The squire thought this was well and good, and so he began brewing and baking and getting ready for the wedding in grand style. When the guests had arrived the squire called one of his farm lads and told him to run down to his neighbor and ask him to send him what he had promised.
“But if you are not back in a twinkling,” he said, shaking his fist at him, “I’ll—”
He did not say more, for the lad ran off as if he had been shot at.
“My master has sent me to ask for that you promised him,” said the lad, when he got to the neighbor, “but there is no time to be lost, for he is terribly busy to-day.”
“Yes, yes! Run down into the meadow and take her with you. There she goes!” answered the neighbor.
The lad ran off and when he came to the meadow he found the daughter there raking the hay.
“I am to fetch what your father has promised my master,” said the lad.
“Ah, ha!” thought she. “Is that what they are up to?”
“Ah, indeed!” she said. “I suppose it’s that little bay mare of ours. You had better go and take her. She stands there tethered on the other side of the pea field,” said the girl.
The boy jumped on the back of the bay mare and rode home at full gallop.