Cook," said Catskin, "how much I should like to go."
"What! you dirty impudent slut," said the cook, "you go among all the
fine lords and ladies with your filthy catskin? a fine figure you'd
cut!" and with that she took a basin of water and dashed it into
Catskin's face. But she only briskly shook her ears, and said nothing.
When the day of the ball arrived, Catskin slipped out of the house and
went to the edge of the forest where she had hidden her dresses. So she
bathed herself in a crystal waterfall, and then put on her coat of
silver cloth, and hastened away to the ball. As soon as she entered all
were overcome by her beauty and grace, while the young lord at once lost
his heart to her. He asked her to be his partner for the first dance,
and he would dance with none other the live-long night.
When it came to parting time, the young lord said, "Pray tell me, fair
maid, where you live." But Catskin curtsied and said:
"Kind sir, if the truth I must tell,
At the sign of the 'Basin of Water' I dwell.
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