but to - day , as she was looking in , what should she see but a little trout . it was swimming quietly backwards and forwards not very far from the surface . " troutie , troutie , answer me this one question , " said the queen . " am not i the most beautiful woman in the world ? " " no , indeed , you are not , " replied the trout promptly , jumping out of the water , as he spoke , in order to swallow a fly . " who is the most beautiful woman , then ? " asked the disappointed queen . she had expected a far different answer . " thy step - daughter , the princess gold - tree , without a doubt , " said the little fish . then , frightened by the black look that came upon the jealous queen 's face , he dived to the bottom of the well .
a little trout .
who was swimming quietly backwards and forwards not very far from the surface ?
who was swimming quietly backwards and forwards not very far from the surface ?