Английские волшебные сказки 2 страница

Well, when the girl heard this, she felt as if she could have jumped out of her skin for joy, but she didn’t say a word.

Next day that there little thing looked so maliceful when he came for the flax. And when the night came she heard that knocking against the window panes. She oped the window, and that come right in on the ledge. That was grinning from ear to ear, and Oo! that’s tail was twirling round so fast.

‘What’s my name (каково мое имя)?’ that says (это говорит), as that gave her the skeins (пока оно давало = давая ей мотки пряжи).

‘Is that Solomon (Соломон)?’ she says, pretending to be afeard (она говорит она, притворяясь испуганной; afeard — архаич. вместо совр. afraid).

‘Noo, ‘tain’t (нет, это не есть = неверно),’ that says, and that came further into the room (и вошло дальше в комнату).

‘Well, is that Zebedee (ну, Зеведей)?’ says she again (говорит она снова).

‘Noo, ‘tain’t,’ says the thing. And then that laughed (и затем оно рассмеялось) and twirled that’s tail (и покрутило свой хвост) till you couldn’t hardly see it (до того, /что/ ты едва мог видеть его; = could hardly…).

‘Take time, woman (не торопись: «возьми время», женщина),’ that says; ‘next guess (следующая догадка), and you’re mine (и ты — моя).’ And that stretched out (и оно протянуло вперед: «наружу») that’s black hands at her (свои черные руки к ней).

Well, she backed (она отступила назад) a step or two (шаг или два), and she looked at it (и посмотрела на него), and then she laughed out (а затем рассмеялась), and says she, pointing her finger at it (и, говорит, указывая пальцем на него):

‘Nimmy nimmy not
Your name’s Tom Tit Tot (твое имя есть Том Тит Тот).’

Well, when that heard her (когда оно услышало ее), that gave an awful shriek (оно испустило: «дало = издало» ужасный вопль) and away that flew into the dark (и улетело прочь в темноту), and she never saw it any more (и она никогда не видела его больше).

Zebedee [`zebıdi:], awful [`o:ful], shriek [Sri:k]

‘What’s my name?’ that says, as that gave her the skeins.

‘Is that Solomon?’ she says, pretending to be afeard.

‘Noo, ‘tain’t,’ that says, and that came further into the room.

‘Well, is that Zebedee?’ says she again.

‘Noo, ‘tain’t,’ says the thing. And then that laughed and twirled that’s tail till you couldn’t hardly see it.

‘Take time, woman,’ that says; ‘next guess, and you’re mine.’ And that stretched out that’s black hands at her.

Well, she backed a step or two, and she looked at it, and then she laughed out, and says she, pointing her finger at it:

‘Nimmy nimmy not
Your name’s Tom Tit Tot.’

Well, when that heard her, that gave an awful shriek and away that flew into the dark, and she never saw it any more.

The Three Sillies (Три дурака)

ONCE upon a time (давным-давно: «однажды в один раз») there was a farmer and his wife (был крестьянин/фермер и его жена) who had one daughter (у которых была одна дочь), and she was courted by a gentleman (и за ней ухаживал джентльмен). Every evening he used to come and see her (каждый вечер он приходил повидать ее: «имел обыкновение приходить и видеть ее»), and stop to supper at the farmhouse (и останавливался, чтобы поужинать на ферме/в крестьянском доме), and the daughter used to be sent down into the cellar (и дочь посылали: «бывала послана» вниз в погреб) to draw the beer for supper (чтобы нацедить пива для ужина). So one evening (так в один вечер) she had gone down to draw the beer (она спустилась: «пошла вниз», чтобы нацедить пива), and she happened to look up (и ей случилось взглянуть вверх) at the ceiling (на потолок) while she was drawing (пока она цедила), and she saw (и она увидела) a mallet (молоток, пестик для ступки) stuck (застрявший; to stick — воткнуть, приклеиться, остаться) in one of the beams (в одной из балок). It must have been there (он должен был быть там) a long, long time (долгое-долгое время), but somehow or other (но каким-то образом: «так или иначе») she had never noticed it before (она никогда не замечала его раньше; to notice — замечать), and she began (и она начала; to begin — начинать) a-thinking (думать — разговорная или фольклорная форма: a-doing something). And she thought (и она подумала) it was very dangerous (/что/ это очень опасно) to have that mallet there (держать: «иметь» этот молоток там), for she said to herself (потому что она сказала себе = подумала про себя): ‘Suppose (предположим) him and me was to be married (/что/ он и я: «его и меня — разг.» поженимся), and we was to have a son (и у нас родится сын /разг./) иметь сына), and he was to grow up to be a man (и он вырастет, чтобы быть мужчиной = и станет мужчиной), and come down into the cellar to draw the beer (и спустится в погреб нацедить пива), like as I’m doing now (прямо как я делаю сейчас), and the mallet was to fall on his head and kill him (и молоток упадет на его голову и убьет его), what a dreadful thing it would be (какая ужасная вещь это бы была)!’ And she put down the candle and the jug (и она поставила вниз свечу и кувшин), and sat herself down (и уселась) and began a-crying (и начала плакать).

