now it chanced that princess gold - tree was alone that day . her husband had gone a - hunting . and as she looked out of one of the castle windows she saw a boat coming sailing over the sea towards the landing place . she recognised it as her father 's long ship . she guessed only too well whom it carried on board . she was almost beside herself with terror at the thought . she knew that it was for no good purpose that queen silver - tree had taken the trouble to set out to visit her . she felt that she would have given almost anything she possessed if her husband had but been at home . in her distress she hurried into the servants ' hall . " oh , what shall i do , what shall i do ? " she cried , " for i see my father 's long ship coming over the sea . i know that my step - mother is on board . and if she hath a chance she will kill me . she hateth me more than anything else upon earth . "
her husband had gone a - hunting .
why was gold-tree alone that day ?
why was gold-tree alone that day ?