He had now to begin all his work over again , but by this time it only wanted an hour of evening , when the witch was to be expected home , and he easily saw that it was impossible for him to be finished by that time . Then he heard something tapping at the window pane , and a thin voice said , ` Let me in , and I will help you . ' It was a white dove , which sat outside the window , and was pecking at it with its beak . He opened the window , and the dove came in and set to work at once , and picked all the feathers out of the heap with its beak . Before the hour was past the feathers were all nicely arranged : the dove flew out at the window , and at , the same moment the witch came in at the door . ` Well , well , ' said she , ` it was more than I would have expected of you to get all the feathers put in order so nicely . However , such a prince might be expected to have neat fingers . ' Next morning the witch said to the prince , ` To-day you shall have some easy work to do . Outside the door I have some firewood lying ; you must split that for me into little bits that I can kindle the fire with . That will soon be done , but you must be finished before I come home . ' The prince got a little axe and set to work at once . He split and clove away , and thought that he was getting on fast ; but the day wore on until it was long past midday , and he was still very far from having finished . He thought , in fact , that the pile of wood rather grew bigger than smaller , in spite of what he took off it ; so he let his hands fall by his side , and dried the sweat from his forehead , and was ill at ease , for he knew that it would be bad for him if he was not finished with the work before the witch came home . Then the white dove came flying and settled down on the pile of wood , and cooed and said , ` Shall I help you ? ' ` Yes , ' said the prince , ` many thanks for your help yesterday , and for what you offer to-day . ' Thereupon the little dove seized one piece of wood after another and split it with its beak . The prince could not take away the wood as quickly as the dove could split it , and in a short time it was all cleft into little sticks . The dove then flew up on his shoulder and sat there and the prince thanked it , and stroked and caressed its white feathers , and kissed its little red beak . With that it was a dove no longer , but a beautiful young maiden , who stood by his side . She told him then that she was a princess whom the witch had stolen , and had changed to this shape , but with his kiss she had got her human form again ; and if he would be faithful to her , and take her to wife , she could free them both from the witch 's power .
The prince was quite captivated by the beautiful princess , and was quite willing XXXXX do anything whatsoever to get her for himself .
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