to go through the town, summoning every maiden to the palace. And
she whom the ring fitted would some day be queen.

First came all the princesses, then all the duchesses' daughters,
and so on, in proper order. But not one of them could slip the
ring over the tip of her finger, to the great joy of the prince,
whom excitement was fast curing. At last, when the high-born
damsels had failed, the shopgirls and chambermaids took their
turn; but with no better fortune.

‘Call in the scullions and shepherdesses,' commanded the prince;
but the sight of their fat, red fingers satisfied everybody.

‘There is not a woman left, your Highness,' said the chamberlain;
but the prince waved him aside.

‘Have you sent for "Donkey Skin," who made me the cake?' asked
he, and the courtiers began to laugh, and replied that they would
not have dared to introduce so dirty a creature into the palace.

‘Let some one go for her at once,' ordered the king. ‘ I
commanded the presence of every maiden, high or low, and I meant
it.'

The princess had heard the trumpets and the proclamations, and
knew quite well that her ring was at the bottom of it all. She,
too, had fallen in love with the prince in the brief glimpse she
had had of him, and trembled with fear lest someone else's finger
might be as small as her own. When, therefore, the messenger from
the palace rode up to the gate, she was nearly beside herself