sense into you, if you were married to some one who could settle things for you, and so I think you had better set off and see about finding a brave lass; but you must be sure you know how to behave well on the way, and to greet folk prettily when you meet them."
"And pray, what shall I say to them?" asked the lad.
"To think of your asking that," said his mother. "Why, of course, you must bid them 'God's peace.' Don't you know that?"
"Yes, yes, I'll do as you bid," said the lad; and so he set off on his way to woo him a wife.
So, when he had gone a bit of the way he met Greylegs the wolf, with her seven cubs; and when he got so far as to be alongside them, he stood still and greeted them with "God's peace;" and when he had said that, he went home again.
"I said it all as you bade me, mother," said Matt.
"And what was that?" asked his mother.
"'God's peace,'" said Matt.
"And pray, whom did you meet?"
"A she-wolf with seven cubs; that was all I met," said Matt.
"Ay, ay! you are like yourself," said his mother; "so it was, and so it will ever be. Why in the world did you say 'God's peace' to a wolf? You should have clapped your hands and said—'Huf! huf! you jade of a she-wolf!' That's what you ought to have said."
"Well, well! be still, mother," he said, "I'll be sure to say so another time;" and with that he strode
