"Oh, do you have children?" Asked Fred. "How fond I am of the dear little things." "I hope they are healthy and plump." "Yes, all three are girls--my sweet Marcella, Christina, and Francesca," Thomas answered. "But what's that?" Thomas added in a changed voice, for he heard a loud howling quite nearby. "A wolf, for sure", replied Fred, walking faster. "But have no fear." "My cottage is just ahead." Thomas looked up and indeed saw a neat thatched cottage. A woman and some children were standing at its door. "Great heavens!" Thomas gasped. "That looks like my wife, though I know it cannot be." "And my three little girls." "Am I mad?" "No, no," answered Fred calmly. "It is only the answer to your wishes." "Look, they have seen you and are waving..."

Thomas felt as if he were dreaming as he watched his wife and children rush up to him. They should have been hundreds of miles away in their home in Switzerland. "How can this be?" they all cried. "Only a moment ago we were at home in our beds, and now here we are in the middle of this strange forest!" Thomas could not think what to say, but Fred said cheerfully, "Well, well, I think we should all get ourselves to bed." "No doubt things will seem clearer in the morning." "And now," Fred added to Thomas, "You must meet my daughter Claudia..."