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was taken suddenly ill。 All the best doctors in the country were
sent for； but it was no use； for there is no cure for death。 The
queen knew she was dying； and sent for Dotterine and her nurse；
who had now become her lady…in…waiting。 To her； as her most
faithful servant； she gave the lucky basket in charge； and
besought her to treasure it carefully。 'When my daughter；' said
the queen； 'is ten years old； you are to hand it over to her； but
warn her solemnly that her whole future happiness depends on the
way she guards it。 About my son； I have no fears。 He is the
heir of the kingdom； and his father will look after him。' The
lady…in…waiting promised to carry out the queen's directions； and
above all to keep the affair a secret。 And that same morning the
queen died。
After some years the king married again； but he did not love his
second wife as he had done his first； and had only married her
for reasons of ambition。 She hated her step…children； and the
king； seeing this； kept them out of the way； under the care of
Dotterine's old nurse。 But if they ever strayed across the path
of the queen； she would kick them out of her sight like dogs。
On Dotterine's tenth birthday her nurse handed her over the
cradle； and repeated to her her mother's dying words； but the
child was too young to understand the value of such a gift； and
at first thought little about it。
Two more years slipped by； when one day during the king's absence
the stepmother found Dotterine sitting under a lime tree。 She
fell as usual into a passion； and beat the child so badly that
Dotterine went staggering to her own room。 Her nurse was not
there； but suddenly； as she stood weeping； her eyes fell upon the
golden case in which lay the precious basket。 She thought it
might contain something to amuse her； and looked eagerly inside；
but nothing was there save a handful of wool and two empty
eggshells。 Very much disappointed； she lifted the wool； and
there lay the goose's wing。 'What old rubbish；' said the child
to herself； and； turning； threw the wing out of the open window。
In a moment a beautiful lady stood beside her。 'Do not be
afraid；' said the lady； stroking Dotterine's head。 'I am your
godmother； and have come to pay you a visit。 Your red eyes tell
me that you are unhappy。 I know that your stepmother is very
unkind to you； but be brave and patient； and better days will
come。 She will have no power over you when you are grown up； and
no one else can hurt you either； if only you are careful never to
part from your basket； or to lose the eggshells that are in it。
Make a silken case for the little basket； and hide it away in
your dress night and day and you will be safe from your
stepmother and anyone that tries to harm you。 But if you should
happen to find yourself in any difficulty； and cannot tell what
to do； take the goose's wing from the basket； and throw it out of
the window； and in a moment I will come to help you。 Now come
into the garden； that I may talk to you under the lime trees；
where no one can hear us。'
They had so much to say to each other； that the sun was already
setting when the godmother had ended all the good advice she
wished to give the child； and saw it was time for her to be
going。 'Hand me the basket；' said she； 'for you must have some
supper。 I cannot let you go hungry to bed。'
Then； bending over the basket； she whispered some magic words；
and instantly a table covered with fruits and cakes stood on the
ground before them。 When they had finished eating； the godmother
led the child back； and on the way taught her the words she must
say to the basket when she wanted it to give her something。
In a few years more； Dotterine was a grown…up young lady； and
those who saw her thought that the world did not contain so
lovely a girl。
About this time a terrible war broke out； and the king and his
army were beaten back and back； till at length they had to retire
into the town； and make ready for a siege。 It lasted so long
that food began to fail； and even in the palace there was not
enough to eat。
So one morning Dotterine； who had had neither supper nor
breakfast； and was feeling very hungry； let her wing fly away。
She was so weak and miserable； that directly her godmother
appeared she burst into tears； and could not speak for some time。
'Do not cry so； dear child；' said the godmother。 'I will carry
you away from all this； but the others I must leave to take their
chance。' Then； bidding Dotterine follow her； she passed through
the gates of the town； and through the army outside； and nobody
stopped them； or seemed to see them。
The next day the town surrendered； and the king and all his
courtiers were taken prisoners； but in the confusion his son
managed to make his escape。 The queen had already met her death
from a spear carelessly thrown。
As soon as Dotterine and her godmother were clear of the enemy；
Dotterine took off her own clothes； and put on those of a
peasant； and in order to disguise her better her godmother
changed her face completely。 'When better times come；' her
protectress said cheerfully； 'and you want to look like yourself
again； you have only to whisper the words I have taught you into
the basket； and say you would like to have your own face once
more； and it will be all right in a moment。 But you will have to
endure a little longer yet。' Then； warning her once more to take
care of the basket； the lady bade the girl farewell。
For many days Dotterine wandered from one place to another
without finding shelter； and though the food which she got from
the basket prevented her from starving； she was glad enough to
take service in a peasant's house till brighter days dawned。 At
first the work she had to do seemed very difficult； but either
she was wonderfully quick in learning； or else the basket may
have secretly helped her。 Anyhow at the end of three days she
could do everything as well as if she had cleaned pots and swept
rooms all her life。
One morning Dotterine was busy scouring a wooden tub； when a
noble lady happened to pass through the village。 The girl's
bright face as she stood in the front of the door with her tub
attracted the lady； and she stopped and called the girl to come
and speak to her。
'Would you not like to come and enter my service？' she asked。
'Very much；' replied Dotterine； 'if my present mistress will
allow me。'
'Oh； I will settle that；' answered the lady； and so she did； and
the same day they set out for the lady's house； Dotterine sitting
beside the coachman。
Six months went by； and then came the joyful news that the king's
son had collected an army and had defeated the usurper who had
taken his father's place； but at the same moment Dotterine
learned that the old king had died in captivity。 The girl wept
bitterly for his loss； but in secrecy； as she had told her
mistress nothing about her past life。
At the end of a year of mourning； the young king let it be known
that he intended to marry； and commanded all the maidens in the
kingdom to come to a feast； so that he might choose a wife from
among them。 For weeks all the mothers and