where no one can hear us。'
They had so much to say to each other； that the sun was already
setting when the godmother had ended all the good advice she
wished to give the child； and saw it was time for her to be
going。 'Hand me the basket；' said she； 'for you must have some
supper。 I cannot let you go hungry to bed。'
Then； bending over the basket； she whispered some magic words；
and instantly a table covered with fruits and cakes stood on the
ground before them。 When they had finished eating； the godmother
led the child back； and on the way taught her the words she must
say to the basket when she wanted it to give her something。
In a few years more； Dotterine was a grown…up young lady； and
those who saw her thought that the world did not contain so
lovely a girl。
About this time a terrible war broke out； and the king and his
army were beaten back and back； till at length they had to retire
into the town； and make ready for a siege。 It lasted so long
that food began to fail； and even in the palace there was not
enough to eat。
So one morning Dotterine； who had had neither supper nor
breakfast； and was feeling very hungry； let her wing fly away。
She was so weak and miserable； that directly her godmother
appeared she burst into tears； and could not speak for some time。
'Do not cry so； dear child；' said the godmother。 'I will carry
you away from all this； but the others I must leave to take their
chance。' Then； bidding Dotterine follow her； she passed through
the gates of the town； and through the army outside； and nobody
stopped them； or seemed to see them。
The next day the town surrendered； and the king and all his
courtiers were taken prisoners； but in the confusion his son
managed to make his escape。 The queen had already met her death
from a spear carelessly thrown。
As soon as Dotterine and her godmother were clear of the enemy；
Dotterine took off her own clothes； and put on those of a
peasant； and in order to disguise her better her godmother
changed her face completely。 'When better times come；' her
protectress said cheerfully； 'and you want to look like yourself
again； you have only to whisper the words I have taught you into
the basket； and say you would like to have your own face once
more； and it will be all right in a moment。 But you will have to
endure a little longer yet。' Then； warning her once more to take
care of the basket； the lady bade the girl farewell。
For many days Dotterine wandered from one place to another
without finding shelter； and though the food which she got from
the basket prevented her from starving； she was glad enough to
take service in a peasant's house till brighter days dawned。 At
first the work she had to do seemed very difficult； but either
she was wonderfully quick in learning； or else the basket may
have secretly helped her。 Anyhow at the end of three days she
could do everything as well as if she had cleaned pots and swept
rooms all her life。
One morning Dotterine was busy scouring a wooden tub； when a
noble lady happened to pass through the village。 The girl's
bright face as she stood in the front of the door with her tub
attracted the lady； and she stopped and called the girl to come
and speak to her。
'Would you not like to come and enter my service？' she asked。
'Very much；' replied Dotterine； 'if my present mistress will
allow me。'
'Oh； I will settle that；' answered the lady； and so she did； and
the same day they set out for the lady's house； Dotterine sitting
beside the coachman。
Six months went by； and then came the joyful news that the king's
son had collected an army and had defeated the usurper who had
taken his father's place； but at the same moment Dotterine
learned that the old king had died in captivity。 The girl wept
bitterly for his loss； but in secrecy； as she had told her
mistress nothing about her past life。
At the end of a year of mourning； the young king let it be known
that he intended to marry； and commanded all the maidens in the
kingdom to come to a feast； so that he might choose a wife from
among them。 For weeks all the mothers and all the daughters in
the land were busy preparing beautiful dresses and trying new
ways of putting up their hair； and the three lovely daughters of
Dotterine's mistress were as much excited as the rest。 The girl
was clever with her fingers； and was occupied all day with
getting ready their smart clothes； but at night when she went to
bed she always dreamed that her godmother bent over her and said；
'Dress your young ladies for the feast； and when they have
started follow them yourself。 Nobody will be so fine as you。'
When the great day came； Dotterine could hardly contain herself；
and when she had dressed her young mistresses and seen them
depart with their mother she flung herself on her bed； and burst
into tears。 Then she seemed to hear a voice whisper to her；
'Look in your basket； and you will find in it everything that you
need。'
Dotterine did not want to be told twice！ Up she jumped； seized
her basket； and repeated the magic words； and behold！ there lay
a dress on the bed； shining as a star。 She put it on with
fingers that trembled with joy； and； looking in the glass； was
struck dumb at her own beauty。 She went downstairs； and in front
of the door stood a fine carriage； into which she stepped and was
driven away like the wind。
The king's palace was a long way off； yet it seemed only a few
minutes before Dotterine drew up at the great gates。 She was
just going to alight； when she suddenly remembered she had left
her basket behind her。 What was she to do？ Go back and fetch
it； lest some ill…fortune should befall her； or enter the palace
and trust to chance that nothing evil would happen？ But before
she could decide； a little swallow flew up with the basket in its
beak； and the girl was happy again。
The feast was already at its height； and the hall was brilliant
with youth and beauty； when the door was flung wide and Dotterine
entered； making all the other maidens look pale and dim beside
her。 Their hopes faded as they gazed； but their mothers
whispered together； saying； 'Surely this is our lost princess！'
The young king did not know her again； but he never left her side
nor took his eyes from her。 And at midnight a strange thing
happened。 A thick cloud suddenly filled the hall； so that for a
moment all was dark。 Then the mist suddenly grew bright； and
Dotterine's godmother was seen standing there。
'This；' she said； turning to the king； 'is the girl whom you have
always believed to be your sister； and who vanished during the
siege。 She is not your sister at all； but the daughter of the
king of a neighbouring country； who was given to your mother to
bring up； to save her from the hands of a wizard。'
Then she vanished； and was never seen again； nor the
wonder…working basket either； but now that Dotterine's troubles
were over she could get on without them； and she and the young
king lived happily together till the end of their days。
＇Ehstnische Marchen。＇