daughter [`do:tə], draw [dro:], dangerous [`deınGərəs]

ONCE upon a time there was a farmer and his wife who had one daughter, and she was courted by a gentleman. Every evening he used to come and see her, and stop to supper at the farmhouse, and the daughter used to be sent down into the cellar to draw the beer for supper. So one evening she had gone down to draw the beer, and she happened to look up at the ceiling while she was drawing, and she saw a mallet stuck in one of the beams. It must have been there a long, long time, but somehow or other she had never noticed it before, and she began a-thinking. And she thought it was very dangerous to have that mallet there, for she said to herself: ‘Suppose him and me was to be married, and we was to have a son, and he was to grow up to be a man, and come down into the cellar to draw the beer, like as I’m doing now, and the mallet was to fall on his head and kill him, what a dreadful thing it would be!’ And she put down the candle and the jug, and sat herself down and began a-crying.

Well, they began to wonder upstairs (ну, они начали удивляться/интересоваться наверху: «вверх по лестнице») how it was that she was so long drawing the beer (как это было, что она так долго цедила пиво = отчего это она так долго цедит пиво), and her mother went down to see after her (и ее мать спустилась: «пошла вниз», чтобы посмотреть за ней = посмотреть, что с ней случилось), and she found her sitting on the settle crying (и она нашла ее сидящей на скамье и плачущей; to find — находить), and the beer running over the floor (и пиво текущим на пол: «бегущим по полу»). ‘Why, whatever is the matter (что такое, в чем дело: «почему, что-то есть дело»)?’ said her mother. ‘Oh, mother!’ says she, ‘look at that horrid mallet (посмотри на этот ужасный молоток)! Suppose we was to be married, and was to have a son, and he was to grow up, and was to come down to the cellar to draw the beer, and the mallet was to fall on his head and kill him, what a dreadful thing it would be!’

‘Dear, dear! what a dreadful thing it would be (Боже! Боже! какая ужасная вещь это была бы)!’ said the mother, and she sat down aside of the daughter and started a-crying, too (сказала мать, и она села вниз рядом с дочерью и начала плакать тоже). Then after a bit (затем, немного погодя; bit — кусочек; a bit — немного; after — после) the father began to wonder that they didn’t come back (отец начал удивляться, что они не вернулись: «не пришли назад»), and he went down into the cellar to look after them himself (и он спустился в погреб посмотреть за ними сам = пошел за ними сам), and there they two sat a-crying (и там они две сидели, плача), and the beer running all over the floor (и пиво текущее = текло при этом повсюду на пол). ‘Whatever is the matter (в чем дело)?’ says he. ‘Why (как же: «почему»),’ says the mother, ‘look at that horrid mallet (посмотри на этот ужасный молоток). Just suppose (просто предположи), if our daughter and her sweetheart was to be married (если наша дочь и ее возлюбленный поженятся), and was to have a son (и у них родится сын), and he was to grow up, and was to come down into the cellar to draw the beer, and the mallet was to fall on his head and kill him, what a dreadful thing it would be!’

‘Dear, dear, dear! so it would (Боже! Боже! Боже! так это было бы /действительно ужасной вещью/)!’ said the father (сказал отец), and he sat himself down aside of the other two, and started a-crying (и он уселся рядом с другими двумя и начал плакать).

upstairs [Ap`steəz], sweetheart [`swi:tha:t], dreadful [`dredful]

Well, they began to wonder upstairs how it was that she was so long drawing the beer, and her mother went down to see after her, and she found her sitting on the settle crying, and the beer running over the floor. ‘Why, whatever is the matter?’ said her mother. ‘Oh, mother!’ says she, ‘look at that horrid mallet! Suppose we was to be married, and was to have a son, and he was to grow up, and was to come down to the cellar to draw the beer, and the mallet was to fall on his head and kill him, what a dreadful thing it would be!’

