Good-night , friends , good-night ! ' Then the swallow flew away , and the children , who had forgotten both hunger and weariness in the joy of this strange news , rose up and followed in the direction of her flight . After two hours ' walking , they arrived at a large city , which they felt sure must be the capital of their father 's kingdom . Seeing a good-natured looking woman standing at the door of a house , they asked her if she would give them a night 's lodging , and she was so pleased with their pretty faces and nice manners that she welcomed them warmly . It was scarcely light the next morning before the girl was sweeping out the rooms , and the boy watering the garden , so that by the time the good woman came downstairs there was nothing left for her to do . This so delighted her that she begged the children to stay with her altogether , and the boy answered that he would leave his sisters with her gladly , but that he himself had serious business on hand and must not linger in pursuit of it . So he bade them farewell and set out . For three days he wandered by the most out-of-the-way paths , but no signs of a tower were to be seen anywhere . On the fourth morning it was just the same , and , filled with despair , he flung himself on the ground under a tree and hid his face in his hands . In a little while he heard a rustling over his head , and looking up , he saw a turtle dove watching him with her bright eyes . ` Oh dove ! ' cried the boy , addressing the bird in her own language , ` Oh dove ! tell me , I pray you , where is the castle of Come-and-never-go ? ' ` Poor child , ' answered the dove , ` who has sent you on such a useless quest ? ' ` My good or evil fortune , ' replied the boy , ' I know not which . ' ` To get there , ' said the dove , ` you must follow the wind , which to-day is blowing towards the castle . ' The boy thanked her , and followed the wind , fearing all the time that it might change its direction and lead him astray . But the wind seemed to feel pity for him and blew steadily on . With each step the country became more and more dreary , but at nightfall the child could see behind the dark and bare rocks something darker still . This was the tower in which dwelt the witch ; and seizing the knocker he gave three loud knocks , which were echoed in the hollows of the rocks around .
The door opened slowly , and there appeared on the threshold an old woman holding up a candle to her face , which was so hideous XXXXX the boy involuntarily stepped backwards , almost as frightened by the troop of lizards , beetles and such creatures that surrounded her , as by the woman herself .
After In To With by of on over that while