Then she drank it all up except a little drop at the bottom . ` Now throw any that is left over my hoofs , and hang the pail on my horns again , ' said the cow . And the girl did as she was bid , and kissed the cow on her forehead and went her way . Many hours had now passed since the girl had fallen down the well , and the sun was setting . ` Where shall I spend the night ? ' thought she . And suddenly she saw before her a gate which she had not noticed before , and a very old woman leaning against it . ` Good evening , ' said the girl politely ; and the old woman answered : ` Good evening , my child . Would that everyone was as polite as you . Are you in search of anything ? ' ' I am in search of a place , ' replied the girl ; and the woman smiled and said : ` Then stop a little while and comb my hair , and you shall tell me all the things you can do . ' ` Willingly , mother , ' answered the girl . And she began combing out the old woman 's hair , which was long and white . Half an hour passed in this way , and then the old woman said : ` As you did not think yourself too good to comb me , I will show you where you may take service . Be prudent and patient and all will go well . ' So the girl thanked her , and set out for a farm at a little distance , where she was engaged to milk the cows and sift the corn . As soon as it was light next morning the girl got up and went into the cow-house . ` I 'm sure you must be hungry , ' said she , patting each in turn . And then she fetched hay from the barn , and while they were eating it , she swept out the cow-house , and strewed clean straw upon the floor . The cows were so pleased with the care she took of them that they stood quite still while she milked them , and did not play any of the tricks on her that they had played on other dairymaids who were rough and rude .
And when she had done , and was going to get up XXXXX her stool , she found sitting round her a whole circle of cats , black and white , tabby and tortoise-shell , who all cried with one voice : ` We are very thirsty , please give us some milk ! '
So against as at before for from in on while