Pagina 293 de 626

what a lovely child she is!' And they were very glad to see her,

and took care not to wake her; and the seventh dwarf slept an

hour with each of the other dwarfs in turn, till the night was

gone.

In the morning Snowdrop told them all her story; and they pitied

her, and said if she would keep all things in order, and cook and

wash and knit and spin for them, she might stay where she was,

and they would take good care of her. Then they went out all day

long to their work, seeking for gold and silver in the mountains:

but Snowdrop was left at home; and they warned her, and said,

'The queen will soon find out where you are, so take care and let

no one in.'

But the queen, now that she thought Snowdrop was dead, believed

that she must be the handsomest lady in the land; and she went to

her glass and said:

'Tell me, glass, tell me true! Of all the ladies in the land, Who

is fairest, tell me, who?'

And the glass answered: