Take this little many-coloured wand , and with a touch give to each root the form you desire to see . ' With this he left her , and the princess , without an instant 's delay , opened the basket , and touching a turnip , cried eagerly : ` Brunhilda , my dear Brunhilda ! come to me quickly ! ' And sure enough there was Brunhilda , joyfully hugging and kissing her beloved princess , and chattering as gaily as in the old days . This sudden appearance was so delightful that the princess could hardly believe her own eyes , and was quite beside herself with the joy of having her dear playfellow with her once more . Hand in hand they wandered about the enchanted garden , and gathered the golden apples from the trees , and when they were tired of this amusement the princess led her friend through all the wonderful rooms of the palace , until at last they came to the one in which were kept all the marvellous dresses and ornaments the gnome had given to his hoped-for bride . There they found so much to amuse them that the hours passed like minutes . Veils , girdles , and necklaces were tried on and admired , the imitation Brunhilda knew so well how to behave herself , and showed so much taste that nobody would ever have suspected that she was nothing but a turnip after all . The gnome , who had secretly been keeping an eye upon them , was very pleased with himself for having so well understood the heart of a woman ; and the princess seemed to him even more charming than before . She did not forget to touch the rest of the roots with her magic wand , and soon had all her maidens about her , and even , as she had two tiny radishes to spare , her favourite cat , and her little dog whose name was Beni . And now all went cheerfully in the castle . The princess gave to each of the maidens her task , and never was mistress better served . For a whole week she enjoyed the delight of her pleasant company undisturbed . They all sang , they danced , they played from morning to night ; only the princess noticed that day by day the fresh young faces of her maidens grew pale and wan , and the mirror in the great marble hall showed her that she alone still kept her rosy bloom , while Brunhilda and the rest faded visibly . They assured her that all was well with them ; but , nevertheless , they continued to waste away , and day by day it became harder to them to take part in the games of the princess , till at last , one fine morning , when the princess started from bed and hastened out to join her gay playfellows , she shuddered and started back at the sight of a group of shrivelled crones , with bent backs and trembling limbs , who supported their tottering steps with staves and crutches , and coughed dismally . A little nearer to the hearth lay the once frolicsome Beni , with all four feet stretched stiffly out , while the sleek cat seemed too weak to raise his head from his velvet cushion . The horrified princess fled to the door to escape from the sight of this mournful company , and called loudly for the gnome , who appeared at once , humbly anxious to do her bidding . ` Malicious Sprite , ' she cried , ` why do you begrudge me my playmates -- the greatest delight of my lonely hours ? Is n't this solitary life in such a desert bad enough without your turning the castle into a hospital for the aged ? Give my maidens back their youth and health this very minute , or I will never love you ! '
` Sweetest and fairest XXXXX damsels , ' cried the gnome , ` do not be angry ; everything that is in my power I will do -- but do not ask the impossible .
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