“I want to go to bed,” said the little one, rubbing her eyes, “and please take these things off.”
“That is what we must do,” cried the dryad, “we must undress her and put her to bed.”
“No, let me do it alone, you might forget,” said the girl.
So the little child was put to bed in the back room and, in a moment, was asleep.
“Now I need not go away,” cried the dryad.
“No, indeed,” said the girl, “I should be afraid to be left alone with that little thing who was my step-mother.”
The dryad threw aside the uncomfortable gown and cape, and her face sparkled with delight; she was so glad that she need not go away and was so happy at what she had done.
“Now,” said she to the girl, “you can be married, and you two can take care of the little girl.”