefish。Andthegoblinsjumpedup，andflewlikethewind。

Theyoungpairhadalmostreachedtheedgeofthewood，whenthemaidenstoppedagain。’Somethinghashappened，’saidshe。’Theballismovinginmyhand，’andlookingroundshebeheldacloudflyingtowardsthem，largeandblackerthanthefirst，andstripedwithred。’Thoseareourpursuers，’criedshe，andturningtheballthreetimesinherhandshespoketoitthus:

’Listentome，myball，myball。

Bequickandchangeusboth。

Meintoawildrosebush，Andhimintoaroseonmystem。’

Andinthetwinklingofaneyeitwasdone。Onlyjustintimetoo，forthegoblinswerecloseathand，andlookedroundeagerlyforthestreamandthefish。Butneitherstreamnorfishwastobeseen;nothingbutarosebush。Sotheywentsorrowinghome，andwhentheywereoutofsighttherosebushandrosereturnedtotheirpropershapesandwalkedallthefasterforthelittleresttheyhadhad。

’Well，didyoufindthem？’askedtheoldmanwhenhisgoblinscameback。

’No，’repliedtheleaderofthegoblins，’wefoundneitherbrooknorfishinthedesert。’

’Anddidyoufindnothingelseatall？’

’Oh，nothingbutarosetreeontheedgeofawood，witharosehangingonit。’

’Idiots！’criedhe。’Why，thatwasthey。’Andhethrewopenthedooroftheseventhstall，wherehismightiestgoblinswerelockedin。’Bringthemtome，howeveryoufindthem，deadoralive！’thunderedhe，’forIwillhavethem！Tearuptherosetreeandtherootstoo，anddon’tleaveanythingbehind，howeverstrangeitmaybe！’

Thefugitiveswererestingintheshadeofawood，andwererefreshingthemselveswithfoodanddrink。Suddenlythemaidenlookedup。’Somethinghashappened，’saidshe。’Theballhasnearlyjumpedoutofmybosom！Someoneiscertainlyfollowingus，andthedangerisnear，butthetreeshideourenemiesfromus。’

Asshespokeshetooktheballinherhand，andsaid:

’Listentome，myball，myball。

Bequickandchangemeintoabreeze，Andmakemyloverintoamidge。’

Aninstant，andthegirlwasdissolvedintothinair，whiletheprincedartedaboutlikeamidge。Thenextmomentacrowdofgoblinsrushedup，andlookedaboutinsearchofsomethingstrange，forneitherarosebushnoranythingelsewastobeseen。Buttheyhadhardlyturnedtheirbackstogohomeempty—handedwhentheprinceandthemaidenstoodontheearthagain。

’Wemustmakeallthehastewecan，’saidshe，’beforetheoldmanhimselfcomestoseekus，forhewillknowusunderanydisguise。’

Theyranontilltheyreachedsuchadarkpartoftheforestthat，ifithadnotbeenforthelightshedbytheball，theycouldnothavemadetheirwayatall。Wornoutandbreathless，theycameatlengthtoalargestone，andheretheballbegantomoverestlessly。Themaiden，seeingthis，exclaimed:

’Listentome，myball，myball。

Rollthestonequicklytooneside，Thatwemayfindadoor。’

Andinamomentthestonehadrolledaway，andtheyhadpassedthroughthedoortotheworldagain。

’Nowwearesafe，’criedshe。’Heretheoldwizardhasnomorepoweroverus，andwecanguardourselvesfromhisspells。But，myfriend，wehavetopart！Youwillreturntoyourparents，andImustgoinsearchofmine。’

’No！no！’exclaimedtheprince。’Iwillneverpartfromyou。

Youmustcomewithmeandbemywife。Wehavegonethroughmanytroublestogether，andnowwewillshareourjoys。Themaidenresistedhiswordsforsometime，butatlastshewentwithhim。

Intheforesttheymetawoodcutter，whotoldthemthatinthepalace，aswellasinalltheland，therehadbeengreatsorrowoverthelossoftheprince，andmanyyearshadnowpassedawayduringwhichtheyhadfoundnotracesofhim。So，bythehelpofthemagicball，themaidenmanagedthatheshouldputonthesameclothesthathehadbeenwearingatthetimehehadvanished，sothathisfathermightknowhimmorequickly。Sheherselfstayedbehindinapeasant’shut，sothatfatherandsonmightmeetalone。

Butthefatherwasnolongerthere，forthelossofhissonhadkilledhim;andonhisdeathbedheconfessedtohispeoplehowhehadcontrivedthattheoldwizardshouldcarryawayapeasant’schildinsteadoftheprince，whereforethispunishmenthadfallenuponhim。

