not right with the queen。 She was a witch； and hadbewitched the king and all the people。 Secretly he told the kingwhat he had seen and what he feared； and as the hard words came fromhis tongue； the carved images of the saints shook their heads as ifthey would say。 〃It is not so。 Eliza is innocent。〃
But the archbishop interpreted it in another way； he believed thatthey witnessed against her； and were shaking their heads at herwickedness。 Two large tears rolled down the king's cheeks； and he wenthome with doubt in his heart； and at night he pretended to sleep；but there came no real sleep to his eyes； for he saw Eliza get upevery night and disappear in her own chamber。 From day to day his browbecame darker； and Eliza saw it and did not understand the reason； butit alarmed her and made her heart tremble for her brothers。 Her hottears glittered like pearls on the regal velvet and diamonds； whileall who saw her were wishing they could be queens。 In the mean timeshe had almost finished her task； only one coat of mail was wanting；but she had no flax left； and not a single tle。 Once more only； andfor the last time； must she venture to the churchyard and pluck afew handfuls。 She thought with terror of the solitary walk； and of thehorrible ghouls； but her will was firm； as well as her trust inProvidence。 Eliza went； and the king and the archbishop followedher。 They saw her vanish through the wicket gate into thechurchyard； and when they came nearer they saw the ghouls sitting onthe tombstone； as Eliza had seen them； and the king turned away hishead； for he thought she was with them… she whose head had rested onhis breast that very evening。 〃The people must condemn her；〃 saidhe； and she was very quickly condemned by every one to suffer death byfire。 Away from the gorgeous regal halls was she led to a dark； drearycell； where the wind whistled through the iron bars。 Instead of thevelvet and silk dresses； they gave her the coats of mail which she hadwoven to cover her； and the bundle of tles for a pillow； butnothing they could give her would have pleased her more。 She continuedher task with joy； and prayed for help； while the street…boys sangjeering songs about her； and not a soul forted her with a kindword。 Towards evening； she heard at the grating the flutter of aswan's wing； it was her youngest brother… he had found his sister； andshe sobbed for joy； although she knew that very likely this would bethe last night she would have to live。 But still she could hope； forher task was almost finished； and her brothers were e。 Then thearchbishop arrived； to be with her during her last hours； as he hadpromised the king。 But she shook her head； and begged him； by looksand gestures； not to stay； for in this night she knew she mustfinish her task； otherwise all her pain and tears and sleepless nightswould have been suffered in vain。 The archbishop withdrew； utteringbitter words against her； but poor Eliza knew that she was innocent；and diligently continued her work。
The little mice ran about the floor； they dragged the tles toher feet； to help as well as they could； and the thrush sat outsidethe grating of the window； and sang to her the whole night long； assweetly as possible； to keep up her spirits。
It was still twilight； and at least an hour before sunrise； whenthe eleven brothers stood at the castle gate； and demanded to bebrought before the king。 They were told it could not be； it was yetalmost night； and as the king slept they dared not disturb him。 Theythreatened； they entreated。 Then the guard appeared； and even the kinghimself； inquiring what all the noise meant。 At this moment the sunrose。 The eleven brothers were seen no more； but eleven wild swansflew away over the castle。
And now all the people came streaming forth from the gates ofthe city； to see the witch burnt。 An old horse drew the cart onwhich she sat。 They had dressed her in a garment of coarsesackcloth。 Her lovely hair hung loose on her shoulders； her cheekswere deadly pale； her lips moved silently； while her fingers stillworked at the green flax。 Even on the way to death； she would not giveup her task。 The ten coats of mail lay at her feet； she was workinghard at the eleventh； while the mob jeered her and said； 〃See thewitch； how she mutters！ She has no hymn…book in her hand。 She sitsthere with her ugly sorcery。 Let us tear it in a thousand pieces。〃
And then they pressed towards her； and would have destroyed thecoats of mail； but at the same moment eleven wild swans flew over her；and alighted on the cart。 Then they flapped their large wings； and thecrowd drew on one side in alarm。
〃It is a sign from heaven that she is innocent；〃 whispered many ofthem； but they ventured not to say it aloud。
As the executioner seized her by the hand； to lift her out ofthe cart； she hastily threw the eleven coats of mail over the swans；and they immediately became eleven handsome princes； but theyoungest had a swan's wing； instead of an arm； for she had not beenable to finish the last sleeve of the coat。
〃Now I may speak；〃 she exclaimed。 〃I am innocent。〃
Then the people； who saw what happened； bowed to her； as beforea saint； but she sank lifeless in her brothers' arms； overe withsuspense； anguish； and pain。
〃Yes； she is innocent；〃 said the eldest brother； and then herelated all that had taken place； and while he spoke there rose in theair a fragrance as from millions of roses。 Every piece of faggot inthe pile had taken root； and threw out branches； and appeared athick hedge； large and high； covered with roses； while above allbloomed a white and shining flower； that glittered like a star。 Thisflower the king plucked； and placed in Eliza's bosom； when she awokefrom her swoon； with peace and happiness in her heart。 And all thechurch bells rang of themselves； and the birds came in great troops。And a marriage procession returned to the castle； such as no kinghad ever before seen。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE WILL…O…THE WISP IS IN THE TOWN；
SAYS THE MOOR WOMAN
by Hans Christian Andersen
THERE was a man who once knew many stories； but they had slippedaway from him… so he said。 The Story that used to visit him of its ownaccord no longer came and knocked at his door。 And why did it eno longer？ It is true enough that for days and years the man had notthought of it； had not expected it to e and knock； and if he hadexpected it； it would certainly not have e； for without there waswar； and within was the care and sorrow that war brings with it。
The stork and the swallows came back from their long journey；for they thought of no danger； and； behold； when they arrived； thenest was burnt； the habitations of men were burnt； the hedges were allin disorder； and everything seemed gone； and the enemy's horses werestamping in the old graves。 Those were hard； gloomy times； but theycame to an end。
And now they were past and gone… so people said； yet no Story cameand knocked at the door； or gave any tidings of its presence。
〃I suppose it must be dead； or gone away with many otherthings；〃 said the man。
But the story never dies。 And more than a whole year went by；and he longed… oh； so very much！… for the Story。
〃I wonder if the S