Page 33 - The Green Beaubird

The wicked old woman smiled at the king's
words, making believe they were but fancy,
but within she felt as if a dagger had smitten
her heart. Then she bade them summon the
midwife who had been present at the birth,
and said to her in private, 'Good gossip, do
you not know that the king's children, so far
from b dead as we hoped, are alive, and are

grown up as beautiful as the day?' 'How can
this be?' replied the woman; 'were they not
drowned in the river? Who has told you
this?' The queen mother answered: 'From
what I gather from the words of the king I
am almost sure they are alive. We must be
up and doing at once, for we are in great

danger.' 'Do not be alarmed, madam,' said
the midwife, 'I have in mind a plan by which
we can now assuredly compass the
destruction of all the three.'

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