‘Dear, dear! what a dreadful thing it would be!’ said the mother, and she sat down aside of the daughter and started a-crying, too. Then after a bit the father began to wonder that they didn’t come back, and he went down into the cellar to look after them himself, and there they two sat a-crying, and the beer running all over the floor. ‘Whatever is the matter?’ says he. ‘Why,’ says the mother, ‘look at that horrid mallet. Just suppose, if our daughter and her sweetheart was to be married, and was to have a son, and he was to grow up, and was to come down into the cellar to draw the beer, and the mallet was to fall on his head and kill him, what a dreadful thing it would be!’

‘Dear, dear, dear! so it would!’ said the father, and he sat himself down aside of the other two, and started a-crying.

Now (вот: «теперь») the gentleman got tired (джентльмен устал: «сделался уставшим») of stopping up in the kitchen by himself (оставаться: «от оставания» наверху в кухне в одиночестве: «сам с собой»), and at last he went down into the cellar, too (и, наконец, он спустился в погреб тоже), to see what they were after (чтобы посмотреть, что они /там/ ищут); and there they three sat a-crying side by side (и вот они там трое сидели = сидят, плача, рядом: «бок о бок»), and the beer running all over the floor (и пиво /при этом/ течет на пол). And he ran straight and turned the tap (и он побежал немедленно: «прямо» и повернул кран; to run — бежать). Then he said (затем он сказал): ‘Whatever are you three doing (что это вы трое делаете), sitting there crying (сидя и плача), and letting the beer run all over the floor (и позволяя пиву литься на пол)?’

‘Oh!’ says the father, ‘look at that horrid mallet! Suppose you and our daughter was to be married, and was to have a son, and he was to grow up, and was to come down into the cellar to draw the beer, and the mallet was to fall on his head and kill him!’ And then they all started a-crying worse than before (и тогда они все начали плакать пуще прежнего: «хуже, чем раньше»). But the gentleman burst out a-laughing (но джентльмен разразился смехом), and reached up and pulled out the mallet (потянулся и вытащил молоток), and then he said: ‘I’ve travelled many miles (я исходил/пропутешествовал многие мили), and I never met three such big sillies as you three before (и я никогда не встречал трех таких больших дураков, как вы трое, раньше); and now I shall start out on my travels again (и сейчас я отправлюсь в мои путешествия снова), and when I can find three bigger sillies than you three (и если я смогу найти трех бóльших дураков, чем вы трое), then I’ll come back and marry your daughter (тогда я вернусь и женюсь на вашей дочери).’ So he wished them good-bye (так что = на этом он попрощался с ними: «пожелал им до свидания»), and started off on his travels (и отправился в свои путешествия), and left them all crying (и оставил их всех плачущими; to leave — оставлять, покидать) because the girl had lost her sweetheart (потому что девушка потеряла своего ухажера).

straight [streıt], burst [bə:st], travel [trævl]

Now the gentleman got tired of stopping up in the kitchen by himself, and at last he went down into the cellar, too, to see what they were after; and there they three sat a-crying side by side, and the beer running all over the floor. And he ran straight and turned the tap. Then he said: ‘Whatever are you three doing, sitting there crying, and letting the beer run all over the floor?’

Well, he set out (он пустился в путь), and he travelled a long way (и он прошел: «пропутешествовал» долгий путь), and at last he came to a woman’s cottage (и наконец он пришел к домику одной женщины) that had some grass growing on the roof (который имел немного травы, растущей на крыше = на крыше которого росло немного травы). And the woman was trying (и женщина пыталась) to get her cow to go up a ladder to the grass (заставить свою корову пойти вверх = залезть по лестнице к траве), and the poor thing durst not go (и бедное существо не осмеливалось идти; to dare — осмелиться). So the gentleman asked the woman (тогда джентльмен спросил женщину) what she was doing (что она делала). ‘Why, lookye (ну, посмотри-ка — разг. /look you/),’ she said, ‘look at all that beautiful grass (посмотри на всю эту прекрасную траву). I’m going to get the cow on to the roof (я собираюсь загнать: «переместить» корову на крышу) to eat it (чтобы есть ее = чтобы она поела траву). She’ll be quite safe (она будет совершенно в безопасности: «сохранная»), for I shall tie a string round her neck (ибо я привяжу бечевку вокруг ее шеи), and pass it down the chimney (и пропущу ее вниз по трубе), and tie it to my wrist (и привяжу ее к моему запястью) as I go about the house (пока я хожу по дому), so she can’t fall off (так что она не может упасть /с крыши/») without my knowing it (чтобы я этого не узнала: «без моего знания этого»).’

