Thegoosethankedhimwithtearsinhereyes，andthedwarfkepthisword。Hekilledtheothertwogeesefordinner，butbuiltalittleshedforMimiinoneofhisrooms，underthepretenceoffatteningherunderhisowneye。Hespentallhissparetimetalkingtoherandcomfortingher，andfedheronallthedaintiestdishes。Theyconfidedtheirhistoriestoeachother，andJemlearntthatthegoosewasthedaughterofthewizardWeatherbold，wholivedontheislandofGothland。Hefelloutwithanoldfairy，whogotthebetterofhimbycunningandtreachery，andtorevengeherselfturnedhisdaughterintoagooseandcarriedherofftothisdistantplace。WhenLongNosetoldherhisstoryshesaid:
’Iknowalittleofthesematters，andwhatyousayshowsmethatyouareunderaherbenchantment——thatistosay，thatifyoucanfindtheherbwhosesmellwokeyouupthespellwouldbebroken。’
ThiswasbutsmallcomfortforJem，forhowandwherewashetofindtheherb？
Aboutthistimethegranddukehadavisitfromaneighbouringprince，afriendofhis。HesentforLongNoseandsaidtohim:
’Nowisthetimetoshowwhatyoucanreallydo。Thisprincewhoisstayingwithmehasbetterdinnersthananyoneexceptmyself，andisagreatjudgeofcooking。Aslongasheishereyoumusttakecarethatmytableshallbeservedinamannertosurprisehimconstantly。Atthesametime，onpainofmydispleasure，takecarethatnodishshallappeartwice。Geteverythingyouwishandsparenothing。Ifyouwanttomeltdowngoldandpreciousstones，doso。Iwouldratherbeapoormanthanhavetoblushbeforehim。’