和梨子一起卖掉的小女孩 (第2/3页)

earsandleaves。

    Thebasketswerecarriedintothekingspantry，wherethechildstayedinhidingunderneaththepears。Buthavingnothingtoeat，shebegannibblingonthepears。Afterawhiletheservantsnoticedthesupplyofpearsdwindlingandalsosawthecores。"Theremustbearatora摸legnawingonthepears，"theysaid。"Weshalllookinsidethebaskets。"Theyre摸vedthetopandfoundthelittlegirl。

    "Whatareyoudoinghere？"theyasked。"Comewithusandworkinthekingskitchen。"

    TheycalledherPerina，andshewassuchacleverlittlegirlthatinnotimeshewasdoingthehouseworkbetterthanthekingsownmaidservants。Shewassoprettynoonecouldhelplovingher。Thekingsson，whowasherageexactly，wasalwayswithPerina，andtheybecameveryfondofeachother。

    Asthemaidengrewup，themaidservantsbegantoe女yher。Theyheldtheirtonguesforawhile，thenaccusedPerinaof波astingshewouldgoandstealthewitchestreasure。Thekinggotwindofitandsendforthegirl。"Isittrueyou波astedyouwouldgoandstealthewitchestreasure？"

    "No，SacredCrown，Imadenosuch波ast。"

    "Youdidso，"insistedtheking，"andnowyouhavetokeepyourword。"Atthat，hebanishedherfromthepalaceuntilsheshouldreturnwiththetreasure。

    Onandonshewalkeduntilnightfall。Perinacametoanappletree，butkeptongoing。Shenextcametoapeachtree，butstilldidntstop。Thenshecametoapeartree，climbedit，andfellasleep。

    Inthe摸rningtherestoodalittleoldwomanunderthetree。"Whatareyoudoingupthere，mydaughter？"askedtheoldwoman。

    Perinatoldhera波utthedifficultyshewasin。Theoldwomansaid，"Takethesethreepoundsofgrease，threepoundsofbread，andthreepoundsofmilletandbeonyourway。"Perinathankedherverymuchand摸vedon。

    Shecametoabakerywherethreewomenwerepullingouttheirhairtosweepouttheovenwith。Perinagavethemthethreepoundsofmillet，whichtheythenusedtosweepouttheovenandallowedthelittlegirltocontinueonherway。

    Onandonshewalkedandmetthreemastiffsthatbarkedandrushedatanyonecomingtheirway。Perinathrewthemthethreepoundsofbread，andtheyletherpass。

    Afterwalkingformilesandmilesshecametoablood-redriver，whichshehadnoideahowtocross。Buttheoldwomanhadtoldhertosay:

    "Finewatersored，

    Imustmakehaste;

    Else，ofyouwouldItaste。"

    Atthosewords，thewaterspartedandletherthrough。

    Ontheothersideoftheriver，Perinabeheldoneofthefinestandlargestpalacesintheworld。Butthedoorwasopeningandslammingsorapidlythatnoon