what to do! call a tailoress, and have a dress precisely like this
bought, and take off this one before my son comes." They did so, and the
chambermaids went to the room and began to unbutton the dress. The
moment that they took off the first sleeve, Ermellina opened her eyes.
The poor chambermaids sprang up in terror, but one of the most
courageous said: "I am a woman, and so is this one; she will not eat
me." To cut the matter short, she took off the dress, and when it was
removed Ermellina began to get out of the casket to walk about and see
where she was. The chambermaids fell on their knees before her and
begged her to tell them who she was. She, poor girl, told them the whole
story. Then she said: "I wish to know where I am?" Then the chambermaids
called the king's mother to explain it to her. The mother did not fail
to tell her everything, and she, poor girl, did nothing but weep
penitently, thinking of what the fairies had done for her.

The king was on the point of arriving, and his mother said to the doll:
"Come here; put on one of my best dresses." In short, she arrayed her
like a queen. Then came her son. They shut the doll up in a small room,
so that she could not be seen. The king came with great joy, with
trumpets blowing, and banners flying for the victory. But he took no
interest in all this, and ran at once to his room to see the doll; the
chambermaids fell on their knees before him saying that the doll smelled
so badly that they could not stay in the palace, and were obliged to
bury her. The king would not listen to this excuse, but at once called
two of the palace servants to erect the gallows. His mother comforted
him in vain: "My son, it was a dead woman." "No, no, I will not listen
to any reasons; dead or alive, you should have left it for me." Finally,
when his mother saw that he was in earnest about the gallows, she rang a
little bell, and there came forth no longer the doll, but a very
beautiful girl, whose like was never seen. The king was amazed, and
said: "What is this!" Then his mother, the chambermaids, and Ermellina,
were obliged to tell him all that had happened. He said: "Mother, since
I adored her when dead, and called her my wife, now I mean her to be my
wife in truth." "Yes, my son," replied his mother, "do so, for I am
willing." They arranged the wedding, and in a few days were man and
wife.

* * * * *

Sicilian versions of this story may be found i