Then she told them how her stepmother had wished her put to death, and how the Huntsman had spared her life, and how she had run the whole day till she had come to their little house.The Dwarfs, when they had heard her sad story, asked her:
`Will you stay and keep house for us, cook, make the beds, the washing, sew and knit? and if you give satisfaction and keep everything neat and clean, you shall want for nothing.'
`Yes,' answered Snowdrop, `I will gladly do all you ask.'
And so she took up her abode with them.Every morning the Dwarfs went into the mountain to dig for gold, and in the evening, when they returned home, Snowdrop always had their supper ready for them.But during the day the girl was left quite alone, so the good Dwarfs warned her, saying:
`Beware of your step-mother.She will soon find out you are here, and whatever you do don't let anyone into the house.'
Now the Queen, after she thought she had eaten Snowdrop's lungs and liver, never dreamed but that she was once more the most beautiful woman in the world; so stepping before her mirror one day she said:
`Mirror, mirror, hanging there, Who in all the land's most fair?'
and the mirror replied:
`My Lady Queen, you are fair, 'tis true, But Snowdrop is fairer far than you.
Snowdrop, who dwells with the seven little men, Is as fair as you, as fair again.'
When the Queen heard these words she was nearly struck dumb with horror, for the mirror always spoke the truth, and she knew now that the Huntsman must have deceived her, and that Snowdrop was still alive.She pondered day and night how she might destroy her, for as long as she felt she had a rival in the land her jealous heart left her no rest.At last she hit upon a plan.She stained her face and dressed herself up as an old peddler wife, so that she was quite unrecognisable.In this guise she went over the seven hills till she came to the house of the seven Dwarfs.There she knocked at the door, calling out at the same time:
`Fine wares to sell, fine wares to sell!'
Snowdrop peeped out of the window, and called out:
`Good-day, mother, what have you to sell?'
`Good wares, fine wares,' she answered; `laces of every shade and description,' and she held one up that was made of some gay coloured silk.
`Surely I can let the honest woman in,' thought Snowdrop; so she unbarred the door and bought the pretty lace.
`Good gracious! child,' said the old woman, `what a figure you've got.Come! I'll lace you up properly for once.'
Snowdrop, suspecting no evil, stood before her and let her lace her bodice up, but the old woman laced her so quickly and so tightly that it took Snowdrop's breath away, and she fell down dead.
`Now you are no longer the fairest,' said the wicked old woman, and then she hastened away.
In the evening the seven Dwarfs came home, and you may think what a fright they got when they saw their dear Snowdrop lying on the floor, as still and motionless as a dead person.They lifted her up tenderly, and when they saw how tightly laced she was they cut the lace in two, and she began to breathe a little and gradually came back to life.When the Dwarfs heard what had happened, they said:
`Depend upon it, the old peddler wife was none other than the old Queen.In future you must be sure to let no one in, if we are not at home.'
As soon as the wicked old Queen got home she went straight to her mirror, and said:
`Mirror, mirror, hanging there, Who in all the land's most fair?'
and the mirror answered as before:
`My Lady Queen, you are fair, 'tis true, But Snowdrop is fairer far than you.
Snowdrop, who dwells with the seven little men, Is as fair as you, as fair again.'
When she heard this she became as pale as death, because she saw at once that Snowdrop must be alive again.
`This time,' she said to herself, `I will think of something that will make an end of her once and for all.'
And by the witchcraft which she understood so well she made a poisonous comb; then she dressed herself up and assumed the form of another old woman.So she went over the seven hills till she reached the house of the seven Dwarfs, and knocking at the door she called out:
`Fine wares for sale.'
Snowdrop looked out of the window and said:
`You must go away, for I may not let anyone in.'
`But surely you are not forbidden to look out?' said the old woman, and she held up the poisonous comb for her to see.
It pleased the girl so much that she let herself be taken in, and opened the door.When they had settled their bargain the old woman said:
`Now I'll comb your hair properly for you, for once in the way.'
Poor Snowdrop thought no evil, but hardly had the comb touched her hair than the poison worked and she fell down unconscious.
`Now, my fine lady, you're really done for this time,' said the wicked woman, and she made her way home as fast as she could.
Fortunately it was now near evening, and the seven Dwarfs returned home.When they saw Snowdrop lying dead on the ground, they at once suspected that her wicked step-mother had been at work again; so they searched till they found the poisonous comb, and the moment they pulled it out of her head Snowdrop came to herself again, and told them what had happened.Then they warned her once more to be on her guard, and to open the door to no one.
As soon as the Queen got home she went straight to her mirror, and asked:
