CHAPTER III. OF SKIN-CHANGING



One thing must here be told: Whenas the said dame stood forth clad
amidst of the chamber the next morning, the child ran up to her to
greet her or what not, but straightway when she saw her close, drew
aback, and stood gasping with affright; for verily she deemed this
was nowise she who had brought her last night into the fair chamber,
and given bread and milk to her and put her to bed, but someone else.
For this one had not dark hair, and hooked nose, and eyen hawk-
bright; stark and tall was she indeed, as that other one, and by
seeming of the same-like age; but there came to an end all her
likeness to last night's housewife. This one had golden-red hair
flowing down from her head; eyes of hazel colour, long and not well-
opened, but narrow and sly. High of cheekbones she was, long-chinned
and thin-lipped; her skin was fine and white, but without ruddiness;
flat-breasted she was, and narrow-hipped.

Now she laughed at the babe's terror, and said, but in her old voice
at least: Thou foolish little beast! I know what scares thee, to
wit, that thou deemest me changed: now I tell thee that I am the one
who brought thee here last night, and fed thee; neither is my
changing a matter of thine, since at least I am the one who shall
keep thee from hunger and weather henceforward; that is enough for
thee to know as now. Now thou hast to eat and sleep and play and cry
out, that thou mayest the sooner wax, and grow into the doing of my
will.

Therewith she led her out into the sunshine, and tethered her to an