"Get up at once," said his mother, "this is no night to keep a stranger outside our door."
Fergus rose and opened the door, and a flash of lightning showed him a little old woman, with a shuttle in her hand, standing outside.
"Come in, and welcome," said he, and the little old woman stepped into the room.
"Blessings be on them who give welcome to a wanderer on a wild night like this," said the old woman.
"And who wouldn't give welcome on a night like this?" said the huntsman's wife, coming forward with a peggin of milk and a barley cake in her hand, "and sorry we are we have not better fare to offer you."
"Enough is as good as a feast," said the little woman, "and now go back to your beds and leave me to myself."
"Not till I shake down a bed of rushes for you," said the huntsman's wife.
"Don't mind the rushes," said the little woman; "go back to your beds. I'll sleep here by the fire."