strides to the boys, caught the dough-faced one by the neck, took the lid
off a great pot that was boiling on the fire, popped him in as if he had
been a trussed chicken, put the lid on again, and saying, 'There boys! See
what comes of lying!' asked no more questions; for, as he always kept his
word, he was afraid he might have to do the same to them all; and he did
not like boiled boys. He like to eat them crisp, as radishes, whether
forked or not, ought to be eaten. He then sat down, and asked his wife if
his supper was ready. She looked into the pot, and, throwing the boy out
with the ladle, as if he had been a black-beetle that had tumbled in and
had had the worst of it, answered that she thought it was. Whereupon he
rose to help her; and, taking the pot from the fire, poured the whole
contents, bubbling and splashing into a dish like a vat. Then they say
down to supper. The children in the broom could not see what they had; but
it seemed to agree with them; for the giant talked like thunder, and the
giantess answered like the sea, and they grew chattier and chattier. At
length the giant said:

"'I don't feel quite comfortable about that heart of mine.' And as he
spoke, instead of laying his hand on his bosom, he waved it away towards
the corner where the children were peeping from the broom-bristles, like
frightened little mice.

"'Well, you know, my darling Thunderthump,' answered his wife, 'I always
thought it ought to be nearer home. But you know best, of course.'

"'Ha! ha! You don't know where it is, wife. I moved it a month ago.'

"'What a man you are, Thunderthump! You trust any creature alive rather
than your wife.'