Page:Tales from the Fjeld.djvu/396

374 At night, when they were to go to bed, the lassie was tired and weary, for she thought it no good to have such a fool for her husband. So she said she had forgotten something and must go out a little; but she could not get Matt's leave, he would follow her; for to tell the truth, he was afraid she would never come back.

"No, no; lie still, I say," said the bride. "See, here's a long hair-rope; tie it round me, and I'll leave the door ajar. So if you think I'm too long away you have only to pull the rope and then you'll drag me in again."

Yes, Matt was content with that; but as soon as the lassie got out into the yard she caught a billy-goat, and untied the rope and tied it round him.

So when Matt thought she was too long out of doors he began to haul in the rope, and so he dragged the billy-goat up into bed to him. But when he had lain a while, he bawled out—

"Mother! mother! my bride has horns like a billy-goat."

"Stuff, silly boy, to lie and bewail yourself," said his mother. "It's only her hair-plaits, poor thing, I'm sure."

In a little while Matt called out again—

"Mother! mother! my bride has a beard like a goat."

"Stuff, silly boy, to lie there and rave," said the goody.

But there was no rest in that house that night, for in a little while Matt screeched out that his bride was like a billy-goat all over. So when it grew towards morning the goody said—