l:
But over the hills, with the seven dwarfs old,
Lives Snowdrop, fairer a hundredfold."

She trembled, knowing the mirror never told a falsehood; she felt sure
that the huntsman had deceived her, and that Snowdrop was still alive.
She pondered once more, late and early, early and late, how best to
kill Snowdrop; for envy gave her no rest, day or night, while she
herself was not the fairest lady in the land. When she had planned
what to do, she painted her face, dressed herself like an old
pedlar-woman, and altered her appearance so much, that no one could
have known her. In this disguise she went over the seven hills, to
where the seven dwarfs dwelt, knocked at the door, and cried, "Good
wares, cheap! very cheap!"

Snowdrop looked out of the window and cried, "Good morning, good
woman: what have you to sell?"

"Good wares, smart wares," answered the queen--"bodice laces of all
colours;" and drew out one which was woven of coloured silk.

"I may surely let this honest dame in!" thought Snowdrop; so she
unfastened the door, and bought for herself the pretty lace.

"Child," said the old woman, "what a figure thou art! Let me lace thee
for once properly." Snowdrop feared no harm, so stepped in front of
her, and allowed her bodice to be fastened up with the new lace.

But the old woman laced so quick and laced so tight, that Snowdrop's
breath was stopped, and she fell down as if dead. "Now I am fairest at
last," said the old woman to herself, and sped away.

The seven dwarfs came home soon after, at eventide, but how alarmed
were they to find their poor Snowdrop lifeless on the ground! They
lifted her up, and, seeing that she was laced too tightly, cut the
lace of her bodice; she began to breathe faintly, and slowly returned
to life. When the dwarfs heard what had happened, they said, "The old
pedlar-woman was none other than the wicked queen. Be careful of
thyself, and open the door to no one if we are not at home."

The cruel stepmother walked up to her mirror when she reached home,
and said:

"Little glass upon the wall,
Who is fairest among us all?"

To which it answered, as usual:

"Lady queen, so grand and tall,
Here, you are fairest of them all;
But over the hills, with the seven dwarfs old,
Lives Snowdrop, fairer a hundredfold."

When she heard this, she was so alarmed that all the blood rushed to
her heart, for she saw plainly that Snowdrop was still alive.

"This