‘Oh, you poor silly (ты, бедная дурочка)!’ said the gentleman, ‘you should cut the grass (ты должна срезать траву) and throw it down to the cow (и бросить ее вниз к корове)!’ But the woman thought (но женщина думала) it was easier (/что/ было легче) to get the cow up the ladder (поднять корову вверх по лестнице) than to get the grass down (чем спустить траву вниз), so she pushed her (так что она толкала ее) and coaxed her (и уговаривала ее) and got her up (и подняла ее наверх), and tied a string round her neck (и завязала бечевку вокруг ее шеи), and passed it down the chimney (и пропустила ее вниз по трубе), and fastened it to her own wrist (и привязала ее к своему собственному запястью). And the gentleman went on his way (и джентльмен пошел по своему пути), but he hadn’t gone far (но он не ушел далеко = не успел он отойти) when the cow tumbled off the roof (когда корова свалилась с крыши), and hung by the string tied round her neck (и повисла на бечевке, привязанной вокруг ее шеи), and it strangled her (и она /бечевка/ задушила ее). And the weight of the cow tied to her wrist (и вес коровы, привязанной к ее запястью) pulled the woman up the chimney (потянул женщину вверх по трубе), and she stuck fast half-way (и она застряла крепко на полпути) and was smothered in the soot (и задохнулась: «была задушена» в саже).

Well, that was one big silly (это была большая дура).

thought [`To:t], weight [weıt], smother [`smAðə]

Well, he set out, and he travelled a long way, and at last he came to a woman’s cottage that had some grass growing on the roof. And the woman was trying to get her cow to go up a ladder to the grass, and the poor thing durst not go. So the gentleman asked the woman what she was doing. ‘Why, lookye,’ she said, ‘look at all that beautiful grass. I’m going to get the cow on to the roof to eat it. She’ll be quite safe, for I shall tie a string round her neck, and pass it down the chimney, and tie it to my wrist as I go about the house, so she can’t fall off without my knowing it.’

‘Oh, you poor silly!’ said the gentleman, ‘you should cut the grass and throw it down to the cow!’ But the woman thought it was easier to get the cow up the ladder than to get the grass down, so she pushed her and coaxed her and got her up, and tied a string round her neck, and passed it down the chimney, and fastened it to her own wrist. And the gentleman went on his way, but he hadn’t gone far when the cow tumbled off the roof, and hung by the string tied round her neck, and it strangled her. And the weight of the cow tied to her wrist pulled the woman up the chimney, and she stuck fast half-way and was smothered in the soot.

Well, that was one big silly.

And the gentleman went on and on (и джентльмен шел дальше и дальше), and he went to an inn (и пришел к постоялому двору) to stop the night (/чтобы/ остановиться ночь), and they were so full at the inn (и они были так полны в гостинице = но там было так много постояльцев) that they had to put him in a double-bedded room (что им пришлось поместить его в двухместный номер; double — двойной, bed — кровать), and another traveller (и другой путешественник) was to sleep in the other bed (должен был спать в другой кровати). The other man was a very pleasant fellow (другой человек был очень приятный парень), and they got very friendly together (и они стали очень дружны вместе = хорошо поладили); but in the morning (но утром), when they were both getting up (когда они оба вставали), the gentleman was surprised to see the other hang (джентльмен с удивлением увидел, как другой вешает: «был удивлен увидеть другого вешать») his trousers on the knobs of the chest of drawers (свои штаны на круглые ручки: «шишечки» комода: «ларя с ящиками») and run across the room (и бежит через комнату) and try to jump into them (и старается запрыгнуть в них), and he tried over and over again (и он старался снова и снова) and couldn’t manage it (и не мог справиться с этим); and the gentleman wondered (и джентльмен удивился/задался вопросом) whatever he was doing it for (зачем он это делал). At last he stopped and wiped his face with his handkerchief (наконец тот остановился и вытер свое лицо платком). ‘Oh dear (о Боже: «о дорогой»),’ he says, ‘I do think (я действительно думаю) trousers are the most awkwardest kind of clothes (/что/ штаны есть наиболее неловкая = неудобная разновидность одежды) that ever were (которая когда-либо была). I can’t think (я не могу представить: «подумать») who could have invented such things (кто мог изобрести подобные вещи). It takes me the best part of an hour (у меня уходит почти час: «это берет мне лучшую часть часа») to get into mine every morning (чтобы залезть в мои /штаны/ каждое утро), and I get so hot (и я становлюсь таким горячим = так потею)! How do you manage yours (как вы справляетесь с вашими)?’ So the gentleman burst out a-laughing (тогда джентльмен разразился смехом), and showed him how to put them on (и показал ему, как их надевать); and he was very much obliged to him (и он был очень много обязан ему), and said he never should have thought (и сказал, /что/ он никогда не подумал бы) of doing it that way (делать это: «о делании этого» таким способом).

