“I ask your pardon, mamma,” said the poor girl, “for not making more haste”; and as she spoke these words there fell from her lips three roses, three pearls, and four diamonds.
“What do I see here?” said the mother, quite astonished. “I think I see pearls and diamonds come out of the girl’s mouth. How happens this, my child?”
This was the first time she had ever called her “my child.”
The girl told her frankly all that had happened to her, dropping from her mouth great numbers of diamonds as she spoke.
“Really,” cried the mother, “I must send my own dear daughter thither. Fanny! Fanny! look! see what comes out of your sister’s mouth when she speaks! Would you [[59]]not like, my dear, to have the same gift? You have only to go and draw water at the fountain, and when a poor woman asks you to let her drink, to give it to her very civilly.”
“I should like to see myself going to the fountain to draw water,” said this ill-bred minx.
“I insist that you go,” said the mother, “and that at once.”
So away she went, taking with her the best silver tankard in the house, but grumbling all the way.
She no sooner reached the fountain than she saw coming out of the wood a lady, magnificently dressed, who came up to her and asked for a drink.
This was the same fairy who had appeared to her sister, but she had now taken the air and the dress of a princess, to see how far this girl’s rudeness would go.