in than she could break through a stone wall. She wrung her hands
and shed tears, but then she recollected herself, and cried out,
'Wood, I charge you by my three magic gifts, the scissors, the
comb, and the reel--to let me through'; and it opened, and she
went along a walk till she came in sight of a palace, and a lawn,
and a woodman's cottage on the edge of the wood where it came
nearest the palace.

She went into the lodge, and asked the woodman and his wife to
take her into their service. They were not willing at first; but
she told them she would ask no wages, and would give them
diamonds, and pearls, and silk stuffs, and gold thread whenever
they wished for them, and then they agreed to let her stay.

It wasn't long till she heard how a young prince, that was just
arrived, was living in the palace of the young mistress. He
seldom stirred abroad, and every one that saw him remarked how
silent and sorrowful he went about, like a person that was
searching for some lost thing.

The servants and conceited folk at the big house began to take
notice of the beautiful young woman at the lodge, and to annoy
her with their impudence. The head footman was the most
troublesome, and at last she invited him to come and take tea
with her. Oh, how rejoiced he was, and how he bragged of it in
the servants' hall! Well, the evening came, and the footman
walked into the lodge, and was shown to her sitting-room; for the
lodge-keeper and his wife stood in great awe of her, and gave her
two nice rooms for herself. Well, he sat down as stiff as a
ramrod, and was talking in a grand style about the great doings