They were all three beautiful , but the youngest was the fairest . Their hut was quite hidden by trees , and none saw their beauty but the sun by day , and the moon by night , and the eyes of the stars . The old woman kept the girls hard at work , from morning till night , spinning gold flax into yarn , and when one distaff was empty another was given them , so they had no rest . The thread had to be fine and even , and when done was locked up in a secret chamber by the old woman , who twice or thrice every summer went a journey . Before she went she gave out work for each day of her absence , and always returned in the night , so that the girls never saw what she brought back with her , neither would she tell them whence the gold flax came , nor what it was to be used for . Now , when the time came round for the old woman to set out on one of these journeys , she gave each maiden work for six days , with the usual warning : `` Children , do n't let your eyes wander , and on no account speak to a man , for , if you do , your thread will lose its brightness , and misfortunes of all kinds will follow . '' They laughed at this oft-repeated caution , saying to each other : `` How can our gold thread lose its brightness , and have we any chance of speaking to a man ? '' On the third day after the old woman 's departure a young prince , hunting in the forest , got separated from his companions , and completely lost . Weary of seeking his way , he flung himself down under a tree , leaving his horse to browse at will , and fell asleep . The sun had set when he awoke and began once more to try and find his way out of the forest . At last he perceived a narrow foot-path , which he eagerly followed and found that it led him to a small hut . The maidens , who were sitting at the door of their hut for coolness , saw him approaching , and the two elder were much alarmed , for they remembered the old woman 's warning ; but the youngest said : `` Never before have I seen anyone like him ; let me have one look . '' They entreated her to come in , but , seeing that she would not , left her , and the Prince , coming up , courteously greeted the maiden , and told her he had lost his way in the forest and was both hungry and weary . She set food before him , and was so delighted with his conversation that she forgot the old woman 's caution , and lingered for hours . In the meantime the Prince 's companions sought him far and wide , but to no purpose , so they sent two messengers to tell the sad news to the King , who immediately ordered a regiment of cavalry and one of infantry to go and look for him . After three days ' search , they found the hut . The Prince was still sitting by the door and had been so happy in the maiden 's company that the time had seemed like a single hour . Before leaving he promised to return and fetch her to his father 's court , where he would make her his bride . When he had gone , she sat down to her wheel to make up for lost time , but was dismayed to find that her thread had lost all its brightness . Her heart beat fast and she wept bitterly , for she remembered the old woman 's warning and knew not what misfortune might now befall her .
The old woman returned in the night and knew by the tarnished thread what had happened XXXXX her absence .
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