Lizina looked round her in astonishment as they went down into the great vaulted cellar underneath the kitchen . Before her stood the big earthenware water jars , one of which contained oil , the other a liquid shining like gold . ` In which of these jars shall I dip you ? ' asked Father Gatto , with a grin that showed all his sharp white teeth , while his moustaches stood out straight on either side of his face . The little maid looked at the two jars from under her long dark lashes : ` In the oil jar , ' she answered timidly , thinking to herself : ' I could not ask to be bathed in gold . ' But Father Gatto replied : ` No , no ; you have deserved something better than that . ' And seizing her in his strong paws he plunged her into the liquid gold . Wonder of wonders ! when Lizina came out of the jar she shone from head to foot like the sun in the heavens on a fine summer 's day . Her pretty pink cheeks and long black hair alone kept their natural colour , otherwise she had become like a statue of pure gold . Father Gatto purred loudly with satisfaction . ` Go home , ' he said , ` and see your mother and sisters ; but take care if you hear the cock crow to turn towards it ; if on the contrary the ass brays , you must look the other way . ' The little maid , having gratefully kissed the white paw of the old cat , set off for home ; but just as she got near her mother 's house the cock crowed , and quickly she turned towards it . Immediately a beautiful golden star appeared on her forehead , crowning her glossy black hair . At the same time the ass began to bray , but Lizina took care not to look over the fence into the field where the donkey was feeding . Her mother and sister , who were in front of their house , uttered cries of admiration and astonishment when they saw her , and their cries became still louder when Lizina , taking her handkerchief from her pocket , drew out also a handful of gold . For some days the mother and her two daughters lived very happily together , for Lizina had given them everything she had brought away except her golden clothing , for that would not come off , in spite of all the efforts of her sister , who was madly jealous of her good fortune . The golden star , too , could not be removed from her forehead . But all the gold pieces she drew from her pockets had found their way to her mother and sister . ' I will go now and see what I can get out of the pussies , ' said Peppina , the elder girl , one morning , as she took Lizina 's basket and fastened her pockets into her own skirt . '
I should like some XXXXX the cats ' gold for myself , ' she thought , as she left her mother 's house before the sun rose .
For In at from into like near of while with