\'Thatisoursecret,\'saidthedoves。
Meanwhilethegirlhadreachedhomecrosserthanever;butassoonashermotherheardherliftthelatchofthedoorsheranouttohearheradventures。\'Well,didyougetthewreath？\'criedshe。
\'Dirtycreatures！\'answeredherdaughter。
\'Don\'tspeaktomelikethat！Whatdoyoumean？\'askedthemotheragain。
\'Dirtycreatures！\'repeatedthedaughter,andnothingelsecouldshesay。
Thenthewomansawthatsomethingevilhadbefallenher,andturnedinherragetoherstepdaughter。
\'Youareatthebottomofthis,Iknow,\'shecried;andasthefatherwasoutofthewayshetookastickandbeatthegirltillshescreamedwithpainandwenttobedsobbing。
Ifthepoorgirl\'slifehadbeenmiserablebefore,itwastentimesworsenow,forthemomentherfather\'sbackwasturnedtheothersteasedandtormentedherfrommorningtillnight;andtheirfurywasincreasedbythesightofherwreath,whichthedoveshadplacedagainonherhead。
Thingswentonlikethisforsomeweeks,when,oneday,astheking\'ssonwasridingthroughtheforest,heheardsomestrangebirdssingingmoresweetlythanbirdshadeversungbefore。Hetiedhishorsetoatree,andfollowedwherethesoundledhim,and,tohissurprise,hesawbeforehimabeautifulgirlchoppingwood,withawreathofpinkrose—buds,outofwhichthesingingcame。Standingintheshelterofatree,hewatchedheralongwhile,andthen,hatinhand,hewentupandspoketoher。
\'Fairmaiden,whoareyou,andwhogaveyouthatwreathofsingingroses？\'askedhe,forthebirdsweresotinythattillyoulookedcloselyyouneversawthem。
\'Iliveinahutontheedgeoftheforest,\'sheanswered,blushing,forshehadneverspokentoaprincebefore。\'Astothewreath,Iknownothowitcamethere,unlessitmaybethegiftofsomedoveswhomI
fedwhentheywerestarving！Theprincewasdelightedwiththisanswer,whichshowedthegoodnessofthegirl\'sheart,andbesideshehadfalleninlovewithherbeauty,andwouldnotbecontenttillshepromisedtoreturnwithhimtothepalace,andbecomehisbride。Theoldkingwasnaturallydisappointedathisson\'schoiceofawife,ashewishedhimtomarryaneighbouringprincess;butasfromhisbirththeprincehadalwaysdoneexactlyashelike,nothingwassaidandasplendidweddingfeastwasgotready。
Thedayafterhermarriagethebridesentamessenger,bearinghandsomepresentstoherfather,andtellinghimofthegoodfortunewhichhadbefallenher。Asmaybeimagined,thestepmotherandherdaughterweresofilledwithenvythattheygrewquiteill,andhadtotaketotheirbeds,andnobodywouldhavebeensorryittheyhadnevergotupagain;
butthatdidnothappen。Atlength,however,theybegantofeelbetter,forthemotherinventedaplanbywhichshecouldberevengedonthegirlwhohadneverdoneheranyharm。
Herplanwasthis。Inthetownwhereshehadlivedbeforeshewasmarriedtherewasanoldwitch,whohadmoreskillinmagicthatanyotherwitchsheknew。Tothiswitchshewouldgoandbeghertomakeheramaskwiththefaceofherstepdaughter,andwhenshehadthemasktherestwouldbeeasy。Shetoldherdaughterwhatshemeanttodo,andalthoughthedaughtercouldonlysay\'dirtycreatures,\'inanswer,shenoddedandsmiledandlookedwellpleased。
Everythingfelloutexactlyasthewomanhadhoped。Bytheaidofhermagicmirrorthewitchbeheldthenewprincesswalkinginhergardensinadressofgreensilk,andinafewminuteshadproducedamasksolikeher,thatveryfewpeoplecouldhavetoldthedifference。
However,shecounselledthewomanthatwhenherdaughterfirstworeit——forthat,ofcourse,waswhatsheintendedhertodo——shehadbetterpretendthatshehadatoothache,andcoverherheadwithalaceveil。Thewomanthankedherandpaidherwell,andreturnedtoherhut,carryingthemaskunderhercloak。
