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七！（第4页）

IlltryherouttoseeifyouretellingthetruthandthenIllmarryher."

Hetookhertohishouseandshutherupinaroomfullofhempwaitingtobespun."

Imaseacaptain，andImleavingonavoyage，"

hesaid."

IfyouvespunallthishempbythetimeIreturn，Illmarryyou."

Theroomalsocontainedexquisiteclothesandjewels，forthecaptainhappenedtobeveryrich."

Whenyoubecomemywife，"

heexplained，"

thesethingswillallbeyours."

Thenhelefther.Thegirlspentherdaystryingondressesandjewelsandadmiringherselfinthemirror.Shealsodevotedmuchtimetoplanningmeals，whichthehouseholdservantspreparedforher.Noneofthehempwasspunyet，andinonemoredaythecaptainwouldbeback.Thegirlgaveupallhopeofevermarryinghimandburstintotears.Shewasstillcryingwhenthroughthewindowflewabundleofragsandcametorestonitsfeet:itwasanoldwomanwithlongeyelashes."

Dontbeafraid，"

shetoldthegirl."

Ivecometohelpyou.Illspinwhileyoumaketheskein."

Youneversawanyonespinwiththespeedofthatoldwoman.Injustaquarterofanhourshehadspuneverybitofhemp.Andthemoreshespun，thelongerherlashesbecame;longerthanhernose，longerthanherchin，theycamedownmorethanafoot;andhereyelidsalsogrewmuchlonger.Whentheworkwasfinished，thegirlsaid，"

HowcanIrepayyou，mygoodlady?"

"

Idontwanttoberepaid.Justinvitemetoyourweddingbanquetwhenyoumarrythecaptain."

"

HowdoIgoaboutinvitingyou?"

"

JustcallColumbinaandIllcome.Butheavenhelpyouifyouforgetmyname.ItwouldbeasthoughIdneverhelpedyou，andyoudbeundone."

Thenextdaythecaptainarrivedandfoundthehempallspun."

Excellent!"

hesaid."

IbelieveyourejustthebrideIwasseeking.HerearetheclothesandjewelsIboughtforyou.ButnowIhavetogoonanothervoyage.Letshaveasecondtest.HerestwicetheamountofhempIgaveyoubefore.IfyouspinitallbythetimeIreturn，Illmarryyou."

Asshehaddonebefore，thegirlspenthertimetryingongownsandjewels，eatingsoupandlasagna，andgottothelastdaywithallthehempstillwaitingtobespun.Shewasweepingoveritwhen，loandbehold，somethingdroppeddownthechimney，andintotheroomrolledabundleofrags.Itcametorestonitsfeet，andtherestoodanoldwomanwithsagginglips.Thisonetoopromisedtohelp，beganspinning，andworkedevenfasterthantheotheroldwoman.Themoreshespun，themoreherlipssagged.Whenthehempwasallspuninahalf-hour，theoldwomanaskedonlytobeinvitedtotheweddingbanquet."

JustcallColumbara.Butdontforgetmyname，ormyhelpwillhavebeeninvainandyouwillsuffer."

Thecaptainreturnedandaskedbeforeheevengotintothehouse，"

Didyouspinitall?"

"

Ijustnowfinished!"

"

Taketheseclothesandjewels.Now，ifIcomebackfrommythirdvoyageandfindyouvespunthisthirdloadofhemp，whichismuchbiggerthantheothertwo，Ipromisewellgetmarriedatonce."

Asusual，thegirlwaiteduntilthelastdaywithouttouchingthehemp.Downfromtheroofsgutterfellabundleofrags，andoutcameanoldwomanwithbuckteeth.Shebeganspinning，spinningevenfaster，andthemoreshespun，thelongergrewherteeth."

Toinvitemetoyourweddingbanquet，"

saidtheoldwoman，"

youmustcallColumbun.Butifyouforgetmyname，itwouldbebetterifyoudneverseenme."

Whenthecaptaincamehomeandfoundthehempallspun，hewascompletelysatisfied."

Fine，"