So that was another big silly (так /что/ этот был другим = еще одним большим дураком).

pleasant [`plezənt], handkerchief [`hæŋkətSi:f], awkward [`o:kwəd]

And the gentleman went on and on, and he went to an inn to stop the night, and they were so full at the inn that they had to put him in a double-bedded room, and another traveller was to sleep in the other bed. The other man was a very pleasant fellow, and they got very friendly together; but in the morning, when they were both getting up, the gentleman was surprised to see the other hang his trousers on the knobs of the chest of drawers and run across the room and try to jump into them, and he tried over and over again and couldn’t manage it; and the gentleman wondered whatever he was doing it for. At last he stopped and wiped his face with his handkerchief. ‘Oh dear,’ he says, ‘I do think trousers are the most awkwardest kind of clothes that ever were. I can’t think who could have invented such things. It takes me the best part of an hour to get into mine every morning, and I get so hot! How do you manage yours?’ So the gentleman burst out a-laughing, and showed him how to put them on; and he was very much obliged to him, and said he never should have thought of doing it that way.

So that was another big silly.

Then the gentleman went on his travels again (затем джентльмен пошел путешествовать: «отправился в свои путешествия» снова); and he came to a village (и пришел в деревню), and outside the village there was a pond (и снаружи = возле деревни был пруд), and round the pond was a crowd of people (а вокруг пруда была толпа людей). And they had got rakes (и у них были кочерги; to have got — иметь: «иметь полученным»; to get — получать), and brooms (и метлы), and pitchforks (и вилы) reaching into the pond (тянущиеся в пруд = и они совали все это в пруд); and the gentleman asked what the matter was (и джентльмен спросил, в чем было дело).

‘Why (как же),’ they say, ‘matter enough (большое событие: «дела достаточно» — архаич. разг.)! Moon’s tumbled into the pond (луна свалилась в пруд), and we can’t rake her out anyhow (и мы никак не можем вытащить ее)!’ So the gentleman burst out a-laughing (тогда джентльмен разразился смехом), and told them to look up into the sky (и сказал им посмотреть вверх в небо), and that it was only the shadow in the water (и что это было лишь отражение на воде: «тень в воде»). But they wouldn’t listen to him (но они не хотели слушать его), and abused him shamefully (и оскорбляли его стыдно = нехорошими словами; shame — стыд, позор), and he got away (и он убрался) as quick as he could (так быстро, как /только/ мог).

So there was a whole lot of sillies bigger than them three sillies at home (так что было много: «целая куча» дураков бóльших, чем те три дурака дома; them «их» — разг. простореч. вместо опред. артикля the). So the gentleman turned back home (так что джентльмен повернул назад домой) and married the farmer’s daughter (и женился на дочери крестьянина), and if they didn’t live happy for ever after (и если они не жили счастливо всю жизнь: «навсегда после»), that’s nothing to do with you or me (это не касается ни вас, ни меня: «это имеет ничего, чтобы делать с вами или мной»).

crowd [kraud], shadow [`Sædəu], abuse [ə`bju:z]

Then the gentleman went on his travels again; and he came to a village, and outside the village there was a pond, and round the pond was a crowd of people. And they had got rakes, and brooms, and pitchforks reaching into the pond; and the gentleman asked what the matter was.

‘Why,’ they say, ‘matter enough! Moon’s tumbled into the pond, and we can’t rake her out anyhow!’ So the gentleman burst out a-laughing, and told them to look up into the sky, and that it was only the shadow in the water. But they wouldn’t listen to him, and abused him shamefully, and he got away as quick as he could.

