The good woman looked so surprised and grateful for this offer that the girl felt rather ashamed , and at that moment would have scrubbed down the house if she had been requested ; but her mother only begged her to take the fishing-net out to the bank of the river and mend some holes in it , as her father intended to go fishing that night . The girl took the net and worked so hard that soon there was not a hole to be found . She felt quite pleased with herself , though she had had plenty to amuse her , as everybody who passed by had stopped and had a chat with her . But by this time the sun was high overhead , and she was just folding her net to carry it home again , when she heard a splash behind her , and looking round she saw a big fish jump into the air . Seizing the net with both hands , she flung it into the water where the circles were spreading one behind the other , and , more by luck than skill , drew out the fish . ` Well , you are a beauty ! ' she cried to herself ; but the fish looked up to her and said : ` You had better not kill me , for , if you do , I will turn you into a fish yourself ! ' The girl laughed contemptuously , and ran straight in to her mother . ` Look what I have caught , ' she said gaily ; ` but it is almost a pity to eat it , for it can talk , and it declares that , if I kill it , it will turn me into a fish too . ' ` Oh , put it back , put it back ! ' implored the mother . ` Perhaps it is skilled in magic . And I should die , and so would your father , if anything should happen to you . ' ` Oh , nonsense , mother ; what power could a creature like that have over me ? Besides , I am hungry , and if I do n't have my dinner soon , I shall be cross . ' And off she went to gather some flowers to stick in her hair . About an hour later the blowing of a horn told her that dinner was ready . ` Did n't I say that fish would be delicious ? ' she cried ; and plunging her spoon into the dish the girl helped herself to a large piece . But the instant it touched her mouth a cold shiver ran through her .
Her head seemed to flatten , and her eyes XXXXX look oddly round the corners ; her legs and her arms were stuck to her sides , and she gasped wildly for breath .
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