صفحة 603 من 626

But the king said, 'That is not true; it was better done than you

could do it.' Then he answered, 'To tell the truth I did not cook

it, but Cat-skin did.' 'Then let Cat-skin come up,' said the

king: and when she came he said to her, 'Who are you?' 'I am a

poor child,' said she, 'that 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. Then she would not own that she knew

anything about the ring; so the king sent her away again about

her business.