At this the older brothers nearly exploded with envy until their father had to reprove them.
“There! There!” he said. “Don’t grudge the boy his good luck! Each girl has baked the loaf she knows how to make and each in her own way will probably make a good wife. But before you bring them home to me I want one further test of their skill in housewifery. Let them each send me a sample of their weaving.”
The older brothers were delighted at this for they knew that their sweethearts were skilful weavers.
“We’ll see how her ladyship fares this time!” they said, sure in their hearts that Veikko’s sweetheart, whoever she was, would not put them to shame with her weaving.
Veikko, too, had serious doubts of the little mouse’s ability at the loom.
“Whoever heard of a mouse that could weave?” he said to himself as he pushed open the door of the forest hut.
“Oh, there you are at last!” the little mouse squeaked joyfully.
She reached out her little paws in welcome and then in her excitement she began dancing about on the table.
“Are you really glad to see me, little mouse?” Veikko asked.
“Indeed I am!” the mouse declared. “Am I not your sweetheart? I’ve been waiting for you and waiting, just wishing that you would return! Does your father want something more this time, Veikko?”