‘That’s impossible,’ she replied. ‘I promised him not even to mention it.’
‘But if he were got rid of, then we might come,’ replied the elder sisters.
‘What do you mean by “got rid of”?’ asked the youngest.
‘Why, it is evident he is some bad sort of enchanter, whom it would be well to rid the earth of. If you were to take this stiletto and put it into his breast when he is asleep, we might all come down there and be happy together.’
‘Oh, I could never do that!’
‘Ah, you are so selfish you want to keep all for yourself. If you had any spirit in you, you would burst open that locked door where, you may depend the best of the treasure is concealed, and then put this stiletto into the old enchanter, and call us all down to live with you.’
It was in vain she protested she could not be so ungrateful and cruel; they over-persuaded her with their arguments, and frightened her so with their reproaches that she went back resolved to do their bidding.
The next morning she called up all her courage and pushed open the closed door. Inside were a number of beautiful maidens weaving glittering raiment.
‘What are you doing?’ asked the chicory-gatherer.
‘Making raiment for the bride of the Dark King against her espousals,’ replied the maidens.