All the best doctors in the country were sent for , but it was no use , for there is no cure for death . The queen knew she was dying , and sent for Dotterine and her nurse , who had now become her lady-in-waiting . To her , as her most faithful servant , she gave the lucky basket in charge , and besought her to treasure it carefully . ` When my daughter , ' said the queen , ` is ten years old , you are to hand it over to her , but warn her solemnly that her whole future happiness depends on the way she guards it . About my son , I have no fears . He is the heir of the kingdom , and his father will look after him . ' The lady-in-waiting promised to carry out the queen 's directions , and above all to keep the affair a secret . And that same morning the queen died . After some years the king married again , but he did not love his second wife as he had done his first , and had only married her for reasons of ambition . She hated her step-children , and the king , seeing this , kept them out of the way , under the care of Dotterine 's old nurse . But if they ever strayed across the path of the queen , she would kick them out of her sight like dogs . On Dotterine 's tenth birthday her nurse handed her over the cradle , and repeated to her her mother 's dying words ; but the child was too young to understand the value of such a gift , and at first thought little about it . Two more years slipped by , when one day during the king 's absence the stepmother found Dotterine sitting under a lime tree . She fell as usual into a passion , and beat the child so badly that Dotterine went staggering to her own room . Her nurse was not there , but suddenly , as she stood weeping , her eyes fell upon the golden case in which lay the precious basket . She thought it might contain something to amuse her , and looked eagerly inside , but nothing was there save a handful of wool and two empty eggshells . Very much disappointed , she lifted the wool , and there lay the goose 's wing . ` What old rubbish , ' said the child to herself , and , turning , threw the wing out of the open window . In a moment a beautiful lady stood beside her . ` Do not be afraid , ' said the lady , stroking Dotterine 's head . '
I am your godmother , and have come XXXXX pay you a visit .
About After above across as by in into of to