She asked them what they wanted. Little Thumb told her they were poor
children who were lost in the forest, and desired to lodge there for
charity's sake. The woman, seeing them all so very pretty, began to weep
and said to them: "Alas! poor babies, where do you come from? Do you
know that this house belongs to a cruel Ogre who eats little children?"

"Alas! dear madam," answered Little Thumb (who, with his brothers, was
trembling in every limb), "what shall we do? The wolves of the forest
surely will devour us to-night if you refuse us shelter in your house;
and so we would rather the gentleman should eat us. Perhaps he may take
pity upon us if you will be pleased to ask him to do so."

The Ogre's wife, who believed she could hide them from her husband till
morning, let them come in, and took them to warm themselves at a very
good fire; for there was a whole sheep roasting for the Ogre's supper.

As they began to warm themselves they heard three or four great raps at
the door; this was the Ogre, who was come home. His wife quickly hid
them under the bed and went to open the door. The Ogre at once asked if
supper was ready and the wine drawn, and then sat himself down to
table. The sheep was as yet all raw, but he liked it the better for
that. He sniffed about to the right and left, saying:--

"I smell fresh meat."

"What you smell," said his wife, "must be the calf which I have just now
killed and flayed."

"I smell fresh meat, I tell you once more," replied the Ogre, looking
crossly at his wife, "and there is something here which I do not