So there was a whole lot of sillies bigger than them three sillies at home. So the gentleman turned back home and married the farmer’s daughter, and if they didn’t live happy for ever after, that’s nothing to do with you or me.

The Rose Tree (Розовый куст)

THERE was once upon a time a good man (был однажды хороший человек) who had two children (у которого было двое детей): a girl by a first wife (девочка от первой жены), and a boy by the second (и мальчик от второй). The girl was as white as milk (девочка была так бела, как молоко), and her lips were like cherries (а ее губы были, как вишни). Her hair was like golden silk (ее волосы были подобны золотому шелку), and it hung to the ground (и они свисали до земли). Her brother loved her dearly (ее брат любил ее нежно), but her wicked stepmother hated her (но ее злая мачеха ненавидела ее). ‘Child (дитя),’ said the stepmother one day (сказала мачеха однажды), ‘go to the grocer’s shop (иди в лавку бакалейщика = в бакалейную лавку) and buy me a pound of candles (и купи мне фунт свечей).’ She gave her the money (она дала ей деньги); and the little girl went (и маленькая девочка пошла), bought the candles (купила свечи), and started on her return (и отправилась назад; return — возвращение). There was a stile to cross (нужно было перейти по ступенькам через ограду: «там были ступеньки через ограду, чтобы пересечь»; stile — ступеньки для перехода через ограждение /забор, стену/; перелаз). She put down the candles whilst she got over the stile (она поставила вниз свечи, пока она перебиралась через ступеньки). Up came a dog (подошел пес) and ran off with the candles (и убежал: «побежал прочь» со свечами).

first [fə:st], bought [bo:t], whilst [waılst]

THERE was once upon a time a good man who had two children: a girl by a first wife, and a boy by the second. The girl was as white as milk, and her lips were like cherries. Her hair was like golden silk, and it hung to the ground. Her brother loved her dearly, but her wicked stepmother hated her. ‘Child,’ said the stepmother one day, ‘go to the grocer’s shop and buy me a pound of candles.’ She gave her the money; and the little girl went, bought the candles, and started on her return. There was a stile to cross. She put down the candles whilst she got over the stile. Up came a dog and ran off with the candles.

She went back to the grocer’s (она пошла назад в лавку бакалейщика), and she got a second bunch (и она получила = купила вторую связку). She came to the stile (она пришла к ступенькам), set down the candles (поставила вниз свечи), and proceeded to climb over (и принялась карабкаться через /ограду/). Up came the dog and ran off with the candles (подошел пес и убежал прочь со свечами).

She went again to the grocer’s, and she got a third bunch (она пошла снова к бакалейщику и купила третью связку); and just the same happened (и как раз то же самое случилось). Then she came to her stepmother crying (тогда она пришла к своей мачехе, плача), for she had spent all the money and had lost three bunches of candles (ибо она потратила все деньги и потеряла три связки свечей; to spend — тратить).

The stepmother was angry, but she pretended not to mind the loss (мачеха была сердита, но притворилась, что не заботится о потере = не переживает по поводу потери). She said to the child (она сказала ребенку): ‘Come, lay your head on my lap (подойди, положи свою голову на мои колени) that I may comb your hair (чтобы я могла причесать твои волосы).’ So the little one laid her head in the woman’s lap (так что малышка положила свою голову на колени женщины), who proceeded to comb the yellow silken hair (которая принялась расчесывать желтые = золотистые шелковые волосы). And when she combed the hair fell over her knees (и когда она расчесывала, волосы упали = свесились вниз с ее колен; to fall — падать, to fall over — свалиться), and rolled right down to the ground (и скатились = распустились прямо вниз на землю).

mind [maınd], comb [kəum], knee [ni:]

She went back to the grocer’s, and she got a second bunch. She came to the stile, set down the candles, and proceeded to climb over. Up came the dog and ran off with the candles.

She went again to the grocer’s, and she got a third bunch; and just the same happened. Then she came to her stepmother crying, for she had spent all the money and had lost three bunches of candles.

The stepmother was angry, but she pretended not to mind the loss. She said to the child: ‘Come, lay your head on my lap that I may comb your hair.’ So the little one laid her head in the woman’s lap, who proceeded to comb the yellow silken hair. And when she combed the hair fell over her knees, and rolled right down to the ground.