THE NORWEGIAN FAIRY BOOK
266
the youth as well as she could, so that he would to the mother
make a good showing when he came
and then he set forth. he stepped out the sun was shining bright and warm; but it had rained during the night, and the ground was soft and full of water puddles. The youth took the shortest path to the mother in the corner, and sang and danced, as he always did. But suddenly, as he was hopping and skipping along, he came to a swamp, and there were only some logs laid down to cross it; and from the one log he had to jump over a puddle to a clump of grass, unless he wanted to dirty his shoes. And then he went kerThe very moment he set foot on the clump flop of grass, he went down and down until he was standing in a dark, ugly hole. At first he could see nothing at all, but when he had been there a little while, he saw that there was a rat, who was wiggling and waggling around, and had a bunch of keys hanging from her tail. in the corner,
When
!
' '
Have you come, my boy ?
' '
said the rat.
' '
I
must
thank you for coming to visit me I have been expecting you for a long time. I am sure you have come to win me, and I can well imagine that you are in a great hurry. But you must have a little patience. I am to receive a large dower, and am not yet ready for the wedding; but I will do my best to see that we are married soon." :
When
she had said this, she produced a couple of egg-shells, with all sorts of eatables such as rats eat,
and
set
them down before the youth, and said
' * :
Now