“Well, my dears,” she said, “how fared you? Did you meet any good fortune?”
“All we saw was an old woman at the well—such a ragged, wretched old thing she was, too!” answered one girl.
“And she wanted us to give her a drink of water. The idea!” the other girl said at the same time.
With the last words, out of their mouths fell several snakes and toads, which went scudding across the floor.
Their mother screamed and, gathering her skirts about her, jumped on a chair.
“Oh, where have you been?” she cried. “What has happened to you?”
And when the girls told her that they did not know, more snakes and toads fell from their mouths.
“This is an outrage!” exclaimed their mother. “Isabella has formed some terrible plot against you. She is to blame! Go bring her here, and I shall punish her. I shall whip her until she tells us the charm she has found.”
The girls ran out, and soon came back dragging Isabella between them.
Just as they reached their mother a bright light appeared in the room, and suddenly a beautiful fairy stood before them.