Oldal 273 [273]
= r= Mássz!
= wa sali a A =n
SNOW-WHITE. 217
and thought how she could manage to make an end of her,
for as long as she was not the fairest in the land, envy left her
no rest. At last she thought of a plan; she painted her face
and dressed herself like an old pedlar woman, so that no one
would have known her. In this disguise she went across the
seven mountains, until she came to the house of the seven
little dwarfs, and she knocked at the door and cried,
“Fine wares to sell! fine wares to sell !”
Snow-white peeped out of the window and cried,
“Good-day, good woman, what have you to sell?”
“Good wares, fine wares,” answered she, “laces of all
colours ; " and she held up a piece that was woven of variegated
silk.
“T need not be afraid of letting in this good woman,”
thought Snow-white, and she unbarred the door and bought
the pretty lace.
“What a figure you are, child!” said the old woman,
“come and let me lace you properly for once.”
Snow-white, suspecting nothing, stood up before her, and
let her lace her with the new lace; but the old woman laced
so quick and tight that it took Snow-white’s breath away, and
9
“Now you have done with being the fairest,” said the old
woman as she hastened away.
Not long after that, towards evening, the seven dwarfs came
home, and were terrified to see their dear Snow-white lying
lace in two; then she began to draw breath, and little by little
happened they said,
- The old pedlar woman was no other than the wicked
queen ; you must beware of letting any one in when we are
not here!”
And when the wicked woman got home she went to her
glass and said,
‘* Looking-glass against the wall,
Who is fairest of us all?"