They not only gave him a bowl of milk with some brown bread, but they said he might stay through the night.
Merlin saw that, in spite of their pleasant cottage, both the farmer and his wife were very sad.
"Why are you sad?" asked Merlin.
"You seem to have a good farm, a pleasant cottage, and many things to make you happy."
"Ah!" said the woman, "we are unhappy because we have no child.
I should be the happiest woman in the world if I had a son.
Why, even if he were no bigger than my husband's thumb, we should love him dearly."
"That would be indeed a very strange kind of child," said Merlin, "but I hope you may have your wish."
Now Merlin was on his way to call on the queen of the fairies.
When he came to her castle the next day, he told the fairy queen the wish of the farmer's wife.