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304 SLAV TALES

The bridegroom had taken refuge in the garden, and when
he saw the young man coming towards him, whom he thought
had deceived him, his anger overcame him, and he struck the
poor lad with so much force that he fell down dead.

The queen ran forward sobbing, and taking the king by
the hand, said: ‘‘ What have you done? You have killed my
innocent brother. It is neither my fault, nor was it his, that
since the wedding I have by some enchantment lost the
marvellous power I possessed before. This evil will pass
away in time, but time can never restore to me my dear
brother, my own mother’s son.”

“Forgive me, dear wife; in a moment of irritation I
thought he had deceived me, and I wanted to punish him,
but did not mean to kill. I regret it deeply, but it cannot be
helped now. Forgive me my fault as I forgive yours, with all
my heart.”

“You have my forgiveness, but I beg you to see that your
wife’s brother has an honourable burial.”

Her wishes were carried out, and the orphan lad, who had
passed as her brother, was laid in a handsome coffin. The
chapel was hung with black, and at night a guard was placed
both inside and out.

Towards midnight the church doors silently opened, and
while the guards were overcome by sleep a pretty little duck
entered unnoticed. She stopped in the middle of the aisle,
shook herself, and pulled out her feathers one by one. Then
it took the form of the beautiful step-daughter, for it was she.
She went up to her brother’s coffin and stood gazing at him,
and as she looked she wept sorrowfully. Then she put on her
feathers again and went out a duck. When the guards awoke