“It is better not to see at all,” she said, “than to see foul things and heart-searing things.”
But the boy spoke up and said:
“There being such things, the more I would have my eyesight, so that I might clear those tangled forests of the evil beasts of which you speak.”
Hearing that, the witch sighed, though her heart was glad at the boy’s words. So she turned to the girl, telling her of the harm that sometimes came to those who walked, of the creatures that do violence and scratch and maul; of stocks and stones that hurt and cut tender feet; of venomous things that hide under rocks. But the girl heard patiently, then clasped her hands and said:
“And that is all the more reason that I ask what I ask, for with feet light and active I can skip away from the hurtful things, if indeed my brother does not kill them.”
“Well,” said the witch, “perhaps when you know the beauty of the place in which I live, you will be content to stay with me. I must do what you ask because you are what you are by reason of a wish that went wrong. Now to get the magic leaves with which to cure you I must take a journey of a day and a night, and it is part of the magic that those who would be cured must do a task. So to-morrow while I am away you must work, and if I find the task finished you shall be cured. But if you should not finish the task, then all will remain as it is; but I will be eyes for the boy, telling him of the fine things of the world, and for the girl I will be as limbs, running for her, working for her. But I shall do and not wish. Truth is that I would gladly see both of you whole again, but then you would go away, and I sorely lack companionship.”
After a little the witch said to the girl:
“Tell me, little one, if this place were yours what would you do to make it better to live in?”
“I would,” answered the girl, “have all the thorn-bushes taken away that are now in the little forest behind the house, so that Brother could walk about without being scratched and torn.”
“That is fair enough,” said the witch. “And you, boy, what would your wish be?”