After the King came home, he talked and dreamed and thought of nothing but the apple; for the more he could not get it the more he wanted it—­that is the way we are made in this world.  At last he grew melancholy and sick for want of that which he could not get.  Then he sent for one who was so wise that he had more in his head than ten men together.  This wise man told him that the only one who could pluck the fruit of contentment for him was the one to whom the tree belonged.  This was one of the daughters of the woman who had sold the apple to him for the pot of gold.

When the King heard this he was very glad; he had his horse saddled, and he and his court rode away, and so came at last to the cottage where Christine lived.  There they found the mother and the elder sisters, for Christine was away on the hills with her geese.

The King took off his hat and made a fine bow.

The wise man at home had told him this and that; now to which one of her daughters did the apple-tree belong? so said the King.

“Oh, it is my oldest daughter who owns the tree,” said the woman.

So, good!  Then if the oldest daughter would pluck the apple for him he would take her home and marry her and make a queen of her.  Only let her get it for him without delay.

Prut! that would never do.  What! was the girl to climb the apple-tree before the King and all of the court?  No! no!  Let the King go home, and she would bring the apple to him all in good time; that was what the woman said.

Well, the King would do that, only let her make haste, for he wanted it very much indeed.

As soon as the King had gone, the woman and her daughters sent for the goose-girl to the hills.  Then they told her that the King wanted the apple yonder, and that she must pluck it for her sister to take to him; if she did not do as they said they would throw her into the well.  So Christine had to pluck the fruit; and as soon as she had done so the oldest sister wrapped it up in a napkin and set off with it to the King’s house, as pleased as pleased could be.  Rap! tap! tap! she knocked at the door.  Had she brought the apple for the King?

Oh yes, she had brought it.  Here it was, all wrapped up in a fine napkin.

[Illustration:  The King talks with the Wise Man:]

After that they did not let her stand outside the door till her toes were cold, I can tell you.  As soon as she had come to the King she opened her napkin.  Believe me or not as you please, all the same, I tell you that there was nothing in the napkin but a hard round stone.  When the King saw only a stone he was so angry that he stamped like a rabbit and told them to put the girl out of the house.  So they did, and she went home with a flea in her ear, I can tell you.

Then the King sent his steward to the house where Christine and her sisters lived.

He told the woman that he had come to find whether she had any other daughters.