‘You dirty creatures,’ cried she, ‘get away at once, or I will throw stones at you.’ And the doves spread their wings in a fright and flew up to the very top of a tree, their bodies shaking with anger.
‘What shall we do to revenge ourselves on her?’ asked the smallest of the doves, ‘we were never treated like that before.’
‘Never,’ said the biggest dove. ‘We must find some way of paying her back in her own coin!’
‘I know,’ answered the middle dove; ‘she shall never be able to say anything but “dirty creatures” to the end of her life.’
‘Oh, how clever of you! That will do beautifully,’ exclaimed the other two. And they flapped their wings and clucked so loud with delight, and made such a noise, that they woke up all the birds in the trees close by.
‘What in the world is the matter?’ asked the birds sleepily.
‘That is our secret,’ said the doves.
Meanwhile the girl had reached home crosser than ever; but as soon as her mother heard her lift the latch of the door she ran out to hear her adventures. ‘Well, did you get the wreath?’ cried she.
‘Dirty creatures!’ answered her daughter.
‘Don’t speak to me like that! What do you mean?’ asked the mother again.