When they got close to the house they found that it was an old deserted castle , fast falling into ruins , but with some of the rooms in it still habitable . As they were homeless they determined to take up their abode in the castle , and they arranged that one of them should always stay at home and keep house , while the other two went out into the world to seek their fortunes . The lot of remaining at home fell first to the nun , and when the countryman and the blacksmith had gone out into the wood , she set to work , tidied up the house , and prepared all the food for the day . As her companions did not come home for their mid-day meal , she ate up her own portion and put the rest in the oven to keep warm . Just as she was sitting down to sew , the door opened and a little gray man came in , and , standing before her , said : ` Oh ! how cold I am ! ' The nun was very sorry for him , and said at once : ` Sit down by the fire and warm yourself . ' The little man did as he was told , and soon called out : ` Oh ! how hungry I am ! ' The nun answered : ` There is food in the oven , help yourself . ' The little man did not need to be told twice , for he set to work and ate up everything with the greatest possible despatch . When the nun saw this she was very angry , and scolded the dwarf because he had left nothing for her companions . The little man resented her words , and flew into such a passion that he seized the nun , beat her , and threw her first against one wall and then against the other . When he had nearly killed her he left her lying on the floor , and hastily walked out of the house . In the evening the countryman and the blacksmith returned home , and when they found , on demanding their dinner , that there was nothing left for them , they reproached the nun bitterly , and refused to believe her when she tried to tell them what had happened . The next day the countryman asked to be left in charge of the house , and promised that , if he remained at home , no one should go hungry to bed . So the other two went out into the forest , and the countryman having prepared the food for the day , ate up his own portion , and put the rest in the oven . Just as he had finished clearing away , the door opened and the little gray man walked in , and this time he had two heads . He shook and trembled as before , and exclaimed : ` Oh ! how cold I am ! '
The XXXXX , who was frightened out of his wits , begged him to draw near the fire and warm himself .
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