continued the Dwarfs . Then she told them how her stepmother had wished her put to death , and how the Huntsman had spared her life , and how she had run the whole day till she had come to their little house . The Dwarfs , when they had heard her sad story , asked her : ` Will you stay and keep house for us , cook , make the beds , the washing , sew and knit ? and if you give satisfaction and keep everything neat and clean , you shall want for nothing . ' ` Yes , ' answered Snowdrop , ' I will gladly do all you ask . ' And so she took up her abode with them . Every morning the Dwarfs went into the mountain to dig for gold , and in the evening , when they returned home , Snowdrop always had their supper ready for them . But during the day the girl was left quite alone , so the good Dwarfs warned her , saying : ` Beware of your step-mother . She will soon find out you are here , and whatever you do do n't let anyone into the house . ' Now the Queen , after she thought she had eaten Snowdrop 's lungs and liver , never dreamed but that she was once more the most beautiful woman in the world ; so stepping before her mirror one day she said : ` Mirror , mirror , hanging there , Who in all the land 's most fair ? ' and the mirror replied : ` My Lady Queen , you are fair , 't is true , But Snowdrop is fairer far than you . Snowdrop , who dwells with the seven little men , Is as fair as you , as fair again . ' When the Queen heard these words she was nearly struck dumb with horror , for the mirror always spoke the truth , and she knew now that the Huntsman must have deceived her , and that Snowdrop was still alive . She pondered day and night how she might destroy her , for as long as she felt she had a rival in the land her jealous heart left her no rest . At last she hit upon a plan . She stained her face and dressed herself up as an old peddler wife , so that she was quite unrecognisable . In this guise she went over the seven hills till she came to the house of the seven Dwarfs . There she knocked at the door , calling out at the same time : ` Fine wares to sell , fine wares to sell ! ' Snowdrop peeped out of the window , and called out : ` Good-day , mother , what have you to sell ? ' ` Good wares , fine wares , ' she answered ; ` laces of every shade and description , ' and she held one up that was made of some gay coloured silk .
` Surely I can let the honest woman in , ' thought XXXXX ; so she unbarred the door and bought the pretty lace .
't Dwarfs Huntsman Queen Snowdrop day evening morning night step-mother