ly daughter.

The princess was a very beautiful damsel, but ever since she was twelve
years old she had ceased speaking, and no one ever heard a single word
from her. The king was much grieved, and caused a proclamation to be
made that whoever should bring it to pass that she should speak again,
should be her husband. Many young kings, princes, and other great lords
announced themselves one after the other, but all went away as they had
come; no one succeeded in causing her to speak. "Why shouldn't I try my
luck?" thought Vanek; "who knows whether I mayn't succeed in bringing
her to answer when I ask her a question?" He at once caused himself to
be announced at the palace, and the king and his councillors conducted
him into the room where the princess was. The king's daughter had a
pretty little dog, and was very fond of him, because he was so clever,
understanding everything that she wanted. When Vanek went into the room
with the king and his councillors, he made as if he didn't even see the
princess, but turned to the dog and said: "I have heard, doggie, that
you are very clever, and I come to you for advice. We are three
companions in travel, a sculptor, a tailor, and myself. Once upon a time
we were going through a forest and were obliged to pass the night in it.
To be safe from wolves, we made a fire, and agreed to keep watch one
after the other. The sculptor kept watch first, and for amusement to
kill time took a log and carved a damsel out of it. When it was
finished, he woke the tailor to keep watch in his turn. The tailor,
seeing the wooden damsel, asked what it meant. 'As you see,' said the
sculptor, 'I was weary, and didn't know what to do with myself, so I
carved a damsel out of a log; if you find time hang heavy on your hands,
you can dress her.' The tailor at once took out his scissors, needle and
thread, cut out the clothes, stitched away, and, when they were ready,
dressed the damsel in them. He then called me to come and keep watch. I,
too, asked him what the meaning of all this was. 'As you see,' said the
tailor, 'the sculptor found time hang heavy on his hands and carved a
damsel out of a log, and I for the same reason clothed her; and if you
find time hanging on your hands, you can teach her to speak.' And by
morning dawn I had actually taught her to speak. But in the morning when
my companions woke up, each wanted to possess the damsel. The sculptor
said, 'I made her;' the tailor, 'I clothed her.' I,