the sentinels whether any one had entered the palace during the night? But they all answered that they had seen nobody. She came in this manner for several nights, but never spoke a word; and the nurse always saw her, but did not dare mention any thing about it. After a time, the queen began to speak in the night, and her words ran as follows: Twice more will I come, and then vanish at dawn.” The nurse made no answer, but when she had disappeared, she went and told the king what she had heard. "Gracious heavens!" exclaimed the king, "what can all this mean? To-morrow night I will keep watch myself by the baby's cradle." And accordingly, when evening came, the king went into the nursery, and towards midnight the queen appeared again, and murmured : Once more will I come, and then vanish at dawn." And she then nursed the baby as she was wont to do before she disappeared. The king did not venture to speak to her, but on the following night he sat up again, when she came, and said once more: "Say, how is my baby, and how is my fawn? For the last time I come, and shall vanish at dawn.” The king could now restrain himself no longer, and jumped up, crying, "You can be no other than my dear wife." "Yes," replied she, "I am your dear wife ;" and at the same moment, through Providence, she was restored to life, and was once more rosy and full of health. She then related to the king the crime the abominable witch and her daughter had committed. The king caused them both to be delivered up to justice, and the daughter was condemned to be carried into the forest, where the wild beasts tore her to pieces |