Quickly she turned her head towards it , and at the same time put her hand up to her forehead , where , waving like a plume , was a donkey 's tail . She ran home to her mother at the top of her speed , yelling with rage and despair ; and it took Lizina two hours with a big basin of hot water and two cakes of soap to get rid of the layer of ashes with which Father Gatto had adorned her . As for the donkey 's tail , it was impossible to get rid of that ; it was as firmly fixed on her forehead as was the golden star on Lizina 's . Their mother was furious . She first beat Lizina unmercifully with the broom , then she took her to the mouth of the well and lowered her into it , leaving her at the bottom weeping and crying for help . Before this happened , however , the king 's son in passing the mother 's house had seen Lizina sitting sewing in the parlour , and had been dazzled by her beauty . After coming back two or three times , he at last ventured to approach the window and to whisper in the softest voice : ` Lovely maiden , will you be my bride ? ' and she had answered : ' I will . ' Next morning , when the prince arrived to claim his bride , he found her wrapped in a large white veil . ` It is so that maidens are received from their parents ' hands , ' said the mother , who hoped to make the king 's son marry Peppina in place of her sister , and had fastened the donkey 's tail round her head like a lock of hair under the veil . The prince was young and a little timid , so he made no objections , and seated Peppina in the carriage beside him . Their way led past the old house inhabited by the cats , who were all at the window , for the report had got about that the prince was going to marry the most beautiful maiden in the world , on whose forehead shone a golden star , and they knew that this could only be their adored Lizina . As the carriage slowly passed in front of the old house , where cats from all parts of world seemed to be gathered a song burst from every throat : Mew , mew , mew ! Prince , look quick behind you ! In the well is fair Lizina , And you 've got nothing but Peppina . When he heard this the coachman , who understood the cat 's language better than the prince , his master , stopped his horses and asked : ` Does your highness know what the grimalkins are saying ? ' and the song broke forth again louder than ever . With a turn of his hand the prince threw back the veil , and discovered the puffed-up , swollen face of Peppina , with the donkey 's tail twisted round her head . ` Ah , traitress ! ' he exclaimed , and ordering the horses to be turned round , he drove the elder daughter , quivering with rage , to the old woman who had sought to deceive him .
With his hand on the hilt of his sword he demanded Lizina in so terrific a voice that the mother hastened XXXXX the well to draw her prisoner out .
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