Inafewdayssheheardthatagreathuntwasplanned,andtheprincewouldleavethepalaceveryearlyinthemorning,sothathiswifewouldbealoneallday。Thiswasachancenottobemissed,andtakingherdaughterwithhershewentuptothepalace,whereshehadneverbeenbefore。Theprincesswastoohappyinhernewhometorememberallthatshehadsufferedintheoldone,andshewelcomedthembothgladly,andgavethemquantitiesofbeautifulthingstotakebackwiththem。Atlastshetookthemdowntotheshoretoseeapleasureboatwhichherhusbandhadhadmadeforher;andhere,thewomanseizingheropportunity,stolesoftlybehindthegirlandpushedherofftherockonwhichshewasstanding,intothedeepwater,wheresheinstantlysanktothebottom。Thenshefastenedthemaskonherdaughter,flungoverhershouldersavelvetcloak,whichtheprincesshadletfall,andfinallyarrangedalaceveiloverherhead。
\'Restyourcheekonyourhand,asifyouwereinpain,whentheprincereturns,\'saidthemother;\'andbecarefulnottospeak,whateveryoudo。Iwillgobacktothewitchandseeifshecannottakeoffthespelllaidonyoubythosehorriblebirds。Ah！whydidInotthinkofitbefore！\'
Nosoonerhadtheprinceenteredthepalacethanhehastenedtotheprincess\'sapartments,wherehefoundherlyingonthesofaapparentlyingreatpain。
\'Mydearestwife,whatisthematterwithyou？\'hecried,kneelingdownbesideher,andtryingtotakeherhand;butshesnatcheditaway,andpointingtohercheekmurmuredsomethinghecouldnotcatch。
\'Whatisit？tellme！Isthepainbad？Whendiditbegin？ShallI
sendforyourladiestobaththeplace？\'askedtheprince,pouringouttheseandadozenotherquestions,towhichthegirlonlyshookherhead。
\'ButIcan\'tleaveyoulikethis,\'hecontinued,startingup,\'Imustsummonallthecourtphysicianstoapplysoothingbalsamstothesoreplace！Andashespokehesprangtohisfeettogoinsearchofthem。
Thissofrightenedthepretendedwife,whoknewthatifthephysiciansoncecamenearherthetrickwouldatoncebediscovered,thatsheforgothermother\'scounselnottospeak,andforgoteventhespellthathadbeenlaiduponher,andcatchingholdoftheprince\'stunic,shecriedintonesofentreaty:\'Dirtycreatures！\'
Theyoungmanstopped,notabletobelievehisears,butsupposedthatpainhadmadetheprincesscross,asitsometimesdoes。However,heguessedsomehowthatshewisedtobeleftalone,soheonlysaid:
\'Well,Idaresayalittlesleepwilldoyougood,ifyoucanmanagetogetit,andthatyouwillwakeupbetterto—morrow。\'
Now,thatnighthappenedtobeveryhotandairless,andtheprince,aftervainlytryingtorest,atlengthgotupandwenttothewindow。
Suddenlyhebeheldinthemoonlightaformwithawreathofrosesonherheadriseoutoftheseabelowhimandstepontothesands,holdingoutherarmsasshedidsotowardsthepalace。
\'Thatmaidenisstrangelylikemywife,\'thoughthe;\'Imustseehercloser！Andhehasteneddowntothewater。Butwhenhegotthere,theprincess,forsheindeeditwas,haddisappearedcompletely,andhebegantowonderifhiseyeshaddeceivedhim。
Thenextmorninghewenttothefalsebride\'sroom,butherladiestoldhimshewouldneitherspeaknorgetup,thoughsheateeverythingtheysetbeforeher。Theprincewassorelyperplexedastowhatcouldbethematterwithher,fornaturallyhecouldnotguessthatshewasexpectinghermothertoreturneverymoment,andtoremovethespellthedoveshadlaiduponher,andmeanwhilewasafraidtospeaklestsheshouldbetrayherself。Atlengthhemadeuphismindtosummonallthecourtphysicians;hedidnottellherwhathewasgoingtodo,lestitshouldmakeherworse,buthewenthimselfandbeggedthefourlearnedleechesattachedtotheking\'spersontofollowhimtotheprincess\'sapartments。Unfortunately,astheyentered,theprincesswassoenragedatthesightofthemthatsheforgotallaboutthedoves,andshriekedout:\'Dirtycreatures！dirtycreatures！\'whichsooffendedthephysiciansthattheylefttheroomatonce,andnothingthattheprincecouldsaywouldprevailonthemtoremain。Hethentriedtopersuadehiswifetosendthemamessagethatshewassorryforherrudeness,butnotawordwouldshesay。