Theprinceweptbitterlywhenheheardthisnews，forhehadlovedhisfatherwell，andforthreedaysheateanddranknothing。Butonthefourthdayhestoodinthepresenceofhispeopleastheirnewking，and，callinghiscouncillors，hetoldthemallthestrangethingsthathadbefallenhim，andhowthemaidenhadbornehimsafethroughall。

Andthecouncillorscriedwithonevoice，’Letherbeyourwife，andourliegelady。’

Andthatistheendofthestory。

[EhstnischeMarchen。]

THECHILDWHOCAMEFROMANEGG

Onceuponatimetherelivedaqueenwhoseheartwassorebecauseshehadnochildren。Shewassadenoughwhenherhusbandwasathomewithher，butwhenhewasawayshewouldseenobody，butsatandweptalldaylong。

Nowithappenedthatawarbrokeoutwiththekingofaneighbouringcountry，andthequeenwasleftinthepalacealone。

Shewassounhappythatshefeltasifthewallswouldstifleher，soshewanderedoutintothegarden，andthrewherselfdownonagrassybank，undertheshadeofalimetree。Shehadbeenthereforsometime，whenarustleamongtheleavescausedhertolookup，andshesawanoldwomanlimpingonhercrutchestowardsthestreamthatflowedthroughthegrounds。

Whenshehadquenchedherthirst，shecamestraightuptothequeen，andsaidtoher:’Donottakeitevil，noblelady，thatI

daretospeaktoyou，anddonotbeafraidofme，foritmaybethatIshallbringyougoodluck。’

Thequeenlookedatherdoubtfully，andanswered:’Youdonotseemasifyouhadbeenveryluckyyourself，ortohavemuchgoodfortunetospareforanyoneelse。’

’Underroughbarkliessmoothwoodandsweetkernel，’repliedtheoldwoman。’Letmeseeyourhand，thatImayreadthefuture。’

Thequeenheldoutherhand，andtheoldwomanexamineditslinesclosely。Thenshesaid，’Yourheartisheavywithtwosorrows，oneoldandonenew。Thenewsorrowisforyourhusband，whoisfightingfarawayfromyou;but，believeme，heiswell，andwillsoonbringyoujoyfulnews。Butyourothersorrowismucholderthanthis。Yourhappinessisspoiltbecauseyouhavenochildren。’Atthesewordsthequeenbecamescarlet，andtriedtodrawawayherhand，buttheoldwomansaid:

’Havealittlepatience，fortherearesomethingsIwanttoseemoreclearly。’

’Butwhoareyou？’askedthequeen，’foryouseemtobeabletoreadmyheart。’

’Nevermindmyname，’answeredshe，’butrejoicethatitispermittedtometoshowyouawaytolessenyourgrief。Youmust，however，promisetodoexactlywhatItellyou，ifanygoodistocomeofit。’

’Oh，Iwillobeyyouexactly，’criedthequeen，’andifyoucanhelpmeyoushallhaveinreturnanythingyouaskfor。’

Theoldwomanstoodthinkingforalittle:thenshedrewsomethingfromthefoldsofherdress，and，undoinganumberofwrappings，broughtoutatinybasketmadeofbirch—bark。Shehelditouttothequeen，saying，’Inthebasketyouwillfindabird’segg。Thisyoumustbecarefultokeepinawarmplaceforthreemonths，whenitwillturnintoadoll。Laythedollinabasketlinedwithsoftwool，andleaveitalone，foritwillnotneedanyfood，andby—and—byyouwillfindithasgrowntobethesizeofababy。Thenyouwillhaveababyofyourown，andyoumustputitbythesideoftheotherchild，andbringyourhusbandtoseehissonanddaughter。Theboyyouwillbringupyourself，butyoumustentrustthelittlegirltoanurse。Whenthetimecomestohavethemchristenedyouwillinvitemetobegodmothertotheprincess，andthisishowyoumustsendtheinvitation。Hiddeninthecradle，youwillfindagoose’swing:

throwthisoutofthewindow，andIwillbewithyoudirectly;

butbesureyoutellnooneofallthethingsthathavebefallenyou。’

Thequeenwasabouttoreply，buttheoldwomanwasalreadylimpingaway，andbeforeshehadgonetwostepsshehadturnedintoayounggirl，whomovedsoquicklythatsheseemedrathertoflythantowalk。Thequeen，watchingthistransformation，couldhardlybelievehereyes，andwouldhavetakenitallforadream，haditnotbeenforthebasketwhichsheheldinherhand。

Feelingadifferentbeingfromthepoorsadwomanwhohadwanderedintothegardensoshortatimebefore，shehastenedtoherroom，andfeltcarefullyinthebasketfortheegg。Thereitwas，atinythingofsoftbluewithlittlegreenspots，andshetookitoutandkeptitinherbosom，whichwasthewarmestplaceshecouldthinkof。

