“This, madam, is the nurse of your son, the young prince,” said the old woman.
The queen smiled, and bade the nurse to sit down, and asked her how she came to know of the place.
“My son it is who told her,” said the king, looking very angry.
But the queen soothed him, and turning to one of her ladies, said—
“Bring here the other child.”
Then the lady brought in an infant, and placed him in the arms of the mother.
“Take him,” said the queen, “he is your own child, that we carried away, for he was so beautiful; and the boy you have at home is mine, a little elfish imp. Still, I want him back, and I have sent a man to bring him here; and you may take your own lovely child home in safety, for the fairy blessings are on him for good. And the man that beat you was not your husband at all, but our messenger, that we sent to change the children. So now go back, and you will find your own true husband at home in your own place, watching and waiting for you by day and by night.”
With that the door opened, and the man who had beaten her came in; and the mother trembled and was afraid. But the man laughed, and told her not to fear, but to eat what was set before her, and then to go in peace.
So they brought her to another hall, where was a table covered with golden dishes and beautiful flowers, and red wine in crystal cups.
“Eat,” they said; “this feast has been prepared for you. As to us, we cannot touch it, for the food has been sprinkled with salt.”