Latethatevening,whenhehadperformedallthetiresomedutieswhichfalltothelotofeveryprince,theyoungmanwasleaningoutofhiswindow,refreshinghimselfwiththecoolbreezesthatblewoffthesea。
Histhoughtswentbacktothesceneofthemorning,andhewonderedif,afterall,hehadnotmadeagreatmistakeinmarryingalow—bornwife,howeverbeautifulshemightbe。Howcouldhehaveimaginedthatthequiet,gentlegirlwhohadbeensocharmingacompaniontohimduringthefirstdaysoftheirmarriage,couldhavebecomeinadaytherude,sulkywoman,whocouldnotcontrolhertempereventobenefitherself。Onethingwasclear,ifshedidnotchangeherconductveryshortlyhewouldhavetosendherawayfromcourt。
Hewasthinkingthesethoughts,whenhiseyesfellontheseabeneathhim,andthere,asbefore,wasthefigurethatsocloselyresembledhiswife,standingwithherfeetinthewater,holdingoutherarmstohim。
\'Waitforme！Waitforme！Waitforme！\'hecried;notevenknowinghewasspeaking。Butwhenhereachedtheshoretherewasnothingtobeseenbuttheshadowscastbythemoonlight。
Astateceremonialinacitysomedistanceoffcausedtheprincetorideawayatdaybreak,andheleftwithoutseeinghiswifeagain。
\'Perhapsshemayhavecometohersensesbyto—morrow,\'saidhetohimself;\'and,anyhow,ifIamgoingtosendherbacktoherfather,itmightbebetterifwedidnotmeetinthemeantime！Thenheputthematterfromhismind,andkepthisthoughtsonthedutythatlaybeforehim。
Itwasnearlymidnightbeforehereturnedtothepalace,but,insteadofentering,hewentdowntotheshoreandhidbehindarock。Hehadscarcelydonesowhenthegirlcameoutofthesea,andstretchedoutherarmstowardshiswindow。Inaninstanttheprincehadseizedherhand,andthoughshemadeafrightenedstruggletoreachthewater——forsheinherturnhadhadaspelllaiduponher——heheldherfast。
\'Youaremyownwife,andIshallneverletyougo,\'hesaid。Butthewordswerehardlyoutofhismouthwhenhefoundthatitwasaharethathewasholdingbythepaw。Thentheharechangedintoafish,andthefishintoabird,andthebirdintoaslimywrigglingsnake。Thistimetheprince\'shandnearlyopenedofitself,butwithastrongefforthekepthisfingersshut,anddrawinghisswordcutoffitshead,whenthespellwasbroken,andthegirlstoodbeforehimashehadseenherfirst,thewreathuponherheadandthebirdssingingforjoy。
Theverynextmorningthestepmotherarrivedatthepalacewithanointmentthattheoldwitchhadgivenhertoplaceuponherdaughter\'stongue,whichwouldbreakthedove\'sspell,iftherightfulbridehadreallybeendrownedinthesea;ifnot,thenitwouldbeuseless。Themotherassuredherthatshehadseenherstepdaughtersink,andthattherewasnofearthatshewouldevercomeupagain;but,tomakeallquitesafe,theoldwomanmightbewitchthegirl;andsoshedid。
Afterthatthewickedstepmothertravelledallthroughthenighttogettothepalaceassoonaspossible,andmadeherwaystraightintoherdaughter\'sroom。
\'Ihavegotit！Ihavegotit！\'shecriedtriumphantly,andlaidtheointmentonherdaughter\'stongue。
\'Nowwhatdoyousay？\'sheaskedproudly。
\'Dirtycreatures！dirtycreatures！\'answeredthedaughter;andthemotherwrungherhandsandwept,assheknewthatallherplanshadfailed。
Atthismomenttheprinceenteredwithhisrealwife。\'Youbothdeserveddeath,\'hesaid,\'andifitwerelefttome,youshouldhaveit。Buttheprincesshasbeggedmetospareyourlives,soyouwillbeputintoashipandcarriedofftoadesertisland,whereyouwillstaytillyoudie。\'
