Ask him to give you a dress that exactly matches the sky . It will be impossible for him to get one , so you will be quite safe . ' The girl thanked the fairy and returned home again . -LSB- Illustration : The King 's Pet Donkey -RSB- The next morning , when her father -LRB- as she had always called him -RRB- came to see her , she told him that she could give him no answer until he had presented her with a dress the colour of the sky . The king , overjoyed at this answer , sent for all the choicest weavers and dressmakers in the kingdom , and commanded them to make a robe the colour of the sky without an instant 's delay , or he would cut off their heads at once . Dreadfully frightened at this threat , they all began to dye and cut and sew , and in two days they brought back the dress , which looked as if it had been cut straight out of the heavens ! The poor girl was thunderstruck , and did not know what to do ; so in the night she harnessed her sheep again , and went in search of her godmother . ` The king is cleverer than I thought , ' said the fairy ; ` but tell him you must have a dress of moonbeams . ' And the next day , when the king summoned her into his presence , the girl told him what she wanted . ` Madam , I can refuse you nothing , ' said he ; and he ordered the dress to be ready in twenty-four hours , or every man should be hanged . They set to work with all their might , and by dawn next day , the dress of moonbeams was laid across her bed . The girl , though she could not help admiring its beauty , began to cry , till the fairy , who heard her , came to her help . ` Well , I could not have believed it of him ! ' said she ; ` but ask for a dress of sunshine , and I shall be surprised indeed if he manages that ! ' The goddaughter did not feel much faith in the fairy after her two previous failures ; but not knowing what else to do , she told her father what she was bid . The king made no difficulties about it , and even gave his finest rubies and diamonds to ornament the dress , which was so dazzling , when finished , that it could not be looked at save through smoked glasses ! When the princess saw it , she pretended that the sight hurt her eyes , and retired to her room , where she found the fairy awaiting her , very much ashamed of herself . ` There is only one thing to be done now , ' cried she ; ` you must demand the skin of the ass he sets such store by . It is from that donkey he obtains all his vast riches , and I am sure he will never give it to you . ' The princess was not so certain ; however , she went to the king , and told him she could never marry him till he had given her the ass 's skin .
The king was both astonished and grieved XXXXX this new request , but did not hesitate an instant .
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