“I can’t, Fairy; the Girdle is from my mother,” repeated Lavender.
“Little girl, sister, I will carry you and your brother down to the valley, and no harm shall come to you; throw me the Girdle,” cried the Fairy once more.
This was a sad temptation for Lavender, who so longed to get away from the Mountain! But all the same she would not sacrifice her mother’s keepsake to the greedy fairy, but answered:
“I cannot, Fairy; I had the Girdle from my mother.”
The Fairy went away quite sadly, but next day she came back and began again:
“Throw me the Girdle, and I will take you down the Mountain.”
“I cannot, Fairy; I had the Girdle from my mother,” Lavender answered once more, but with a very heavy heart.
For seven days did the Fairy come, and for seven days she tempted Lavender. Temptation is worse than the sharpest care, and poor little Lavender pined away, so great was her wish to get down to the valley. Yet all the same she would not give up the Girdle.
For seven days did the Fairy call, and for seven days did Lavender answer her:
“I cannot, Fairy; the Girdle is from my mother.”