[Illustration:  The Kings Steward and Christine.]

Yes; the woman had another daughter, and, to tell the truth, it was she who owned the tree.  Just let the steward go home again and the girl would fetch the apple in a little while.

As soon as the steward had gone, they sent to the hills for Christine again.  Look! she must pluck the apple for the second sister to take to the King; if she did not do that they would throw her into the well.

So Christine had to pluck it, and gave it to the second sister, who wrapped it up in a napkin and set off for the King’s house.  But she fared no better than the other, for, when she opened the napkin, there was nothing in it but a lump of mud.  So they packed her home again with her apron to her eyes.

[Illustration:  Christine gives the Apple to the King]

After a while the King’s steward came to the house again.  Had the woman no other daughter than these two?

Well, yes, there was one, but she was a poor ragged thing, of no account, and fit for nothing in the world but to tend the geese.

Where was she?

Oh, she was up on the hills now tending her flock.

But could the steward see her?

Yes, he might see her, but she was nothing but a poor simpleton.

That was all very good, but the steward would like to see her, for that was what the King had sent him there for.

So there was nothing to do but to send to the hills for Christine.

After a while she came, and the steward asked her if she could pluck the apple yonder for the King.

Yes; Christine could do that easily enough.  So she reached and picked it as though it had been nothing but a gooseberry on the bush.  Then the steward took off his hat and made her a low bow in spite of her ragged dress, for he saw that she was the one for whom they had been looking all this time.

So Christine slipped the golden apple into her pocket, and then she and the steward set off to the King’s house together.

When they had come there everybody began to titter and laugh behind the palms of their hands to see what a poor ragged goose-girl the steward had brought home with him.  But for that the steward cared not a rap.

“Have you brought the apple?” said the King, as soon as Christine had come before him.

Yes; here it was; and Christine thrust her hand into her pocket and brought it forth.  Then the King took a great bite of it, and as soon as he had done so he looked at Christine and thought that he had never seen such a pretty girl.  As for her rags, he minded them no more than one minds the spots on a cherry; that was because he had eaten of the apple of contentment.

And were they married?  Of course they were! and a grand wedding it was, I can tell you.  It is a pity that you were not there; but though you were not, Christine’s mother and sisters were, and, what is more, they danced with the others, though I believe they would rather have danced upon pins and needles.