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 Rh to the wedding, and allow them to sit at our table." The queen and the bridegroom both willingly consented to this request.

The wedding-feast was beginning when in walked the three women, attired in the most wonderful dresses. The bride greeted them, and said, "Welcome, dear cousins," but the bridgroom could not help exclaiming, "How came you to have such ugly friends."

Then he went up to the first, and asked her what had given her such a broad foot.

"Turning the wheel," she answered.

Then he went to the second, and asked what had caused her to have such a large lip.

"Moistening the thread," she answered.

Then he went on to the third, and asked what made her thumb so broad.

"Twisting the thread," she answered.

"Then, "cried the prince, horrified at these answers, "my beautiful wife shall never go near a spinning-wheel again as long as she lives." And so, henceforth, she was rid of the hated task of spinning.