Strona 127 z 626

But the old king begged so hard, that she had no peace till she

had told him all the tale, from beginning to end, word for word.

And it was very lucky for her that she did so, for when she had

done the king ordered royal clothes to be put upon her, and gazed

on her with wonder, she was so beautiful. Then he called his son

and told him that he had only a false bride; for that she was

merely a waiting-maid, while the true bride stood by. And the

young king rejoiced when he saw her beauty, and heard how meek

and patient she had been; and without saying anything to the

false bride, the king ordered a great feast to be got ready for

all his court. The bridegroom sat at the top, with the false

princess on one side, and the true one on the other; but nobody

knew her again, for her beauty was quite dazzling to their eyes;

and she did not seem at all like the little goose-girl, now that

she had her brilliant dress on.