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Now the old king happened just then to have nothing else to do;

so he amused himself by sitting at his kitchen window, looking at

what was going on; and he saw her in the courtyard. As she looked

very pretty, and too delicate for a waiting-maid, he went up into

the royal chamber to ask the bride who it was she had brought

with her, that was thus left standing in the court below. 'I

brought her with me for the sake of her company on the road,'

said she; 'pray give the girl some work to do, that she may not

be idle.' The old king could not for some time think of any work

for her to do; but at last he said, 'I have a lad who takes care

of my geese; she may go and help him.' Now the name of this lad,

that the real bride was to help in watching the king's geese, was

Curdken.