Opening, part 10 · page 21 2101For many weeks the mistress shut herself up in her room, and the girl went about her work as usual.102She hoped that there was an end to the difficult tasks which had been set her; but in this she was mistaken, for one day the old woman appeared suddenly in the kitchen, and said to her:103'There is one more trial to which I must put you, and if you do not fail in that you will be left in peace for evermore.104Here are the yarns which you washed.105Take them and weave them into a web that is as smooth as a king's robe, and see that it is spun by the time that the sun sets.'106'This is the easiest thing I have been set to do,' thought the girl, who was a good spinner.107But when she began she found that the skein tangled and broke every moment.108'Oh, I can never do it!' she cried at last, and leaned her head against the loom and wept; but at that instant the door opened, and there entered, one behind another, a procession of cats.109'What is the matter, fair maiden?' asked they.110And the girl answered:111'My mistress has given me this yarn to weave into a piece of cloth, which must be finished by sunset, and I have not even begun yet, for the yarn breaks whenever I touch it.'112'If that is all, dry your eyes,' said the cats; 'we will manage it for you.'113And they jumped on the loom, and wove so fast and so skilfully that in a very short time the cloth was ready and was as fine as any king ever wore.114The girl was so delighted at the sight of it that she gave each cat a kiss on his forehead as they left the room behind one the other as they had come.115'Who has taught you this wisdom?' asked the old woman, after she had passed her hands twice or thrice over the cloth and could find no roughness anywhere.116But the girl only smiled and did not answer.117She had learned early the value of silence.118After a few weeks the old woman sent for her maid and told her that as her year of service was now up, she was free to return home, but that, for her part, the girl had served her so well that she hoped she might stay with her.119But at these words the maid shook her head, and answered gently:120'I have been happy here, Madam, and I thank you for your goodness to me; but I have left behind me a stepsister and a stepmother, and I am fain to be with them once more.'121The old woman looked at her for a moment, and then she said:122'Well, that must be as you like; but as you have worked faithfully for me I will give you a reward.123Go now into the loft above the store house and there you will find many caskets.124Choose the one which pleases you best, but be careful not to open it till you have set it in the place where you wish it to remain.'1 2← previousOpening, part 9next →Opening, part 11↑ back to The Orange Fairy BookThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3027/10/page/2/