صفحة 606 من 626

But this time she kept away too long, and stayed beyond the

half-hour; so she had not time to take off her fine dress, and

threw her fur mantle over it, and in her haste did not blacken

herself all over with soot, but left one of her fingers white.

Then she ran into the kitchen, and cooked the king's soup; and as

soon as the cook was gone, she put the golden brooch into the

dish. When the king got to the bottom, he ordered Cat-skin to be

called once more, and soon saw the white finger, and the ring

that he had put on it whilst they were dancing: so he seized her

hand, and kept fast hold of it, and when she wanted to loose

herself and spring away, the fur cloak fell off a little on one

side, and the starry dress sparkled underneath it.