Well , do n't be anxious . I know better than to hurt so rare a bird . But I could bet you were not always in this plumage -- was n't I a squirrel myself for a time ? ' ` You are right , ' said the goose , ` in supposing I was not born in this horrid shape . Ah ! no one ever thought that Mimi , the daughter of the great Weatherbold , would be killed for the ducal table . ' ` Be quite easy , Mistress Mimi , ' comforted Jem . ` As sure as I 'm an honest man and assistant head cook to his highness , no one shall harm you . I will make a hutch for you in my own rooms , and you shall be well fed , and I 'll come and talk to you as much as I can . I 'll tell all the other cooks that I am fattening up a goose on very special food for the grand duke , and at the first good opportunity I will set you free . ' The goose thanked him with tears in her eyes , and the dwarf kept his word . He killed the other two geese for dinner , but built a little shed for Mimi in one of his rooms , under the pretence of fattening her under his own eye . He spent all his spare time talking to her and comforting her , and fed her on all the daintiest dishes . They confided their histories to each other , and Jem learnt that the goose was the daughter of the wizard Weatherbold , who lived on the island of Gothland . He fell out with an old fairy , who got the better of him by cunning and treachery , and to revenge herself turned his daughter into a goose and carried her off to this distant place . When Long Nose told her his story she said : ' I know a little of these matters , and what you say shows me that you are under a herb enchantment -- that is to say , that if you can find the herb whose smell woke you up the spell would be broken . ' This was but small comfort for Jem , for how and where was he to find the herb ? About this time the grand duke had a visit from a neighbouring prince , a friend of his . He sent for Long Nose and said to him : ` Now is the time to show what you can really do . This prince who is staying with me has better dinners than any one except myself , and is a great judge of cooking .
As long as he is here you must take care XXXXX my table shall be served in a manner to surprise him constantly .
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