Violet Jacob > Stories told by the miller

THE KING OF GROWGLAND’S CROWN 35
“If that is my brother’s wife,” said he, “ she
is indeed a beauty !” And he sighed, wishing
that such luck had come his way.
When the girl saw his face, she thought:
“ That is no great lord, but he is a handsome
fellow, for all that. 1 will see, at least, that he
gets the best of everything in the house.”
So when the table was spread, and before
the three brothers came into the dining-room,
the girl said to the magpie that hung in a cage
behind the window-curtain :
“Take notice of every word that is said
to-night, and repeat it to me, or I will wring
your neck!”
The magpie promised, and she went forward
to receive the guest.
“ Here,” said the second brother, “ is madam,
my wife.”
With that the youngest brother kissed his
sister-in-law heartily.
“ I knew he was no fool,” said the girl to
herself.
As dinner progressed she made herself so
pleasant that the room rang with joy and
merriment, and she pressed all the most delicate
dishes on the youngest brother; nor did she
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