"Good things, pretty things," she answered; "stay-laces of all colors," and she pulled out one which was woven of bright silk.
"I may let the good old woman in," thought Snow-white, and she unbolted the door and bought the pretty laces.
"Child," said the old woman, "what a fright you look! Come, I will lace you properly for once."
Little Snow-White and the Peddler-Woman.
Snow-white stood before her, and let herself be laced with the new laces. But the old woman laced so quickly and laced so tightly that Snow-white lost her breath and fell down as if dead. "Now I am the most beautiful," said the Queen to herself, and ran away.
Not long after, in the evening, the seven dwarfs came home, but how shocked they were when they saw their dear little Snow-white lying on the ground! She did not stir or move, and seemed to be dead. They lifted her up, and, as they saw that she was laced too tightly, they cut the laces; then she began to breathe a little, and after a while came to life again. When the dwarfs heard what had happened they said:
"The old peddler-woman was no one else than the wicked Queen; take care and let no one come in when we are not with you."