“I want nothing but my two brothers to go with me.”
“I care not where they go if yourself leaves me,” said the king.
The three brothers went aboard the ship; and if the wind was good the first day, it was better this time. They never stopped nor rested till they sailed to Fermalye. The three went on shore, and were walking the kingdom. They had walked only a short piece of it when they saw a grand castle. They went to the gate; Cud was just opening it when a cat came out. The cat looked at Cud, bowed to him, and went her way. They saw neither beast nor man in the castle, or near it; only a woman at the highest window, and she sewing.
“We’ll not stop till we go as far as the woman,” said Cud.
The woman welcomed them when they came to her, put out a gold chair to Cud and a wooden chair to each of his brothers.
“’Tis strange,” said Micad, “to show so much greater respect to one than the other two.”
“No cause for wonder in that,” said the woman. “I show respect to this one, for he is my brother-in-law.”
“We do not wonder now, but where is his wife?”
“She went out a cat when ye came in.”
“Oh, was that she?” cried Cud.