By Andrew Lang
ReadOasis Step 2
(Part 2)

An hour or two later, a man from the nearest village knocked at her door. When she opened it, he said to her: "Good morning, mother. I have a job to do, and I want to know if your husband will lend me your mules. I see that he is not using them, and can lend me a hand himself?"

"He is upstairs. You had better ask him," answered the woman. And the man went up, and repeated his request.

"I am sorry, friend, but I have sworn not to leave my bed, and nothi...