three times. the old woman looked up just a little, then she said, "now, my little daughter, it is time for thee to go out and do thy work." she rose and went out, and where did she go? over the meadows ever onward into the valley. at last she came to a well, with three old oak-trees standing beside it; meanwhile the moon had risen large and round over the mountain, and it was so light that one could have found a needle. she removed a skin which covered her face, then bent down to the well, and began to wash herself. when she had finished, she dipped the skin also in the water, and then laid it on the meadow, so that it should bleach in the moonlight, and dry again. but how the maiden was changed! such a change as that was never seen before! when the gray mask fell off, her golden hair broke forth like sunbeams, and spread about like a mantle over her whole form. her eyes shone out as brightly as the stars in heaven, and her cheeks bloomed a soft red like apple-blossom.