Anyhow at the end of three days she could do everything as well as if she had cleaned pots and swept rooms all her life . One morning Dotterine was busy scouring a wooden tub , when a noble lady happened to pass through the village . The girl 's bright face as she stood in the front of the door with her tub attracted the lady , and she stopped and called the girl to come and speak to her . ` Would you not like to come and enter my service ? ' she asked . ` Very much , ' replied Dotterine , ` if my present mistress will allow me . ' ` Oh , I will settle that , ' answered the lady ; and so she did , and the same day they set out for the lady 's house , Dotterine sitting beside the coachman . Six months went by , and then came the joyful news that the king 's son had collected an army and had defeated the usurper who had taken his father 's place , but at the same moment Dotterine learned that the old king had died in captivity . The girl wept bitterly for his loss , but in secrecy , as she had told her mistress nothing about her past life . At the end of a year of mourning , the young king let it be known that he intended to marry , and commanded all the maidens in the kingdom to come to a feast , so that he might choose a wife from among them . For weeks all the mothers and all the daughters in the land were busy preparing beautiful dresses and trying new ways of putting up their hair , and the three lovely daughters of Dotterine 's mistress were as much excited as the rest . The girl was clever with her fingers , and was occupied all day with getting ready their smart clothes , but at night when she went to bed she always dreamed that her godmother bent over her and said , ` Dress your young ladies for the feast , and when they have started follow them yourself . Nobody will be so fine as you . ' When the great day came , Dotterine could hardly contain herself , and when she had dressed her young mistresses and seen them depart with their mother she flung herself on her bed , and burst into tears . Then she seemed to hear a voice whisper to her , ` Look in your basket , and you will find in it everything that you need . ' Dotterine did not want to be told twice ! Up she jumped , seized her basket , and repeated the magic words , and behold ! there lay a dress on the bed , shining as a star . She put it on with fingers that trembled with joy , and , looking in the glass , was struck dumb at her own beauty . She went downstairs , and in front of the door stood a fine carriage , into which she stepped and was driven away like the wind .
The king 's palace was a long way off , yet it seemed only a few minutes before XXXXX drew up at the great gates .
Dotterine day days godmother mistresses months night usurper weeks year