memory from sunset to sunrise; but from sunrise to sunset he travelled
on under the charm, and never threw his eye behind. This night they came
to where the youngest baby was, and the next morning, just before
sunrise, the prince spoke to her for the last time. 'Here, my poor
wife,' said he, 'is a little hand-reel, with gold thread that has no
end, and the half of our marriage ring. If you ever get to my house, and
put your half-ring to mine, I shall recollect you. There is a wood
yonder, and the moment I enter it I will forget everything that ever
happened between us, just as if I was born yesterday. Farewell, dear
wife and child, for ever!' Just then the sun rose, and away he walked
towards the wood. She saw it open before him, and close after him, and
when she came up, she could no more get in than she could break through
a stone wall. She wrung her hands and shed tears, but then she
recollected herself, and cried out, 'Wood, I charge you by my three
magic gifts, the scissors, the comb, and the reel--to let me through';
and it opened, and she went along a walk till she came in sight of a
palace, and a lawn, and a woodman's cottage on the edge of the wood
where it came nearest the palace.

She went into this lodge, and asked the woodman and his wife to take her
into their service. They were not willing at first; but she told them
she would ask no wages, and would give them diamonds, and pearls, and
silk stuffs, and gold thread whenever they wished for them, and then
they agreed to let her stay.

It wasn't long till she heard how a young prince, that was just arrived,
was living in the palace of the young mistress. He seldom stirred
abroad, and every one that saw him remarked how silent and sorrowful he
went about, like a person that was searching for some lost thing.

The servants and conceited folk at the big house began to take notice of
the beautiful young woman at the lodge, and to annoy her with their
impudence. The head footman was the most troublesome, and at last she
invited him to _come and take tea_ with her. Oh, how rejoiced he was,
and how he bragged of it in the servants' hall! Well, the evening came,
and the footman walked into the lodge, and was shown to her
sitting-room; for the lodge-keeper and his wife stood in great awe of
her, and gave her two nice rooms for herself. Well, he sat down as stiff
as a ramrod, and was talking in a grand style about the great doings at
the castle, while she was gett