“Kind sir, if the truth I must tell,
      At the sign of the ‘Basin of Water’ I dwell.”

Then she flew from the castle and donned her catskin robe again, and slipped into the scullery again, unbeknown to the cook.

The young lord went the very next day to his mother, the lady of the castle, and declared he would wed none other but the lady of the silver dress, and would never rest till he had found her.  So another ball was soon arranged for in hope that the beautiful maid would appear again.  So Catskin said to the cook, “Oh, how I should like to go!” Whereupon the cook screamed out in a rage, “What, you, you dirty impudent slut! you would cut a fine figure among all the fine lords and ladies.”  And with that she up with a ladle and broke it across Catskin’s back.  But she only shook her ears, and ran off to the forest, where she first of all bathed, and then put on her coat of beaten gold, and off she went to the ball-room.

As soon as she entered all eyes were upon her; and the young lord soon recognised her as the lady of the “Basin of Water,” and claimed her hand for the first dance, and did not leave her till the last.  When that came, he again asked her where she lived.  But all that she would say was: 

     “Kind sir, if the truth I must tell,
      At the sign of the ‘Broken Ladle’ I dwell.”

and with that she curtsied, and flew from the ball, off with her golden robe, on with her catskin, and into the scullery without the cook’s knowing.

Next day when the young lord could not find where was the sign of the “Basin of Water,” or of the “Broken Ladle,” he begged his mother to have another grand ball, so that he might meet the beautiful maid once more.

All happened as before.  Catskin told the cook how much she would like to go to the ball, the cook called her “a dirty slut,” and broke the skimmer across her head.  But she only shook her ears, and went off to the forest, where she first bathed in the crystal spring, and then donned her coat of feathers, and so off to the ball-room.

When she entered every one was surprised at so beautiful a face and form dressed in so rich and rare a dress; but the young lord soon recognised his beautiful sweetheart, and would dance with none but her the whole evening.  When the ball came to an end, he pressed her to tell him where she lived, but all she would answer was: 

     “Kind sir, if the truth I must tell,
      At the sign of the ‘Broken Skimmer’ I dwell;”

and with that she curtsied, and was off to the forest.  But this time the young lord followed her, and watched her change her fine dress of feathers for her catskin dress, and then he knew her for his own scullery-maid.