So they did that, and when Annie the goose-girl came and stepped upon the stone the Prince asked:
“Who is this that steps into my bed?”
“A maid pure and bright”, said the stone, and so they lay down to sleep; but when the night wore on the Princess came and lay down in Annie’s stead.
But next morning, when they were to get up, the Prince asked the stone again:
“Who is this that steps out of my bed?”
“One that has had three bairns”, said the stone. When the Prince heard that he wouldn’t have her, you may know very well; and so he packed her off home again, and took another sweetheart.
But as he went to see her, little Annie went and sat down in his way again.
“Sitting all alone there, little Annie, the goose-girl”, said the Prince.
“Yes, here I sit, and put stitch to stitch, and patch on patch; for I’m waiting to-day for the king’s son from England”, said Annie.
“Oh! you mustn’t look to have him”, said the king’s son.