Page:Grimm-Rackham.djvu/108

In the early morning, when she and Conrad went through the gateway, she said in passing—

‘Alas! dear Falada, there thou hangest.’

And the Head answered—

‘Alas! Queen’s daughter, there thou gangest. If thy mother knew thy fate, Her heart would break with grief so great.’

Then they passed on out of the town, right into the fields, with the geese. When they reached the meadow, the Princess sat down on the grass and let down her hair. It shone like pure gold, and when little Conrad saw it, he was so delighted that he wanted to pluck some out; but she said—

‘Blow, blow, little breeze, And Conrad’s hat seize. Let him join in the chase While away it is whirled, Till my tresses are curled And I rest in my place.’

Then a strong wind sprang up, which blew away Conrad’s hat right over the fields, and he had to run after it. When he came back, she had finished combing her hair, and it was all put up again; so he could not get a single hair. This made him very sulky, and he would not say another word to her. And they tended the geese till evening, when they went home.

Next morning, when they passed under the gateway, the Princess said—

‘Alas! dear Falada, there thou hangest.’

Falada answered:—

‘Alas! Queen’s daughter, there thou gangest. If thy mother knew thy fate, Her heart would break with grief so great.’