the girl took the spoon, and saw that it was full of holes; but even if it had not been, she never could have emptied the pond with it. she set to work at once, knelt down by the water, into which her tears were falling, and began to empty it. but the good old woman appeared again, and when she learnt the cause of her grief, she said, "be of good cheer, my child. go into the thicket and lie down and sleep; i will soon do thy work." as soon as the old woman was alone, she barely touched the pond, and a vapour rose up on high from the water, and mingled itself with the clouds. gradually the pond was emptied, and when the maiden awoke before sunset and came thither, she saw nothing but the fishes which were struggling in the mud. she went to her step-mother, and showed her that the work was done. "it ought to have been done long before this," said she, and grew white with anger, but she meditated something new.