He found the sea was no longer green; it was still calm, but dark violet and grey. He stood by it and said—
Prythee, hearken unto me:
My Wife, Ilsebil, must have her own will,
And sends me to beg a boon of thee.’
‘Now, what do you want?’ said the Flounder.
‘Alas,’ said the Man, half scared, ‘my wife wants a big stone castle.’
‘Go home again,’ said the Flounder, ‘she is standing at the door of it.’
Then the man went away thinking he would find no house, but when he got back he found a great stone palace, and his Wife standing at the top of the steps, waiting to go in.
She took him by the hand and said, ‘Come in with me.’
With that they went in and found a great hall paved with marble slabs, and numbers of servants in attendance, who opened the great doors for them. The walls were hung with beautiful tapestries, and the rooms were furnished with golden chairs and tables, while rich carpets covered the floors, and crystal chandeliers hung from the ceilings. The tables groaned under every kind of delicate food and the most costly wines. Outside the house there was a great courtyard, with stabling for horses, and cows, and many fine carriages. Beyond this there was a great garden filled with the loveliest flowers, and fine fruit-trees. There was also a park, half a mile long, and in it were stags and hinds, and hares, and everything of the kind one could wish for.
‘Now,’ said the Woman, ‘is not this worth having?’
‘Oh yes,’ said the Man; ‘and so let it remain. We will live in this beautiful palace and be content.’
‘We will think about that,’ said his Wife, ‘and sleep upon it.’
With that they went to bed.
Next morning the Wife woke up first ; day was just dawn-