صفحة 244 من 626

The second day she began with all the comical names she could

hear of, BANDY-LEGS, HUNCHBACK, CROOK-SHANKS, and so on; but the

little gentleman still said to every one of them, 'Madam, that is

not my name.'

The third day one of the messengers came back, and said, 'I have

travelled two days without hearing of any other names; but

yesterday, as I was climbing a high hill, among the trees of the

forest where the fox and the hare bid each other good night, I

saw a little hut; and before the hut burnt a fire; and round

about the fire a funny little dwarf was dancing upon one leg, and

singing:

"Merrily the feast I'll make. Today I'll brew, tomorrow bake;

Merrily I'll dance and sing, For next day will a stranger bring.

Little does my lady dream Rumpelstiltskin is my name!"