DANISH FAIRY AND FOLK TALES
that his wife might eat one thing or another when she dealt with the different articles in the pantry. He again asked his groom how he might observe her, and the faithful servant advised him to hide in a feather-bed which was lying in the pantry. This feather-bed could be opened at one end, and when he had slipped through the hole, the latter could be sewed together—a small opening being left through which he could command a view. At the same time the groom told the wife all, and advised her to be careful. When she came into the pantry she called the servant-girls and bid them hang the feather-bed over a line in the yard and beat it thoroughly, in order to free it from dust and prevent the feathers from being spoiled. The girls obeyed, beating the feather-bed to their hearts' content; but the man who was inside writhed like a worm under the blows without daring to utter a sound. When at length he escaped from his narrow prison, he was so severely bruised that he was obliged to seek his bed and to stay there for over a fortnight. His wife seemed much afflicted by his sickness, and asked him what was the matter. He answered that he was sick. "You ought not to eat more than I am eating every day," said she, "and you would feel much better."
When he arose he was again vexed by her good and healthy looks, so he again asked his groom what was to be done. No doubt she drank something when she went into the cellar and drew the
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