There was also a park, half a mile long, and in it were
stags and hinds, and hares, and everything of the kind one could wish
for.
"Now," said the woman, "is not this worth having?"
"Oh, yes," said the man; "and so let it remain. We will live in this
beautiful palace and be content."
"We will think about that," said his wife, "and sleep upon it."
With that they went to bed.
Next morning the wife woke up first; day was just dawning, and from
her bed she could see the beautiful country around her. Her husband
was still asleep, but she pushed him with her elbow, and said,
"Husband, get up and peep out of the window. See here, now, could we
not be king over all this land? Go to the flounder. We will be king."
"Alas, wife," said the man, "what should we be king for? I don't want
to be king."
"Ah," said his wife, "if thou wilt not be king, I will. Go to the
flounder. I will be king."
"Alas, wife," said the man, "whatever dost thou want to be king for? I
don't like to tell him."
"Why not?" said the woman. "Go thou must. I will be king."
So the man went; but he was quite sad because his wife would be king.
"It is not right," he said; "it is not right."
When he reached the sea, he found it dark, gray, and rough, and
evil-smelling.
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