Page:Fairy tales and stories (Andersen, Tegner).djvu/313

Rh the street were singing mocking ditties about her. Not a soul came near her to comfort her with a kind word.

Toward evening she heard the rustling of a swan's wings near the window grating; it was the youngest of her brothers who had discovered his sister. She sobbed loudly for joy, although she knew that the coming night would probably be her last, but now her work was almost completed, and her brothers were near her.



The archbishop came to remain with her during her last hour—this he had promised the king; but she shook her head—yes!—and begged him by looks and signs to go away. She must finish her work that night, otherwise everything would be in vain—everything—her sufferings, her tears, and her sleepless nights. The archbishop left her with angry words, but poor Elisa knew that she was innocent, and went on with her work.

The little mice ran about on the floor and dragged the nettles to her feet, wanting to be of some help to her, and a thrush settled itself near the window grating and sang the whole night as merrily as it could, so that she should not lose courage.

The day was only just breaking; it was about an hour before sunrise when the eleven brothers appeared at the gate of the palace and asked to be conducted to the king, but they were told it could not be