Now the Gruagach was a kind of wicked fairy , with long curly brown hair , and his house was not very far from the king 's house . But though the king was young and eager , he was also prudent , and his father had told him on his deathbed to be very careful in his dealings with the ` good people , ' as the fairies were called . Therefore before going to the Gruagach the king sought out a wise man of the countryside . ' I am wanting to play a game with the curly-haired Gruagach , ' said he . ` Are you , indeed ? ' replied the wizard . ` If you will take my counsel , you will play with someone else . ' ` No ; I will play with the Gruagach , ' persisted the king . ` Well , if you must , you must , I suppose , ' answered the wizard ; ` but if you win that game , ask as a prize the ugly crop-headed girl that stands behind the door . ' ' I will , ' said the king . So before the sun rose he got up and went to the house of the Gruagach , who was sitting outside . ' O king , what has brought you here to-day ? ' asked the Gruagach . ` But right welcome you are , and more welcome will you be still if you will play a game with me . ' ` That is just what I want , ' said the king , and they played ; and sometimes it seemed as if one would win , and sometimes the other , but in the end it was the king who was the winner . ` And what is the prize that you will choose ? ' inquired the Gruagach . ` The ugly crop-headed girl that stands behind the door , ' replied the king . ` Why , there are twenty others in the house , and each fairer than she ! ' exclaimed the Gruagach .
` Fairer they may be , but it is she whom I wish for my wife , and none other , ' and the Gruagach saw that the king 's mind was set upon her , so he entered his house , and bade all the maidens XXXXX it come out one by one , and pass before the king .
before from if in of on than that to with