The queen received her kindly, and had her taken care of for forty days. Then she sent a servant, who said:—
“The queen says you must be off, she can’t keep you any longer.”
“Oh dear, oh dear,” said the poor woman, “whatever shall I do? I have nowhere to go. I’ll crack the chestnut.”
She did so, and out jumped a lovely little golden dog, which capered about and caressed her and fawned on her. She sent it as a present to the queen, who said:—
“Why, this woman is richer than I am; let her stay forty days more.”
So the poor thing remained forty days longer, and then the servant came again to send her away. This time she cracked the nut, and out came two beautiful golden capons. These, too, she sent to the queen, who said:—
“This is certainly a wonderful woman, let her stay another forty days.”
At the end of the forty days the queen sent the servant again, saying:—
“You’ll eat up all my kingdom. Be off with you.”
Then the woman cracked the walnut, and found a beautiful golden wool-winder, which she sent to the queen.