"Husband, there is not room enough in this cottage, the courtyard and
garden are a great deal too small. I should like to have a large stone
castle to live in, so go to the fish again and tell him to give us a
castle."
"Wife," said the fisherman, "I don't like to go to him again, for
perhaps he will be angry. We ought to be content with the cottage."
"Nonsense!" said the wife, "he will do it very willingly. Go along and
try."
The fisherman went, but his heart was very heavy, and when he came to
the sea it looked blue and gloomy, though it was quite calm. He went
close to it, and said--
"O man of the sea,
Come listen to me,
For Alice my wife,
The plague of my life,
Hath sent me to beg a boon of thee!"
"Well, what does she want now?" said the fish.
"Ah!" said the man very sorrowfully, "my wife wants to live in a
stone castle."
"Go home, then," said the fish; "she is standing at the door of it
already."
Away went the fisherman, and found his wife standing before a great
castle.
"See," said she, "is not this grand?"
With that they went into the house together, and found a great many
servants there, the rooms all richly furnished, and full of golden
chairs and tables; and behind the castle was a garden, and a wood half
a mile long, full of sheep, goats, hares, and deer; and in the
courtyard were stables and cow-houses.
"Well," said the man, "now will we live contented and happy for the
rest of our lives."
"Perhaps we may," said the wife, "but let us consider and sleep upon
it before we make up our minds;" so they went to bed.
The next morning when Dame Alice awoke it was broad daylight, and she
jogged the fisherman with her elbow, and said--
"Get up, husband, and bestir yourself, for we must be king of all the
land."
"Wife, wife," said the man, "why should we wish to be king? I will not
be king."
"Then I will," said Alice.
"But, wife," answered the fisherman, "how can you be king? The fish
cannot make you king."
"Husband," said she, "say no more about it, but go and try. I will be
king."
So the man went away quite sorrowful, to think that his wife should
want to be king. The sea looked a dark grey colour, and was covered
with foam, as he called the fish to come and help him.
"Well, what would she have now?" asked the fish.
"Alas!" said the man, "my wife wants to be king."
"Go home," said the fish, "she is king already."
Then the fisherman went home, and as he came close to the palace he
saw a troop of soldiers, and heard the sound of drums and trumpets;
and when he entered, he saw his wife sitting on a high throne of gold
and diamonds, with a golden crown upon her head, and on each side of
her stood six beautiful maidens.
"Well, wife," said the fisherman, "are you king?"
"Yes," said she, "I am king."