rgotten. That fared well, and King and Queen
lived happy together for several years.

At length the Queen, having some business with the hen-wife, went
herself to her, and, after a long conference passed, was taking leave of
her, when the hen-wife prayed that if ever she should come back to her
again she might break her neck. The Queen, greatly incensed at such a
daring insult from one of her meanest subjects, demanded immediately the
reason, or she would have her put to death.

'It was worth your while, madam,' says the hen-wife, 'to pay me well for
it, for the reason I prayed so on you concerns you much.'

'What must I pay you?' asked the Queen.

'You must give me,' says she, 'the full of a pack of wool, and I have an
ancient crock which you must fill with butter, likewise a barrel which
you must fill for me full of wheat.'

'How much wool will it take to the pack?' says the Queen.

'It will take seven herds of sheep,' said she, 'and their increase for
seven years.'

'How much butter will it take to fill your crock?'

'Seven dairies,' said she, 'and their increase for seven years.'

'And how much will it take to fill the barrel you have?' says the Queen.

'It will take the increase of seven barrels of wheat for seven years.'

'That is a great quantity,' says the Queen; 'but the reason must be
extraordinary, and before I want it, I will give you all you demand.'

'Well,' says the hen-wife, 'it is because you are so stupid that you
don't observe or find out those affairs that are so dangerous and
hurtful to yourself and your child.'

'What is that?' says the Queen.

'Why,' says she, 'the King your husband has three fine sons he had by
the late Queen, whom he keeps shut up in a tower until they come of age,
intending to divide the kingdom between them, and let your son push
his fortune; now, if you don't find some means of destroying them; your
child and perhaps yourself will be left desolate in the end.'

'And what would you advise me to do?' said she; 'I am wholly at a loss
in what manner to act in this affair.'

'You must make known to the King,' says the hen-wife, 'that you heard of
his sons, and wonder greatly that he concealed them all this time from
you; tell him you wish to see them, and that it is full time for them to
be liberated, and that you would be desirous he would bring them to
the Court. The King will then do so, and there will be a great feast
prepared on that account, and also divers