Allerleirauh

At the bottom, he saw a gold ring lying, and as he could not make out how it got there, he ordered the cook to be sent for.

The cook was frightened when he heard the order and said to Cat-Skin, "You must have let a hair fall into the soup.

If it be so, you will have a good beating." Then he went before the king, and he asked him who had cooked the soup.

"I did," answered the cook.

But the king said, "That is not true.

It was better done than you could do it." Then he answered, "To tell you the truth, I did not cook it, but Cat-Skin did." "Then let Cat-Skin come up," said the king.

And when she came, he said to her, "Who are you?" "I am a poor child," said she, "that has lost both father and mother." "How came you in my palace?" asked he.

"I am good for nothing," said she, "but to be a scullion girl and to have boots and shoes thrown at my head." "But how did you get the ring that was in the soup?" asked the king.