Many hours had now passed since the girl had fallen down the well, and the sun was setting.
‘Where shall I spend the night?’ thought she. And suddenly she saw before her a gate which she had not noticed before, and a very old woman leaning against it.
‘Good evening,’ said the girl politely; and the old woman answered:
‘Good evening, my child. Would that everyone was as polite as you. Are you in search of anything?’
‘I am in search of a place,’ replied the girl; and the woman smiled and said:
‘Then stop a little while and comb my hair, and you shall tell me all the things you can do.’
‘Willingly, mother,’ answered the girl. And she began combing out the old woman’s hair, which was long and white.
Half an hour passed in this way, and then the old woman said:
‘As you did not think yourself too good to comb me, I will show you where you may take service. Be prudent and patient and all will go well.’
So the girl thanked her, and set out for a farm at a little distance, where she was engaged to milk the cows and sift the corn.