English Fairy Tales / Английские сказки. Elementary

The girl was as white as milk, and her lips were like cherries. Her hair was like golden silk, and it hung to the ground. Her brother loved her dearly, but her wicked stepmother hated her. “Child,” said the stepmother one day, “go to the grocer’s shop and buy me a pound of candles.” She gave her the money, and the little girl went, bought the candles and started on her return[127 - and started on her return – пустилась в обратный путь]. But there was a stile on her way. How to cross it? She put down the candles while she got over the stile.

The girl went back to the grocer’s, and the grocer gave her a second bunch. She came to the stile, set down the candles and began to climb it over. Again came the dog and ran off with the candles.

The girl went again to the grocer’s, and the grocer gave her a third bunch. But the same thing happened![128 - But the same thing happened! – Но случилось то же самое!] The big dog came again and ran off with the candles as usual.

Then the girl came to her stepmother crying, because she had spent all the money and had lost three bunches of candles.

The stepmother was angry, but she pretended not to mind the loss[129 - she pretended not to mind the loss – она притворилась, что не станет пенять за утрату]. She said to the child, “Come, lay your head on my lap that I may comb your hair.” So the little girl laid her head in the woman’s lap, who proceeded to comb the yellow hair.

Then the stepmother hated her more for the beauty of her hair, so she said to her, “I cannot part your hair on my knee; fetch a billet of wood.” So she fetched it. Then said the stepmother, “I cannot part your hair with a comb; fetch me an axe.” So she fetched it.

“Now,” said the wicked woman, “lay your head down on the billet while I part your hair.

Well! she laid down her little golden head without fear, and whist![130 - whist! – вжик!]down came the axe[131 - down came the axe – топор опустился], and it was off[132 - it was off – она (голова) была отрублена]. So the mother wiped the axe and laughed.

Then she took the heart and liver of the little girl, and she stewed them and brought them into the house for supper.