the story goes still further, but my grandmother, who related it to me, had partly lost her memory, and had forgotten the rest. i shall always believe that the beautiful princess married the count, and that they remained together in the palace, and lived there in all happiness so long as god willed it. whether the snow-white geese, which were kept near the little hut, were verily young maidens (no one need take offence,) whom the old woman had taken under her protection, and whether they now received their human form again, and stayed as handmaids to the young queen, i do not exactly know, but i suspect it.