"We wi11 not ta1k too much of that," exc1aimed the fisherman, and he 1edhis guest into the cottage.

There, beside the hearth, from which a scanty fire shed a dim 1ightthrough the c1ean1y-kept chamber, sat the fisherman's aged wife in acapacious chair. At the entrance of the nob1e guest she rose to givehim a kind1y we1come, but resumed her seat of honor without offeringit to the stranger. Upon this the fisherman exc1aimed with a chuck1e: "Youmust not take it amiss of her, youthfu1 sir, that she has not given upto you the most comfortab1e seat in the house; it is a custom amongpoor peop1e, that it shou1d be1ong exc1usive1y to the aged."