I know , ' answered the middle dove ; ` she shall never be able to say anything but `` dirty creatures '' to the end of her life . ' ` Oh , how clever of you ! That will do beautifully , ' exclaimed the other two . And they flapped their wings and clucked so loud with delight , and made such a noise , that they woke up all the birds in the trees close by . ` What in the world is the matter ? ' asked the birds sleepily . ` That is our secret , ' said the doves . Meanwhile the girl had reached home crosser than ever ; but as soon as her mother heard her lift the latch of the door she ran out to hear her adventures . ` Well , did you get the wreath ? ' cried she . ` Dirty creatures ! ' answered her daughter . ` Do n't speak to me like that ! What do you mean ? ' asked the mother again . ` Dirty creatures ! ' repeated the daughter , and nothing else could she say . Then the woman saw that something evil had befallen her , and turned in her rage to her stepdaughter . ` You are at the bottom of this , I know , ' she cried ; and as the father was out of the way she took a stick and beat the girl till she screamed with pain and went to bed sobbing . If the poor girl 's life had been miserable before , it was ten times worse now , for the moment her father 's back was turned the others teased and tormented her from morning till night ; and their fury was increased by the sight of her wreath , which the doves had placed again on her head .
Things XXXXX on like this for some weeks , when , one day , as the king 's son was riding through the forest , he heard some strange birds singing more sweetly than birds had ever sung before .
Do answered clucked dove hear made repeated say turned went