Afortnightaftertheoldwomanhadpaidhervisit，thekingcamehome，havingconqueredhisenemies。Atthisproofthattheoldwomanhadspokentruth，thequeen’sheartbounded，forshenowhadfreshhopesthattherestoftheprophecymightbefulfilled。

Shecherishedthebasketandtheeggasherchiefesttreasures，andhadagoldencasemadeforthebasket，sothatwhenthetimecametolaytheegginit，itmightnotriskanyharm。

Threemonthspassed，and，astheoldwomanhadbiddenher，thequeentooktheeggfromherbosom，andlaiditsnuglyamidstthewarmwoollenfolds。Thenextmorningshewenttolookatit，andthefirstthingshesawwasthebrokeneggshell，andalittledolllyingamongthepieces。Thenshefelthappyatlast，andleavingthedollinpeacetogrow，waited，asshehadbeentold，forababyofherowntolaybesideit。

Incourseoftime，thiscamealso，andthequeentookthelittlegirloutofthebasket，andplaceditwithhersoninagoldencradlewhichglitteredwithpreciousstones。Nextshesentfortheking，whonearlywentmadwithjoyatthesightofthechildren。

Soontherecameadaywhenthewholecourtwasorderedtobepresentatthechristeningoftheroyalbabies，andwhenallwasreadythequeensoftlyopenedthewindowalittle，andletthegoosewingflyout。Theguestswerecomingthickandfast，whensuddenlytheredroveupasplendidcoachdrawnbysixcream—colouredhorses，andoutofitsteppedayoungladydressedingarmentsthatshonelikethesun。Herfacecouldnotbeseen，foraveilcoveredherhead，butasshecameuptotheplacewherethequeenwasstandingwiththebabiesshedrewtheveilaside，andeveryonewasdazzledwithherbeauty。Shetookthelittlegirlinherarms，andholdingitupbeforetheassembledcompanyannouncedthathenceforwarditwouldbeknownbythenameofDotterine——anamewhichnooneunderstoodbutthequeen，whoknewthatthebabyhadcomefromtheyolkofanegg。TheboywascalledWillem。

Afterthefeastwasoverandtheguestsweregoingaway，thegodmotherlaidthebabyinthecradle，andsaidtothequeen，’Wheneverthebabygoestosleep，besureyoulaythebasketbesideher，andleavetheeggshellsinit。Aslongasyoudothat，noevilcancometoher;soguardthistreasureastheappleofyoureye，andteachyourdaughtertodosolikewise。’

Then，kissingthebabythreetimes，shemountedhercoachanddroveaway。

Thechildrenthrovewell，andDotterine’snurselovedherasifshewerethebaby’srealmother。Everydaythelittlegirlseemedtogrowprettier，andpeopleusedtosayshewouldsoonbeasbeautifulashergodmother，butnooneknew，exceptthenurse，thatatnight，whenthechildslept，astrangeandlovelyladybentoverher。Atlengthshetoldthequeenwhatshehadseen，buttheydeterminedtokeepitasasecretbetweenthemselves。

Thetwinswerebythistimenearlytwoyearsold，whenthequeenwastakensuddenlyill。Allthebestdoctorsinthecountryweresentfor，butitwasnouse，forthereisnocurefordeath。Thequeenknewshewasdying，andsentforDotterineandhernurse，whohadnowbecomeherlady—in—waiting。Toher，ashermostfaithfulservant，shegavetheluckybasketincharge，andbesoughthertotreasureitcarefully。’Whenmydaughter，’saidthequeen，’istenyearsold，youaretohanditovertoher，butwarnhersolemnlythatherwholefuturehappinessdependsonthewaysheguardsit。Aboutmyson，Ihavenofears。Heistheheirofthekingdom，andhisfatherwilllookafterhim。’Thelady—in—waitingpromisedtocarryoutthequeen’sdirections，andabovealltokeeptheaffairasecret。Andthatsamemorningthequeendied。

Aftersomeyearsthekingmarriedagain，buthedidnotlovehissecondwifeashehaddonehisfirst，andhadonlymarriedherforreasonsofambition。Shehatedherstep—children，andtheking，seeingthis，keptthemoutoftheway，underthecareofDotterine’soldnurse。Butiftheyeverstrayedacrossthepathofthequeen，shewouldkickthemoutofhersightlikedogs。

OnDotterine’stenthbirthdayhernursehandedheroverthecradle，andrepeatedtoherhermother’sdyingwords;butthechildwastooyoungtounderstandthevalueofsuchagift，andatfirstthoughtlittleaboutit。