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。
