brothers lived there, and that they owned the beds and chairs and
spoons. So she began to make up the fire, and sweep the room and make
the beds and cook the dinner, and to make the house as tidy as she
could.

And when she had done all the work and the dinner was on the table she
suddenly heard something flapping and whirling in the air, and she
slipped behind the door. Then all the twelve ducks came sweeping in; but
as soon as ever they crossed the threshold they became Princes.

"Oh, how nice and warm it is here," they said, "Heaven bless him who
made up the fire and cooked such a nice dinner for us."

"But who can it be?" said the youngest Prince, and they all hunted both
high and low until they found the lassie behind the door. And she threw
her arms around their necks and said, "I'm your sister; I've gone about
seeking you these three years, and if I could set you free, I'd
willingly give my life."

Then all the brothers looked sorrowfully, one at the other, and they
shook their heads.

"No, it's too hard," said the eldest Prince, looking at the pretty young
Princess, "it's too hard," and again they sighed and shook their heads.

"Oh, tell me, only tell me," said the Princess, "how can it be done, and
I'll do it, whatever it be." And as she begged and pleaded for them to
tell her, the youngest brother said at last, "You must pick thistledown,
and you must card it, and spin it, and weave it. After you have done
that, you must cut out and make twelve shirts, one for each of us, and