“What’s the matter, brother?” his sister asked him. So he told her of his trouble, explained his sorrow. “What a wonderful ring you have!” said the sister. “Let me try it on.” She tried it on her finger, and the ring was firmly fixed as if it had been soldered on, as though it had been made for her. “Oh, sister! you are my chosen bride, and you must be my wife.” “What a horrible idea, brother! That would be a sin.” But the brother would not listen to a word she said. He danced for joy and told her to make ready for the wedding. She wept bitter tears, went in front of the house, and sat on the threshold and let her tears flow. Two old beggars came up, and she gave them to eat and to drink. They asked what her trouble was, and she needs must tell the two. “Now, weep no more, but do what we say. Make up four dolls and put them in the four corners of the room. After your brother calls you in for the betrothal, go; and if he calls you into the bridal chamber, ask for time, trust in God, and follow our advice.” And the beggars departed. The brother and sister were betrothed, and he went into the room and cried out, “Sister mine, come in!” “I will come in in a moment, brother; I am only taking off my earrings.” And the dolls in the four corners began to sing: Coo-Coo—Prince Danílo Coo-Coo—Govorílo Coo-Coo—’Tis a brother Coo-Coo—Weds his sister: Coo-Coo—Earth must split asunder Cooo—And the sister lie hid under. Then the earth rose up and slowly swallowed the sister. And the brother cried out again, “Sister mine, come in to the feather-bed!” “In a minute, brother. I am undoing my girdle.” Then the dolls began to sing: Coo-Coo—Prince Danílo Coo-Coo—Govorílo Coo-Coo—’Tis a brother Coo-Coo—Weds his sister: Coo-Coo—Earth must split asunder; Cooo—And the sister lie hid under. Only she had vanished now, all but her head. And the brother cried out again: “Come into the feather-bed.” “In a minute, brother; I am taking off my shoes.” And the dolls went on cooing, and she vanished under the earth. And the brother kept crying, and crying, and crying. And when she never returned, he became angry and ran out to fetch her. He could see nothing but the dolls, which kept singing. So he knocked off their heads and threw them into the stove. The sister went farther under the earth, and she saw a little hut standing on cocks’ feet and turning round. “Hut!” she cried out, “Stand as you should with your back to the wood.”