` How absurd to walk about on such a pouring night , dressed up like that , ' she remarked crossly , and roughly pulled off the wreath as she spoke , to place it on her own daughter . As she did so the roses became withered and brown , and the birds flew out of the window . ` See what a trumpery thing it is ! ' cried the stepmother ; ` and now take your supper and go to bed , for it is near upon midnight . ' But though she pretended to despise the wreath , she longed none the less for her daughter to have one like it . Now it happened that the next evening the father , who had been alone in the forest , came back a second time without his axe . The stepmother 's heart was glad when she saw this , and she said quite mildly : ` Why , you have forgotten your axe again , you careless man ! But now your daughter shall stay at home , and mine shall go and bring it back ' ; and throwing a cloak over the girl 's shoulders , she bade her hasten to the forest . With a very ill grace the damsel set forth , grumbling to herself as she went ; for though she wished for the wreath , she did not at all want the trouble of getting it . By the time she reached the spot where her stepfather had been cutting the wood the girl was in a very bad temper indeed , and when she caught sight of the axe , there were the three little doves , with drooping heads and soiled , bedraggled feathers , sitting on the handle . ` You dirty creatures , ' cried she , ` get away at once , or I will throw stones at you ! And the doves spread their wings in a fright and flew up to the very top of a tree , their bodies shaking with anger . ` What shall we do to revenge ourselves on her ? ' asked the smallest of the doves , ` we were never treated like that before . ' ` Never , ' said the biggest dove . ` We must find some way of paying her back in her own coin ! ' ' I know , ' answered the middle dove ; ` she shall never be able to say anything but `` dirty creatures '' to the end of her life . ' ` Oh , how clever of you ! That will do beautifully , ' exclaimed the other two . And they flapped their wings and clucked so loud with delight , and made such a noise , that they woke up all the birds in the trees close by .
` What XXXXX the world is the matter ? '
With at by in like of on over to without