e leaned on the parapet thinking of his trouble, and that
perhaps it would be foolish to run away from home, but he could not tell
which to do; when he saw a girl washing her clothes on the bank below.
She looked up and said:

"If it may be no offence asking, what is it you feel so badly about?"

"My father has given me this skin, and I am to fetch it back and the
price of it beside."

"Is that all? Give it here, and it's easy done."

So the girl washed the skin in the stream, took the wool from it, and
paid him the value of it, and gave him the skin to carry back.

His father was well pleased, and said to Jack, "That was a witty woman;
she would make you a good wife. Do you think you could tell her again?"

Jack thought he could, so his father told him to go by-and-by to the
bridge, and see if she was there, and if so bid her come home to take
tea with them.

And sure enough Jack spied her and told her how his old father had a
wish to meet her, and would she be pleased to drink tea with them.

The girl thanked him kindly, and said she could come the next day; she
was too busy at the moment.

"All the better," said Jack, "I'll have time to make ready."

So when she came Gobborn Seer could see she was a witty woman, and he
asked her if she would marry his Jack. She said "Yes," and they were
married.

Not long after, Jack's father told him he must come with him and build
the finest castle that ever was seen, for a king who wished to outdo all
others by his wonderful castle.

And as they went to lay the foundation-stone, Gobborn Seer said to Jack,
"Can't you shorten the way for me?"

But Jack looked ahead and there was a long road before them, and he
said, "I don't see, father, how I could break a bit off."

"You're no good to me, then, and had best be off home."

So poor Jack turned back, and when he came in his wife said, "Why, how's
this you've come alone?" and he told her what his father had said and
his answer.

"You stupid," said his witty wife, "if you had told a tale you would
have shortened the road! Now listen till I tell you a story, and then
catch up with Gobborn Seer and begin it at once. He will like hearing
it, and by the time you are done you will have reached the
foundation-stone."

So Jack sweated and overtook his father. Gobborn Seer said never a word,
but Jack began his story, and the road was shortened as his wife had
said.

When they came to the end of their journey, they starte