Scotland's Storybook: stories in English (1.1 - Education Scotland

upset at having lost sight of her, and sure that he wouldn’t rest until he found
out who she was, that he announced another ball for that very same night – he
couldn’t possibly wait another year.
Every woman who had attended the previous evening was invited and many
suspected that the prince had fallen in love, and some hoped that she was the
one.
As happened the night before, the same happened that night. Everyone was
having fun and dancing upstairs in the ball-room while the young woman was
down below in the the black kitchen, struggling with pot after pot. And who
appeared at the window but the little brown calf and the same gentle call to tell
her of its presence
‘DE do chor – How’s it going?’ she said.
‘Fine, a ghràdhag. They’ve left you not a little work tonight – come on,
thugainn a dhannsa – let’s go a-dancing!!’
With that, she tidied herself and climbed out the window and they reached
the hillock and the chest was removed with her mother’s finery inside and just
as she’d done the previous evening she chose one of the dresses – this time the
dress of bog cotton − canach an t -slèibhe. And she looked absolutely stunning,
and the calf told her so with words which warmed her heart and gave her the
confidence to walk into the ball. And once again she promised to meet her
friend before the dance was over.
The King’s son almost leapt out of his skin when he saw her enter, and he
approached her immediately and led her to the dance-floor and he hardly let
her rest all night long, except when she needed to draw breath.
But somehow, she managed to escape when his attention strayed and the
little calf was there waiting to take her back to the hillock and then to the black
kitchen in good time.
Now, the prince was even more vexed, the pour soul was at his wit’s end to
find out who this woman was and whether he would ever win her as his wife.
Another ball had to be called on this third night, and the prince asked two of
his most trusted doormen to keep a very close eye on her, and indeed if they let
her out of their sight, they could expect big trouble!
This time the young woman dressed in the gown of starlight and if she was
attractive the two previous evenings, this time, on the third night, she was
exquisite. Every single person was aware of her and of how she had thrilled the
prince. And many wished him every blessing in his quest.
And they danced and danced and danced together and the doormen were
continuously watching her, terrified that she might get past them due to a
careless mistake or slip-up. And as she did on the two other occasions, the girl,
(dressed in stars from head to toe), tried to escape and when she reached the
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