“What are you a doin’ on?” says she.
“I’m going to make some gruel for the young master,” says the cook, “for he’s dying for love of the lady.”
“Let me make it,” says Cap o’ Rushes.
“Well, the cook wouldn’t at first, but at last she said yes, and Cap o’ Rushes made the gruel. And when she had made it she slipped the ring into it on the sly before the cook took it upstairs.
The young man he drank it and he saw the ring at the bottom.
“Send for the cook,” says he.
So up she comes.
“Who made this here gruel?” says he.
“I did,” says the cook, for she were frightened.
And he looked at her.
“No, you didn’t,” says he. “Say who did it, and you shan’t be harmed.”
“Well, then, ’twas Cap o’ Rushes,” says she.
“Send Cap o’ Rushes here,” says he.
So Cap o’ Rushes came.
“Did you make my gruel?” says he.
“Yes, I did,” says she.
“Where did you get this ring,” says he.
“From him as gave it me,” says she.
“Who are you, then?” says the young man.
“I’ll show you,” says she. And she offed with her cap o’ rushes, and there she was in her beautiful clothes.
Well, the master’s son he got well very soon, and they was to be married in a little time. It was to be a very grand wedding, and everyone was asked far and near. And Cap o’ Rushes’ father was asked. But she never told nobody who she was.
But before the wedding she went to the cook, and says she:
“I want you to dress every dish without a mite o’ salt,”
“That’ll be rarely tasty,” says the cook.
“That don’t signify,” says she.
