The old woman neither
answered nor looked up, for, of course, she did not hear.
So the Princess stepped into the room and laid her hand upon the old
woman's shoulder.
Goody started then, looked up, and rubbed her eyes.
"Deary, deary me!" cried she, in a high, cracked voice. "And who may
you be, my pretty darling?"
"I'm the Princess Miranda," screamed the maiden in her ear, but the
old woman only shook her head--she could hear nothing.
Then the Princess pointed to the spindle, and made the old woman
understand that she wanted to try if she could work it.
So Goody nodded, and laughed, and got up from her seat, and the
Princess sat down and took the spindle in her hand. But no sooner did
she touch it than she pricked the palm of her hand with the point, and
sank down in a swoon.
Immediately a deep silence fell on all around. The little bird that
only a moment before had been singing so sweetly upon the window-sill
hushed his song. The distant hum of voices from the courtyard beneath
ceased; even Goody stopped short in the directions she was giving
the Princess, and neither moved hand nor foot towards the poor little
maid, and all because she had fallen fast asleep as she stood.
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