hewascompletelysatisfied。"Fine，"hesaid，"nowyouwillbemywife。"Heorderedpreparationsmadeforthewedding，towhichhei女itedallthenobilityintown。

Caughtupinthepreparations，thebridethoughtno摸reoftheoldwomen。Onthe摸rningoftheweddingsherememberedthatshewassupposedtoi女itethem，butwhenshettopronouncetheirnames，shefoundtheyhadslippedhermind。Shecudgeledherbrainsbut，forthelifeofher，couldntrecallasinglename。

Fromthecheerfulgirlshewas，shesankintoastateof波ttomlessgloom。Thecaptainnoticeditandaskedherwhatthematterwas，butshewouldsaynothing。Unabletoaccountforhersadness，thebridegroomthought，Thisisperhapsnottherightday。Hethereforepostponedtheweddinguntilthedayafter。Butthenextdaywasstillworse，andthedayfollowingwewontevenmention。Witheverydaythatpassed，thebridebecamegloomierandquieter，withherbrowsknitinconcentration。Hetoldherjokesandstoriesinanefforttomakeherlaugh，butnothinghesaidordidaffectedher。

Sincehecouldntcheerherup，hedecidedtogohuntingandcheerhimselfup。Rightintheheartofthewoodshewascaughtinastormandtookrefugeinahovel。Hewasinthereinthedark，whenheheardvoices:

"OColumbina！"

"OColumbara！"

"OColumbun！"

"Putonthepottomakepolenta！Thatconfoundedbridewontbei女itingustoherbanquetafterall！"

Thecaptainwheeledandandsawthreecrones。Onehadeyelashesthatdraggedonthegnd，anotherlipsthathungdowntoherfeet，andthethirdteeththatgrazedherknees。