man, who had no sooner set
foot in his house than she began to ride the high horse, saying, "Am I
come here indeed to look after other folk's children? A pretty job I
have undertaken, to have all this trouble and be for ever teased by a
couple of squalling brats! Would that I had broken my neck ere I ever
came to this place, to have bad food, worse drink, and get no sleep at
night! Here's a life to lead! Forsooth I came as a wife, and not as a
servant; but I must find some means of getting rid of these creatures,
or it will cost me my life: better to blush once than to grow pale a
hundred times; so I've done with them, for I am resolved to send them
away, or to leave the house myself for ever."

The poor husband, who had some affection for this woman, said to her,
"Softly, wife! Don't be angry, for sugar is dear; and to-morrow
morning, before the cock crows, I will remove this annoyance in order
to please you." So the next morning, ere the Dawn had hung out the red
counterpane at the window of the East to air it, Jannuccio took the
children, one by each hand, and with a good basketful of things to eat
upon his arm, he led them to a wood, where an army of poplars and
beech-trees were holding the shades besieged. Then Jannuccio said, "My
little children, stay here in this wood, and eat and drink merrily; but
if you want anything, follow this line of ashes which I have been
strewing as we came along; this will be a clue to lead you out of the
labyrinth and bring you straight home." Then giving them both a kiss,
he returned weeping to his house.

But at the hour when all creatures, summoned by the constables of
Night, pay to Nature the tax of needful repose, the two children began
to feel afraid at remaining in that lonesome place, where the waters of
a river, which was thrashing the impertinent stones for obstructing its
course, would have frightened even a hero. So they went slowly along
the path of ashes, and it was already midnight ere they reached their
home. When Pascozza, their stepmother, saw the children, she acted not
like a woman, but a perfect fury; crying aloud, wringing her hands,
stamping with her feet, snorting like a frightened horse, and
exclaiming, "What fine piece of work is this? Is there no way of
ridding the house of these creatures? Is it possible, husband, that you
are determined to keep them here to plague my very life out? Go, take
them out of my sight! I'll not wait for the crowing of cocks and