then came three young princesses who were entirely dressed in black, but had a little white on their faces; they told him he was not to be afraid, they would not hurt him, and that he could deliver them. he said he would gladly do that, if he did but know how. at this, they told him he must for a whole year not speak to them and also not look at them, and what he wanted to have he was just to ask for, and if they dared give him an answer they would do so. when he had been there for a long while he said he should like to go to his father, and they told him he might go. he was to take with him this purse with money, put on this coat, and in a week he must be back there again.