or to have much good fortune to spare
for anyone else.'

'Under rough bark lies smooth wood and sweet kernel,' replied the old
woman. 'Let me see your hand, that I may read the future.'

The queen held out her hand, and the old woman examined its lines
closely. Then she said, 'Your heart is heavy with two sorrows, one old
and one new. The new sorrow is for your husband, who is fighting far
away from you; but, believe me, he is well, and will soon bring you
joyful news. But your other sorrow is much older than this. Your
happiness is spoilt because you have no children.' At these words the
queen became scarlet, and tried to draw away her hand, but the old woman
said:

'Have a little patience, for there are some things I want to see more
clearly.'

'But who are you?' asked the queen, 'for you seem to be able to read my
heart.'

'Never mind my name,' answered she, 'but rejoice that it is permitted to
me to show you a way to lessen your grief. You must, however, promise to
do exactly what I tell you, if any good is to come of it.'

'Oh, I will obey you exactly,' cried the queen, 'and if you can help me
you shall have in return anything you ask for.'

The old woman stood thinking for a little: then she drew something from
the folds of her dress, and, undoing a number of wrappings, brought out
a tiny basket made of birch-bark. She held it out to the queen, saying,
'In the basket you will find a bird's egg. This you must be careful to
keep in a warm place for three months, when it will turn into a doll.
Lay the doll in a basket lined with soft wool, and leave it alone, for
it will not need any food, and by-and-by you will find it has grown to
be the size of a baby. Then you will have a baby of your own, and you
must put it by the side of the other child, and bring your husband to
see his son and daughter. The boy you will bring up yourself, but you
must entrust the little girl to a nurse. When the time comes to have
them christened you will invite me to be godmother to the princess, and
this is how you must send the invitation. Hidden in the cradle, you will
find a goose's wing: throw this out of the window, and I will be with
you directly; but be sure you tell no one of all the things that have
befallen you.'

The queen was about to reply, but the old woman was already limping
away, and before she had gone two steps she had turned into a young
girl, who moved so quickly that she seemed rather to fly than to walk.