AndtheQueenknewthatSnowWhitehadnotbeenslain.SoshesentforthehunterandmadehimconfessthathehadletSnowWhitego;andshemadehimsearchaboutbeyondtheforest,tillatlasthebroughtbackwordtoherthatSnowWhitewasdwellinginalittlehutonthehillwithsomecoal-miners.
ThentheQueendressedherselfuplikeanoldwoman,and,takingapoisonedcombwithher,wentbackthenextdaytothehutwhereSnowWhitewasliving.Nowthedwarfshadwarnedhernottoopenthedoortoanybodylestevilmightbefallher;andshefounditverylonesomekeepingalwayswithindoors.
WhentheQueen,disguisedasanoldwoman,cametothedoorofthehousesheknockeduponitwithherstick,butSnowWhitecalledoutfromwithin:
"Allright,"answeredtheQueen."Ifyoucancometothewindowwecanhavealittlechatthere,andIcanshowyoumywares."
"Oh,whatbeautifulblackhair;yououghttohaveacombtobinditup;"andsheshowedherthecombthatshehadbroughtwithher.
AndSnowWhitethoughtofagoldenringthatherfatherhadgiventoher,andofferedtogiveitforthecomb.TheQueentookitandgaveSnowWhitethecombandbadehergood-bye,andwentbacktothepalace.
SnowWhitelostnotimeingoingtothemirror,andbindingupherhairandputtingthecombintoit.Butithadscarcelybeeninherhairafewminuteswhenshefelldownasifsheweredead,andallthebloodlefthercheeks,andshewasSnowWhiteindeed.
Whenthedwarfscamehomethateveningtheyweresurprisedtofindthatthetablewasnotspreadforthem,andlookingabouttheysoonfoundSnowWhitelyinguponthegroundasifsheweredead.Butoneofthemlistenedtoherheartandsaid:"Shelives!Shelives!"
AndtheybegantoconsiderwhatcausedSnowWhitetofallintosuchaswoon.Theysoonfoundthecomb,andwhentheytookitoutSnowWhitesoonopenedhereyesandbecameaslivelyassheeverwasbefore.
ThentheQueenknewthatsomethinghadhappenedtothecombandthatSnowWhitewasstillalive.Soshedressedherselfoncemoreasanoldwomanandtookwithherapoisonedribbonandwenttothehutofthethreedwarfs.Andwhenshegottheresheknockedatthedoor,butSnowWhitecalledout:
"Youarelookingmorebeautifulthanever,buthowunbecominglyyouarrangeyourhair.DidyouusethatcombIgaveyouyesterday?"
"Yes,indeed,"saidSnowWhite,"andIfellintoaswoonbecauseofit;Iamafraidthereissomethingthematterwithit."
"No,no,thatcannotbe,"saidtheQueen;"theremustbesomemistake.ButifyoucannotusethecombIwillletyouhavethisprettyribboninstead,"andsheheldoutthepoisonedribbon.SnowWhitetookit,andaftertheoldwoman,asshethoughtshewas,hadgoneaway,SnowWhitewenttothemirrorandtiedupherhairwiththepieceofribbon.Butscarcelyhadshedonesowhenshefelltothegroundlifelessandlaythereasifsheweredead.
ThateveningthedwarfscamehomeandfoundSnowWhitelyingonthegroundasifdead,butsoondiscoveredthepoisonedribbonanduntiedit;andalmostassoonasthiswasdoneSnowWhiterevivedagain.
AndtheQueenrecognizedthatonceagainherplanshadfailed,andSnowWhitewasstillalive.Soshedressedherselfoncemoreandtookwithherapoisonedapple,whichwassoarrangedthatonlyonehalfofitwaspoisonedandtherestofitwasleftasbefore.AndwhentheQueengottothehutofthedwarfsshetriedtoopenthedoor,butSnowWhitecalledout:
"Ah,youaretheoldladythatcametwicebefore;youhavenotbroughtmegoodluck,eachtimesomethinghasbefallenme."
"Idonotknowhowthatcanbe;Ionlybroughtyousomethingforyourhair;perhapsyoutiedittootight.ToshowyouthatIhavenoill-willagainstyouIhavebroughtyouthisbeautifulapple."
"Oh,thisisnothingtowear,"saidtheQueen,"thisissomethingtoeat.ToshowyouthattherecanbenoharminitIwilltakehalfofitmyselfandyoushalleattheotherhalf."
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