The woman patted and pinned and fixed and joined , and then , turning to the man , she said : ` Now it is ready for you to try on . ' And she made him take off his coat , and stand up in front of her , and once more she patted an pinned and fixed and joined , and was very careful in smoothing out every wrinkle . ` It does not feel very warm , ' observed the man at last , when he had borne all this patiently for a long time . ` That is because it is so fine , ' answered she ; ` you do not want it to be as thick as the rough clothes you wear every day . ' He DID , but was ashamed to say so , and only answered : ` Well , I am sure it must be beautiful since you say so , and I shall be smarter than anyone in the whole village . `` What a splendid coat ! '' they will exclaim when they see me . But it is not everybody who has a wife as clever as mine . ' Meanwhile the other wife was not idle . As soon as her husband entered she looked at him with such a look of terror that the poor man was quite frightened . ` Why do you stare at me so ? Is there anything the matter ? ' asked he . ` Oh ! go to bed at once , ' she cried ; ` you must be very ill indeed to look like that ! ' The man was rather surprised at first , as he felt particularly well that evening ; but the moment his wife spoke he became quite certain that he had something dreadful the matter with him , and grew quite pale . ' I dare say it would be the best place for me , ' he answered , trembling ; and he suffered his wife to take him upstairs , and to help him off with his clothes . ` If you sleep well during the might there MAY be a chance for you , ' said she , shaking her head , as she tucked him up warmly ; ` but if not -- ' And of course the poor man never closed an eye till the sun rose . ` How do you feel this morning ? ' asked the woman , coming in on tip-toe when her house-work was finished .
` Oh , bad ; very bad indeed , ' answered he ; ' I have not slept XXXXX a moment .
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