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And thus Snowdrop lay for a long, long time, and still only

looked as though she was asleep; for she was even now as white as

snow, and as red as blood, and as black as ebony. At last a

prince came and called at the dwarfs' house; and he saw Snowdrop,

and read what was written in golden letters. Then he offered the

dwarfs money, and prayed and besought them to let him take her

away; but they said, 'We will not part with her for all the gold

in the world.' At last, however, they had pity on him, and gave

him the coffin; but the moment he lifted it up to carry it home

with him, the piece of apple fell from between her lips, and

Snowdrop awoke, and said, 'Where am I?' And the prince said,

'Thou art quite safe with me.'