she cried at last , and leaned her head against the loom and wept ; but at that instant the door opened , and there entered , one behind another , a procession of cats . ` What is the matter , fair maiden ? ' asked they . And the girl answered : ` My mistress has given me this yarn to weave into a piece of cloth , which must be finished by sunset , and I have not even begun yet , for the yarn breaks whenever I touch it . ' ` If that is all , dry your eyes , ' said the cats ; ` we will manage it for you . ' And they jumped on the loom , and wove so fast and so skilfully that in a very short time the cloth was ready and was as fine as any king ever wore . The girl was so delighted at the sight of it that she gave each cat a kiss on his forehead as they left the room behind one the other as they had come . ` Who has taught you this wisdom ? ' asked the old woman , after she had passed her hands twice or thrice over the cloth and could find no roughness anywhere . But the girl only smiled and did not answer . She had learned early the value of silence . After a few weeks the old woman sent for her maid and told her that as her year of service was now up , she was free to return home , but that , for her part , the girl had served her so well that she hoped she might stay with her . But at these words the maid shook her head , and answered gently : ' I have been happy here , Madam , and I thank you for your goodness to me ; but I have left behind me a stepsister and a stepmother , and I am fain to be with them once more . ' The old woman looked at her for a moment , and then she said : ` Well , that must be as you like ; but as you have worked faithfully for me I will give you a reward . Go now into the loft above the store house and there you will find many caskets . Choose the one which pleases you best , but be careful not to open it till you have set it in the place where you wish it to remain . ' The girl left the room to go to the loft , and as soon as she got outside , she found all the cats waiting for her . Walking in procession , as was their custom , they followed her into the loft , which was filled with caskets big and little , plain and splendid . She lifted up one and looked at it , and then put it down to examine another yet more beautiful . Which should she choose , the yellow or the blue , the red or the green , the gold or the silver ?
She hesitated long , and went first XXXXX one and then to another , when she heard the cats ' voices calling : ` Take the black !
After above as at behind in of over to with