proved so favourable, that the fair Mela shone on All-Saints-day in an elegant new dress.
In this state, she charmed her watchful neighbour to such a degree, that, if he had had permission to chose a sweetheart from among the eleven thousand virgins, he would have rejected them all for his beloved Mela.
But, at the very moment that he prided himself in the success of this innocent stratagem, his secret was betrayed. Mother Brigitta, wishing to show a kindness to the woman who had, through the sale of the lint, done her so great a service, invited her to a feast, very common in those days, before tea or coffee were introduced into use, of rice milk, nicely sweetened with sugar, and spiced, and a bottle of spanish wine. These dainties not only set the toothless gums of the old lady in motion, but also loosened her tongue. She promised to bring more lint at the same price, provided her merchant should be willing, which, as she said, for very good reasons she could not doubt. One word brought on the other; mother Brigitta and and her daughter inquired with the inherent
