Story of the Foreign Fairy Chapter 56

Once upon a time there was an old house; it was surrounded by a muddy ditch, and over the ditch was a drawbridge, which was more often hoisted than lowered, for the number of visitors who usually came to the house were not many who could be considered distinguished guests. There are many holes under the eaves specially used for shooting. If the enemy comes very close, boiling water or white-hot lead can be poured on their heads from these holes. The beams in the house were all very high; this was good because the stoves burned thick, damp wood, which gave the smoke somewhere to go. On the walls were portraits of men in armor, and of stately ladies in a great deal of clothing. But the most noble of them all still lives here. Her name is Matt Morgans. She is the mistress of this mansion.

One night a group of robbers came. They killed three members of her family, plus a guard dog. Then they tied Mrs. Matt's leash to the kennel; and they themselves sat down in the drawing-room, and drank some very good ale from her cellar.

Mrs. Matt was on a leash, but she couldn't make a barking sound.

The robber's boy came up to her. He was walking secretly because he must not let others see him, otherwise they would beat him to death.

"Mrs. Metmorgens!" said the boy, "do you remember that when your husband was alive, my father had to ride on the wooden horse? Then you interceded for him, but in vain. He had to ride, He rode until he was crippled. But you came over secretly, as I am now; you put two stones under his feet with your own hands, so that no one saw this, or anyone saw it. Pretend you didn't see it. My father told me this when you were a kind young lady, but I haven't forgotten it now! To free you!"