" And the three drops of blood heard her and
answered,

"If your mother knew of this, it would break her heart!"

And as she drank and stooped over, the napkin on which were the three
drops of blood fell out of her bosom and floated down the stream, and in
her distress she never noticed it; not so the waiting-woman, who
rejoiced because she should have power over the bride, who, now that she
had lost the three drops of blood, had become weak, and unable to defend
herself. And when she was going to mount her horse again the
waiting-woman cried,

"Falada belongs to me, and this jade to you." And the Princess had to
give way and let it be as she said. Then the waiting-woman ordered the
Princess with many hard words to take off her rich clothing and to put
on her plain garments, and then she made her swear to say nothing of the
matter when they came to the royal court; threatening to take her life
if she refused. And all the while Falada noticed and remembered.

The waiting-woman then mounting Falada, and the Princess the sorry jade,
they journeyed on till they reached the royal castle. There was great
joy at their coming, and the King's son hastened to meet them, and
lifted the waiting woman from her horse, thinking she was his bride; and
then he led her up the stairs, while the real Princess had to remain
below. But the old King, who was looking out of the window, saw her
standing in the yard, and noticed how delicate and gentle and beautiful
she was, and then he went down and asked the seeming bride who it was
that she had brought with her and that was now standing in the
courtyard.

"Oh!" answered the bride, "I only brought her with me for company; give
the maid something to do, that she may not be for ever standing idle."

But the old King had no work to give her; until he bethought him of a
boy he had who took care of the geese, and that she might help him. And
so the real Princess was sent to keep geese with the goose-boy, who was
called Conrad.

Soon after the false bride said to the Prince,

"Dearest husband, I pray thee do me a pleasure."

"With all my heart," answered he.

"Then" said she, "send for the knacker, that he may carry off the horse
I came here upon, and make away with him; he was very troublesome to me
on the journey." For she was afraid that the horse might tell how she
had behaved to the Princess. And when the order had been given that
Falada should die, it came to the Princess's ears, a