"
"You may surely be allowed to look!" answered the old woman, and she
drew out the poisoned comb and held it up. The girl was so pleased
with it that she let herself be cajoled, and opened the door.
When the bargain was struck, the dame said, "Now let me dress your
hair properly for once." Poor Snowdrop took no heed, and let the old
woman begin; but the comb had scarcely touched her hair before the
poison worked, and she fell down senseless.
"Paragon of beauty!" said the wicked woman, "all is over with thee
now," and went away.
Luckily, it was near evening, and the seven dwarfs soon came home.
When they found Snowdrop lifeless on the ground, they at once
distrusted her stepmother. They searched, and found the poisoned comb;
and as soon as they had drawn it out, Snowdrop came to herself, and
told them what had happened. Again they warned her to be careful, and
open the door to no one.
The queen placed herself before the mirror at home and said:
"Little glass upon the wall,
Who is fairest among us all?"
But it again answered:
"Lady queen, so grand and tall,
Here you are fairest of them all;
But over the hills, with the seven dwarfs old,
Lives Snowdrop, fairer a thousandfold."
When she heard the mirror speak thus, she quivered with rage.
"Snowdrop shall die," she cried, "if it costs my own life!"
Then she went to a secret and lonely chamber, where no one ever
disturbed her, and compounded an apple of deadly poison.
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