第241页 / 共626页

When the king came and saw this, he was greatly astonished and

pleased; but his heart grew still more greedy of gain, and he

shut up the poor miller's daughter again with a fresh task. Then

she knew not what to do, and sat down once more to weep; but the

dwarf soon opened the door, and said, 'What will you give me to

do your task?' 'The ring on my finger,' said she. So her little

friend took the ring, and began to work at the wheel again, and

whistled and sang:

'Round about, round about, Lo and behold! Reel away, reel away,

Straw into gold!'

till, long before morning, all was done again.