Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 4).djvu/212

 but when she came to the well, and once more saw the lovely reflection there, she heaved a deep sigh and said, "I will no longer be a slave, for I am not ugly as I have always thought I was; on the contrary, I am lovely and charming, and it is ridiculous that I should be made to fetch water from the well!" With these words she broke the jug into a hundred pieces, and when she got home she told her mistress that a donkey had passed by, and had kicked the jug and broken it to pieces.

When the woman heard about this fresh accident she lost her temper, and, seizing a broom, she beat the girl to within an inch of her life, then handing her a leather bottle she said, "Now go as quickly as you can, you useless creature, and bring me back the bottle full of water. Don't dawdle on the way, and if anything happens this time, I'll give you another beating that you won't forget in a hurry."

The slave-girl ran with all her might back to the well and filled the bottle full of water, but once more catching sight of the lovely reflection, she said, "I would be a fool to go on drawing water; it would be far better and more fitting that I should marry. From this moment I refuse to serve my mistress any longer." With these words she took a pin that she wore in her hair and pierced the leather bottle with it, so that it became exactly like fountain, with the water spurting out in every direction. Here the fairy, who had been watching the black girl's ridiculous behaviour, could contain her mirth no longer, and burst into a hearty laugh.

When the slave heard the sound of laughter she looked to see where it came from, and, when she caught sight of the girl hidden in the tree, she said to herself, "So you are the cause of my mistress nearly beating me to death, are you? but wait a little, and I'll be even with you yet;" but to the fairy she said, "What are you doing up there, my beautiful maid?"

The fairy, who was politeness itself, told the black girl everything there was to tell, and ended up by saying she was going to marry a charming prince, and was only awaiting his return with a suitable escort and retinue to accompany him to his father's kingdom.

When the black slave heard this, a wicked plan entered into her head, and she said: "Oh, if you are expecting your bridegroom's return, let me come up beside you, and comb your locks in order to make you even fairer than you are."

The fairy answered: "You are most welcome to come," and stretched down her hand, which looked like a piece of crystal set in ebony, as she helped the slave up. As soon as the black creature began to comb the fairy's hair she stuck her hairpin into her skull, hoping in this way she would kill her on the spot. But as soon as the fairy felt the prick of the pin, she called out "Dove, dove!" and in a moment she was changed into a dove, and flew away right up into the sky.

When the Prince returned with his suite and train, he could hardly believe his eyes when he beheld, instead of the lovely maid he had left behind in the hollow or the tree, the form of the ugly black slave girl. But when the wicked creature perceived the Prince's distress and amazement she said:

"Don't be surprised, dear Prince, for it is I, your Lucia, but I have been bewitched by an evil magician, and turned from a fair and lovely maiden into the ugly black marble statue you see before you."

The poor Prince, not knowing how to help himself, made the best of a bad business, and after the black girl had got down from the tree, he had her dressed in the splendid clothes he had brought with him for his bride; and when she had been