and
at once it was as well as ever.

Blanche stayed with the old woman for three days and served her well;
she neither asked questions nor spoke of what she saw.

At the end of that time her mistress said to her, "My child, you have
now been with me for three days, and I can keep you here no longer.
You have served me well, and you shall not lack your reward. Go to the
chicken-house and look in the nests. You will find there a number of
eggs. Take all that say to you, 'Take me,' but those that say, 'Do not
take me,' you must not touch."

Blanche went out to the chicken-house and looked in the nests. There
were ever so many eggs; some of them were large and beautiful and
white and shining and so pretty that she longed to take them, but each
time she stretched out her hand toward one it cried, "Do not take me."
Then she did not touch it. There were also some small, brown,
muddy-looking eggs, and these called to her, "Take me!" So those were
the ones she took.

When she came back to the house the old woman looked to see which ones
she had taken. "You have done what was right," said she, "and you will
not regret it." She then showed Blanche a path by which she could
return to her own home without having to pass through the thorn hedge.

"As you go throw the eggs behind you," she said, "and you will see
what you shall see. One thing I can tell you, your mother will be glad
enough to have you home again after that."

Blanche thanked her for the eggs, though she did not think much of
them, and started out. After she had gone a little way she threw one
of the eggs over her shoulder. It broke on the path, and a whole
bucket full of gold poured out from it. Blanche had never seen so much
gold in all her life before.

She gathered it up in her apron and went a little farther, and then
she threw another egg over her shoulder. When it broke a whole bucket
full of diamonds poured out over the path. They fairly dazzled the
eyes, they were so bright and sparkling.

Blanche gathered them up, and went on farther, and threw another egg
over her shoulder. Out from it came all sorts of fine clothes,
embroidered and set all over with gems. Blanche put them on, and then
she looked like the most beautiful princess that ever was seen.

She threw the last egg over her shoulder, and there stood a magnificent
golden coach drawn by four white horses, and with coachman and footman
all complete. Blanche stepped into the coach, and away the