This satisfied the Queen, who, on leaving her, said:
"Thou must begin to work for me to-morrow."
But when the maiden was once more alone, she did not know what to do,
or how to help herself, and in her distress she went to the window and
looked out. She saw three women passing by, the first of whom had a
great broad foot, the second such a large under-lip that it hung down
to her chin, and the third an enormous thumb.
They stopped under the window, and, looking up, asked the maiden what
was the matter.
When she had told them of her trouble, they immediately offered her
their help, and said:
"Wilt thou invite us to the wedding, and not be ashamed of us, but
call us thy aunts, and let us sit at thy table? If thou wilt, we will
spin all the flax, and do it in a very short time."
"With all my heart," answered the girl, "only come in, and begin at
once."
Then she admitted the three strange women, and, making a clear space
in the first room, they sat themselves down and began spinning.
One drew the thread and trod the wheel, the other moistened the
thread, the third pressed it and beat it on the table, and every time
she did so, a pile of thread fell on the ground spun in the finest
way.
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