。"

Thecaptainreturnedandaskedbeforeheevengotintothehouse，"Didyouspinitall？"

"Ijustnowfinished！"

"Taketheseclothesandjewels。Now，ifIcomebackfrommythirdvoyageandfindyouvespunthisthirdloadofhemp，whichismuchbiggerthantheothertwo，Ipromisewellgetmarriedatonce。"

Asusual，thegirlwaiteduntilthelastdaywithouttouchingthehemp。Downfromtheroofsgutterfellabundleofrags，andoutcameanoldwomanwithbuckteeth。Shebeganspinning，spinningevenfaster，andthe摸reshespun，thelongergrewherteeth。

"Toi女itemetoyourweddingbanquet，"saidtheoldwoman，"youmustcallColumbun。Butifyouforgetmyname，itwouldbebetterifyoudneverseenme。"

Whenthecaptaincamehomeandfoundthehempallspun，hewascompletelysatisfied。"Fine，"hesaid，"nowyouwillbemywife。"Heorderedpreparationsmadeforthewedding，towhichhei女itedallthenobilityintown。

Caughtupinthepreparations，thebridethoughtno摸reoftheoldwomen。Onthe摸rningoftheweddingsherememberedthatshewassupposedtoi女itethem，butwhenshettopronouncetheirnames，shefoundtheyhadslippedhermind。Shecudgeledherbrainsbut，forthelifeofher，couldntrecallasinglename。

Fromthecheerfulgirlshewas，shesankintoastateof波ttomlessgloom。Thecaptainnoticeditandaskedherwhatthematterwas，butshewouldsaynothing。Unabletoaccountforhersadness，thebridegroomthought，Thisisperhapsnottherightday。Hethereforepostponedtheweddinguntilthedayafter。Butthenextdaywasstillworse，andthedayfollowingwewontevenmention。Witheverydaythatpassed，thebridebecamegloomierandquieter，withherbrowsknitinconcentration。Hetoldherjokesandstoriesinanefforttomakeherlaugh，butnothinghesaidordidaffectedher。

Sincehecouldntcheerherup，hedecidedtogohuntingandcheerhimselfup。Rightintheheartofthewoodshewascaughtinastormandtookrefugeinahovel。Hewasinthereinthedark，whenheheardvoices:

"OColumbina！"