صفحة 295 من 626

Let me lace them up with one of my nice new laces.' Snowdrop did

not dream of any mischief; so she stood before the old woman; but

she set to work so nimbly, and pulled the lace so tight, that

Snowdrop's breath was stopped, and she fell down as if she were

dead. 'There's an end to all thy beauty,' said the spiteful

queen, and went away home.

In the evening the seven dwarfs came home; and I need not say how

grieved they were to see their faithful Snowdrop stretched out

upon the ground, as if she was quite dead. However, they lifted

her up, and when they found what ailed her, they cut the lace;

and in a little time she began to breathe, and very soon came to

life again. Then they said, 'The old woman was the queen herself;

take care another time, and let no one in when we are away.'

When the queen got home, she went straight to her glass, and

spoke to it as before; but to her great grief it still said: