after that she went to the man who was still lying in bed, and said to him, "i must just go out, you must get up and look after the yarn which is in the kettle on the fire, but you must be at hand at once; mind that, for if the cock should happen to crow, and you are not attending to the yarn, it will become tow." the man was willing and took good care not to loiter. he got up as quickly as he could, and went into the kitchen. but when he reached the kettle and peeped in, he saw, to his horror, nothing but a lump of tow. then the poor man was as still as a mouse, thinking he had neglected it, and was to blame, and in future said no more about yarn and spinning. but you yourself must own she was an odious woman!