Abbot Hans had certainly expected a different answer.  When he heard that Robber Mother had seen a garden more beautiful than his, a faint flush spread over his withered cheek.  The lay brother, who was standing close by, immediately began to censure the old woman.  “This is Abbot Hans,” said he, “who with much care and diligence has gathered the flowers from far and near for his herb garden.  We all know that there is not a more beautiful garden to be found in all Skane, and it is not befitting that you, who live in the wild forest all the year around, should find fault with his work.”

“I don’t wish to make myself the judge of either him or you,” said Robber Mother.  “I’m only saying that if you could see the garden of which I am thinking you would uproot all the flowers planted here and cast them away like weeds.”

But the Abbot’s assistant was hardly less proud of the flowers than the Abbot himself, and after hearing her remarks he laughed derisively.  “I can understand that you only talk like this to tease us.  It must be a pretty garden that you have made for yourself amongst the pines in Goeinge forest!  I’d be willing to wager my soul’s salvation that you have never before been within the walls of an herb garden.”

Robber Mother grew crimson with rage to think that her word was doubted, and she cried out:  “It may be true that until to-day I had never been within the walls of an herb garden; but you monks, who are holy men, certainly must know that on every Christmas Eve the great Goeinge forest is transformed into a beautiful garden, to commemorate the hour of our Lord’s birth.  We who live in the forest have seen this happen every year.  And in that garden I have seen flowers so lovely that I dared not lift my hand to pluck them.”

The lay brother wanted to continue the argument, but Abbot Hans gave him a sign to be silent.  For, ever since his childhood, Abbot Hans had heard it said that on every Christmas Eve the forest was dressed in holiday glory.  He had often longed to see it, but he had never had the good fortune.  Eagerly he begged and implored Robber Mother that he might come up to the Robbers’ Cave on Christmas Eve.  If she would only send one of her children to show him the way, he could ride up there alone, and he would never betray them—­on the contrary, he would reward them, in so far as it lay in his power.

Robber Mother said no at first, for she was thinking of Robber Father and of the peril which might befall him should she permit Abbot Hans to ride up to their cave.  At the same time the desire to prove to the monk that the garden which she knew was more beautiful than his got the better of her, and she gave in.

“But more than one follower you cannot take with you,” said she, “and you are not to waylay us or trap us, as sure as you are a holy man.”

This Abbot Hans promised, and then Robber Mother went her way.  Abbot Hans commanded the lay brother not to reveal to a soul that which had been agreed upon.  He feared that the monks, should they learn of his purpose, would not allow a man of his years to go up to the Robbers’ Cave.