Myself.  I can sit down, and bid the serpent go to sleep, that’s easy enough; but as for eating a sweetmeat, how can I do that?  I have not got one, and where am I to get it?

Woman.  Never fear, my tiny tawny, we can give you one, such as you never ate, I daresay, however far you may have come from.

The serpent sank into its usual resting-place, and I sat down on the stool.  The woman opened a box, and took out a strange little basket or hamper, not much larger than a man’s fist, and formed of a delicate kind of matting.  It was sewed at the top; but, ripping it open with a knife, she held it to me, and I saw, to my surprise, that it contained candied fruits of a dark green hue, tempting enough to one of my age.  ’There, my tiny,’ said she; ‘taste, and tell me how you like them.’

‘Very much,’ said I; ‘where did you get them?’

The beldame leered upon me for a moment, then, nodding her head thrice, with a knowing look, said, ‘Who knows better than yourself, my tawny?’

Now, I knew nothing about the matter; but I saw that these strange people had conceived a very high opinion of the abilities of their visitor, which I was nothing loth to encourage.  I therefore answered boldly, ’Ah! who indeed!’

‘Certainly,’ said the man; ’who should know better than yourself, or so well?  And now, my tiny one, let me ask you one thing—­you didn’t come to do us any harm?’

‘No,’ said I, ’I had no dislike to you; though, if you were to meddle with me—­’

Man.  Of course, my gorgeous, of course you would; and quite right too.  Meddle with you!—­what right have we?  I should say, it would not be quite safe.  I see how it is; you are one of them there;—­and he bent his head towards his left shoulder.

Myself.  Yes, I am one of them—­for I thought he was alluding to the soldiers,—­you had best mind what you are about, I can tell you.

Man.  Don’t doubt we will for our own sake; Lord bless you, wifelkin, only think that we should see one of them there when we least thought about it.  Well, I have heard of such things, though I never thought to see one; however, seeing is believing.  Well! now you are come, and are not going to do us any mischief, I hope you will stay; you can do us plenty of good if you will.

Myself.  What good could I do you?

Man.  What good? plenty!  Would you not bring us luck?  I have heard say that one of them there always does, if it will but settle down.  Stay with us, you shall have a tilted cart all to yourself if you like.  We’ll make you our little God Almighty, and say our prayers to you every morning!

Myself.  That would be nice; and, if you were to give me plenty of these things, I should have no objection.  But what would my father say?  I think he would hardly let me.

Man.  Why not? he would be with you; and kindly would we treat him.  Indeed, without your father you would be nothing at all.