“Yes, there is a golden carriage, with two golden horses,” replied the
woman.
“Then give me that nut,” said Christina; so Ib gave it to her, and the
strange woman tied up the nut for her in her handkerchief.
Ib held up another nut. “Is there, in this nut, a pretty little neckerchief like
the one Christina has on her neck?” asked Ib.
“There are ten neckerchiefs in it,” she replied, “as well as beautiful
dresses, stockings, and a hat and veil.”
“Then I will have that one also,” said Christina; “and it is a pretty one
too.” And then Ib gave her the second nut.
The third was a little black thing. “You may keep that one,” said
Christina; “it is quite as pretty.”
“What is in it?” asked Ib.
“The best of all things for you,” replied the gypsy. So Ib held the nut very
tight.
Then the woman promised to lead the children to the right path, that they
might find their way home: and they went forward certainly in quite another
direction to the one they meant to take; therefore no one ought to speak
against the woman, and say that she wanted to steal the children. In the wild
wood-path they met a forester who knew Ib, and, by his help, Ib and
Christina reached home, where they found every one had been very anxious
about them. They were pardoned and forgiven, although they really had
both done wrong, and deserved to get into trouble; first, because they had
let the sucking-pig fall into the water; and, secondly, because they had run
away. Christina was taken back to her father’s house on the heath, and Ib
remained in the farm-house on the borders of the wood, near the great land
ridge.
The first thing Ib did that evening was to take out of his pocket the little
black nut, in which the best thing of all was said to be enclosed. He laid it
carefully between the door and the door-post, and then shut the door so that
