Page:Hansel and Gretel and other stories.djvu/258

CATSKIN Then she answered, "To tell the truth, I did not cook it, but Catskin did." "Then let Catskin come up," said the King; and when she came, he said to her, "Who are you?" "I am a poor child," said she, "who has lost both father and mother." "How came you in my palace?" asked he. "I am good for nothing," said she, "but to be scullion girl, and to have boots and shoes thrown at my head." "But how did you get the ring that was in the soup?" asked the King. But she would not own that she knew anything about the ring; so the King sent her away again about her business.

After a time there was another feast, and Catskin asked the cook to let her go up and see it as before. "Yes," said she, "but come back again in half an hour, and cook the King the soup that he likes so much." Then she ran to her little cabin, washed herself quickly, and took the dress out which was silvery as the moon, and put it on; and when she went in looking like a King's daughter, the King went up to her and rejoiced at seeing her again, and when the dance began he danced with her. After the dance was at an end, she managed to slip out so slyly that the King did not see where she was gone; but she sprang into her little cabin and made herself into Catskin again, and went into the kitchen to cook the soup. Whilst the cook was above, she got the golden necklace, and dropped it into the soup; then it was brought to the King, who

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