“Pooh!” said the Fox. “That’s no way for a young man to talk! You ought to get married! Then you wouldn’t feel lonely!”
“Married!” Mikko repeated. “How can I get married? I can’t marry a poor girl because I’m too poor myself and a rich girl wouldn’t marry me.”
“Nonsense!” said the Fox. “You’re a fine well set up young man and you’re kind and gentle. What more could a princess ask?”
Mikko laughed to think of a princess wanting him for a husband.
“I mean what I say!” the Fox insisted. “Take our own Princess now. What would you think of marrying her?”
Mikko laughed louder than before.
“I have heard,” he said, “that she is the most beautiful princess in the world! Any man would be happy to marry her!”
“Very well,” the Fox said, “if you feel that way about her then I’ll arrange the wedding for you.”
With that the little Fox actually did trot off to the royal castle and gain audience with the King.
“My master sends you greetings,” the Fox said, “and he begs you to loan him your bushel measure.”