Page:Popular tales from the Norse (1912).djvu/598

 412 "What! are we to go home already?" said the man, who hadn't given any heed to what the lad did.

"Yes, we must, since mother calls," said the lad.

So when they got into the passage, the lad began to hem and cough, that the Goody might get Tom Totherhouse out of the way. But when they came into the room, there stood a whole bowl of custards on the table.

"Nay, nay, mother," cried out the man, "shall we have custards to-day?"

"Yes, that you shall, dear," said the Goody; but she was as sour as verjuice, and as cross as two sticks.

So when they had eaten and drank all the good cheer up, off they went again to their work, and the Goody said to Tom,—

"Deil take that lad's sharp nose, this was all his fault; but now you must be off as fast as you can, and I'll come down to you in the mead with a snack between meals."

This the lad stood outside in the passage and listened to.

"Do you know, father," he said, "I think we'd best go down into the hollow and put our fence to rights, which is blown down, before the neighbours' swine get in and root up our meadow."

"Ay, ay, let's go and do it," said the man; for he did all he was told, good, easy man.

So when the afternoon was half spent, down came the Goody sneaking along into the mead, with something under her apron.

"Nay, nay, mother," said the man, "it can't be you any longer; are we to have a snack between meals too?"

"Yes, yes, that you shall," she said; but she was sourer and wilder than ever.