You will let her stay ? ' The mother laughed , but said nothing , only she looked Elsa up and down sharply . Then she told the girl to come near , and stroked her cheeks and spoke kindly to her , asking if her parents were alive , and if she really would like to stay with them . Elsa stooped and kissed her hand , then , kneeling down , buried her face in the woman 's lap , and sobbed out : ` My mother has lain for many years under the ground . My father is still alive , but I am nothing to him , and my stepmother beats me all the day long . I can do nothing right , so let me , I pray you , stay with you . I will look after the flocks or do any work you tell me ; I will obey your lightest word ; only do not , I entreat you , send me back to her . She will half kill me for not having come back with the other children . ' And the woman smiled and answered , ` Well , we will see what we can do with you , ' and , rising , went into the house . Then the daughter said to Elsa , ` Fear nothing , my mother will be your friend . I saw by the way she looked that she would grant your request when she had thought over it , ' and , telling Elsa to wait , she entered the house to seek her mother . Elsa meanwhile was tossed about between hope and fear , and felt as if the girl would never come . At last Elsa saw her crossing the grass with a box in her hand . ` My mother says we may play together to-day , as she wants to make up her mind what to do about you . But I hope you will stay here always , as I ca n't bear you to go away . Have you ever been on the sea ? ' ` The sea ? ' asked Elsa , staring ; ` what is that ? I 've never heard of such a thing ! ' ` Oh , I 'll soon show you , ' answered the girl , taking the lid from the box , and at the very bottom lay a scrap of a cloak , a mussel shell , and two fish scales .
Two drops XXXXX water were glistening on the cloak , and these the girl shook on the ground .
as at from into of on over that to under