Gretel laughed merrily. Dame Brinker moaned, "Shame on you, Hans!" and passed wearily into the cottage.
The fairy godmother sprang up and stamped her foot three times.
"Thou shalt have thy wish," said she, "let them say what they will." Then with playful solemnity, she put her hand in her apron pocket and drew forth a large glass bead. "Bury this," said she, giving it to Hans, "where I have stamped, and ere moonrise thy wish shall be granted."
Gretel laughed more merrily than ever.
The godmother pretended great displeasure.
"Naughty child," said she, scowling terribly. "In punishment for laughing at a fairy, thy wish shall not be granted."
"Ha!" cried Gretel in high glee, "better wait till you're asked, godmother. I haven't made any wish!"
Annie acted her part well. Never smiling, through all their merry laughter, she stalked away, the embodiment of offended dignity.
"Good-night, fairy!" they cried again and again.
"Good-night, mortals!" she called out at last as she sprang over a frozen ditch, and ran quickly homeward.