But Care smiled—and whoever saw her smile was forced to weep—and she said, “He must free himself.”
“How can he do that?” asked the mother.
“He must sacrifice to me all that he loves,” said Dame Care.
Then the mother grieved very much, and lay down and died. But the princess waits for her suitor to this very day.
“Mother, mother!” he cried, and sank down on the grave.
“Come,” said Elsbeth, struggling with her tears as she laid her hand on his shoulder; “let mother be, she is at peace; and she shall not harm us any more—your wicked Dame Care!”