about a dream," said the
woodman, smiling. "No, we are not going to quarrel as I know of. Come,
Kitty, remember the Ouphe."

"Oh, yes, yes, I remember," said Kitty, and she made haste to dress
herself and come down.

"Good morning, mistress; how have you slept?" said the Ouphe, in a
gentle voice, to her.

"Not so well as I could have wished, sir," said Kitty.

The Ouphe smiled. "_I_ slept very well," he said. "The supper was good,
and kindly given, without any thought of reward."

"And that is the certain truth," interrupted Kitty: "I never had the
least thought what you were till my husband told me."

The woodman had gone out to cut some fresh cresses, for his guest's
breakfast.

"I am sorry, mistress," said the Ouphe, "that you slept uneasily--my
race are said sometimes by their presence to affect the dreams of you
mortals. Where is my knapsack? Shall I leave it behind me in payment of
bed and board?"

"Oh, no, no, I pray you don't," said the little wife, blushing and
stepping back; "you are kindly welcome to all you have had, I'm sure:
don't repay us so, sir."

"What, mistress, and why not?" asked the Ouphe, smiling. "It is as full
of gold pieces as it can hold, and I shall never miss them."

"No, I entreat you, do not," said Kitty, "and do not offer it to my
husband, for maybe he has not been warned as I have."

Just then the woodman came in.

"I have been thanking your wife for my good entertainment," said the
Ouphe, "and if there is anything in reason that I can give either of
you--"

"Will, we do very well as we are," said his wife, going up to him and
looking anxiously in his face.

"I don't deny," said the woodman, thoughtfully, "that there are one or
two things I should like my wife to have, but somehow I've not been able
to get them for her yet."

"What are they?" asked the Ouphe.

"One is a spinning-wheel," answered the woodman; "she used to spin a
good deal when she was at home with her mother."

"She shall have a spinning-wheel," replied the Ouphe; "and is there
nothing else, my good host?"

"Well," said the woodman, frankly, "since you are so obliging, we should
like a hive of bees."

"The bees you shall have also; and now, good morning both, and a
thousand thanks to you."

So saying, he took his leave, and no pressing could make him stay to
breakfast.

"Well," thought Kitty, when she had had a little time for reflection, "a
spinning-wheel is just what I wanted; but if people