ite beside herself with the joy of
having her dear playfellow with her once more. Hand in hand they
wandered about the enchanted garden, and gathered the golden apples from
the trees, and when they were tired of this amusement the princess led
her friend through all the wonderful rooms of the palace, until at last
they came to the one in which were kept all the marvellous dresses and
ornaments the gnome had given to his hoped-for bride. There they
found so much to amuse them that the hours passed like minutes.
Veils, girdles, and necklaces were tried on and admired, the imitation
Brunhilda knew so well how to behave herself, and showed so much taste
that nobody would ever have suspected that she was nothing but a turnip
after all. The gnome, who had secretly been keeping an eye upon them,
was very pleased with himself for having so well understood the heart of
a woman; and the princess seemed to him even more charming than before.
She did not forget to touch the rest of the roots with her magic wand,
and soon had all her maidens about her, and even, as she had two tiny
radishes to spare, her favourite cat, and her little dog whose name was
Beni.

And now all went cheerfully in the castle. The princess gave to each of
the maidens her task, and never was mistress better served. For a whole
week she enjoyed the delight of her pleasant company undisturbed. They
all sang, they danced, they played from morning to night; only the
princess noticed that day by day the fresh young faces of her maidens
grew pale and wan, and the mirror in the great marble hall showed her
that she alone still kept her rosy bloom, while Brunhilda and the
rest faded visibly. They assured her that all was well with them; but,
nevertheless, they continued to waste away, and day by day it became
harder to them to take part in the games of the princess, till at last,
one fine morning, when the princess started from bed and hastened out to
join her gay playfellows, she shuddered and started back at the sight of
a group of shrivelled crones, with bent backs and trembling limbs, who
supported their tottering steps with staves and crutches, and coughed
dismally. A little nearer to the hearth lay the once frolicsome Beni,
with all four feet stretched stiffly out, while the sleek cat seemed too
weak to raise his head from his velvet cushion.

The horrified princess fled to the door to escape from the sight of this
mournful company, and called loudly for the g