Thentheshipwasmadereadyandthewickedwomanandherdaughterwereplacedinit,anditsailedaway,andnomorewasheardofthem。Buttheprinceandhiswifelivedtogetherlongandhappily,andruledtheirpeoplewell。
[AdaptedfromThorpe\'sYule—TideStories。]
TheFoolishWeaverOnceaweaver,whowasinwantofwork,tookservicewithacertainfarmerasashepherd。
Thefarmer,knowingthatthemanwasveryslow—witted,gavehimmostcarefulinstructionsastoeverythingthathewastodo。
Finallyhesaid:\'Ifawolforanywildanimalattemptstohurttheflockyoushouldpickupabigstonelikethis\'（suitingtheactiontotheword）\'andthrowafewsuchathim,andhewillbeafraidandgoaway。\'Theweaversaidthatheunderstood,andstartedwiththeflockstothehillsideswheretheygrazedallday。
Bychanceintheafternoonaleopardappeared,andtheweaverinstantlyranhomeasfastashecouldtogetthestoneswhichthefarmerhadshownhim,tothrowatthecreature。Whenhecamebackalltheflockwerescatteredorkilled,andwhenthefarmerheardthetalehebeathimsoundly。\'Weretherenostonesonthehillsidethatyoushouldrunbacktogetthem,yousenselessone？\'hecried;\'youarenotfittoherdsheep。To—dayyoushallstayathomeandmindmyoldmotherwhoissick,perhapsyouwillbeabletodrivefliesoffherface,ifyoucan\'tdrivebeastsawayfromsheep！\'
So,thenextday,theweaverwasleftathometotakecareofthefarmer\'soldsickmother。Nowasshelayoutsideonabed,itturnedoutthatthefliesbecameverytroublesome,andtheweaverlookedroundforsomethingtodrivethemawaywith;andashehadbeentoldtopickuptheneareststonetodrivethebeastsawayfromtheflock,hethoughthewouldthistimeshowhowcleverlyhecouldobeyorders。
Accordinglyheseizedtheneareststone,whichwasabig,heavyone,anddasheditattheflies;but,unhappily,heslewthepooroldwomanalso;andthen,beingafraidofthewrathofthefarmer,hefledandwasnotseenagaininthatneighbourhood。
Allthatdayandallthenextnighthewalked,andatlengthhecametoavillagewhereagreatmanyweaverslivedtogether。
\'Youarewelcome,\'saidthey。\'Eatandsleep,forto—morrowsixofusstartinsearchoffreshwooltoweave,andweprayyoutogiveusyourcompany。\'
\'Willingly,\'answeredtheweaver。Sothenextmorningthesevenweaverssetouttogotothevillagewheretheycouldbuywhattheywanted。Onthewaytheyhadtocrossaravinewhichlatelyhadbeenfullofwater,butnowwasquitedry。Theweavers,however,wereaccustomedtoswimoverthisravine;therefore,regardlessofthefactthatthistimeitwasdry,theystripped,and,tyingtheirclothesontheirheads,theyproceededtoswimacrossthedrysandandrocksthatformedthebedoftheravine。Thustheygottotheothersidewithoutfurtherdamagethanbruisedkneesandelbows,andassoonastheywereover,oneofthembegantocountthepartytomakesurethatallweresafethere。Hecountedallexcepthimself,andthencriedoutthatsomebodywasmissing！Thisseteachofthemcounting;buteachmadethesamemistakeofcountingallexcepthimself,sothattheybecamecertainthatoneoftheirpartywasmissing！Theyranupanddownthebankoftheravinewringingtheirhandsingreatdistressandlookingforsignsoftheirlostcomrade。Thereafarmerfoundthemandaskedwhatwasthematter。\'Alas！\'saidone,\'sevenofusstartedfromtheotherbankandonemusthavebeendrownedonthecrossing,aswecanonlyfindsixremaining！\'Thefarmereyedthemaminute,andthen,pickinguphisstick,hedealteachasoundingblow,counting,ashedidso,\'One！two！three！\'andsoonuptotheseven。Whentheweaversfoundthatthereweresevenofthemtheywereovercomewithgratitudetoonewhomtheytookforamagicianashecouldthusmakesevenoutofanobvioussix。
[FromthePushto。]
TheCleverCatOnceuponatimetherelivedanoldmanwhodweltwithhissoninasmallhutontheedgeoftheplain。Hewasveryold,andhadworkedveryhard,andwhenatlasthewasstruckdownbyillnesshefeltthatheshouldneverrisefromhisbedagain。
So,oneday,hebadehiswifesummontheirson,whenhecamebackfromhisjourneytothenearesttown,wherehehadbeentobuybread。
\'Comehither,myson,\'saidhe;\'Iknowmyselfwelltobedying,andI
havenothingtoleaveyoubutmyfalcon,mycatandmygreyhound;butifyoumakegooduseofthemyouwillneverlackfood。Begoodtoyourmother,asyouhavebeentome。Andnowfarewell！\'
Thenheturnedhisfacetothewallanddied。
Therewasgreatmourninginthehutformanydays,butatlengththesonroseup,andcallingtohisgreyhound,hiscatandhisfalcon,heleftthehousesayingthathewouldbringbacksomethingfordinner。
Wanderingovertheplain,henoticedatroopofgazelles,andpointedtohisgreyhoundtogivechase。Thedogsoonbroughtdownafinefatbeast,andslingingitoverhisshoulders,theyoungmanturnedhomewards。Ontheway,however,hepassedapond,andasheapproachedacloudofbirdsflewintotheair。Shakinghiswrist,thefalconseatedonitdartedintotheair,andswoopeddownuponthequarryhehadmarked,whichfelldeadtotheground。Theyoungmanpickeditup,andputitinhispouchandthenwenttowardshomeagain。
Nearthehutwasasmallbarninwhichhekepttheproduceofthelittlepatchofcorn,whichgrewclosetothegarden。Herearatranoutalmostunderhisfeet,followedbyanotherandanother;butquickasthoughtthecatwasuponthemandnotoneescapedher。
Whenalltheratswerekilled,theyoungmanleftthebarn。Hetookthepathleadingtothedoorofthehut,butstoppedonfeelingahandlaidonhisshoulder。
\'Youngman,\'saidtheogre（forsuchwasthestranger）,\'youhavebeenagoodson,andyoudeservethepieceofluckwhichhasbefallenyouthisday。Comewithmetothatshininglakeyonder,andfearnothing。\'
Wonderingalittleatwhatmightbegoingtohappentohim,theyouthdidastheogrebadehim,andwhentheyreachedtheshoreofthelake,theogreturnedandsaidtohim:
\'Stepintothewaterandshutyoureyes！Youwillfindyourselfsinkingslowlytothebottom;buttakecourage,allwillgowell。Onlybringupasmuchsilverasyoucancarry,andwewilldivideitbetweenus。\'
Sotheyoungmansteppedbravelyintothelake,andfelthimselfsinking,sinking,tillhereachedfirmgroundatlast。Infrontofhimlayfourheapsofsilver,andinthemidstofthemacuriouswhiteshiningstone,markedoverwithstrangecharacters,suchashehadneverseenbefore。Hepickeditupinordertoexamineitmoreclosely,andashehelditthestonespoke。
\'Aslongasyouholdme,allyourwisheswillcometrue,\'itsaid。
\'Buthidemeinyourturban,andthencalltotheogrethatyouarereadytocomeup。\'
Inafewminutestheyoungmanstoodagainbytheshoresofthelake。
\'Well,whereisthesilver？\'askedtheogre,whowasawaitinghim。
\'Ah,myfather,howcanItellyou！SobewilderedwasI,andsodazzledwiththesplendoursofeverythingIsaw,thatIstoodlikeastatue,unabletomove。ThenhearingstepsapproachingIgotfrightened,andcalledtoyou,asyouknow。\'
\'Youarenobetterthantherest,\'criedtheogre,andturnedawayinarage。
Whenhewasoutofsighttheyoungmantookthestonefromhisturbanandlookedatit。\'Iwantthefinestcamelthatcanbefound,andthemostsplendidgarments,\'saidhe。
\'Shutyoureyesthen,\'repliedthestone。Andheshutthem;andwhenheopenedthemagainthecamelthathehadwishedforwasstandingbeforehim,whilethefestalrobesofadesertprincehungfromhisshoulders。Mountingthecamel,hewhistledthefalcontohiswrist,and,followedbyhisgreyhoundandhiscat,hestartedhomewards。
Hismotherwassewingatherdoorwhenthismagnificentstrangerrodeup,and,filledwithsurprise,shebowedlowbeforehim。
\'Don\'tyouknowme,mother？\'hesaidwithalaugh。Andonhearinghisvoicethegoodwomannearlyfelltothegroundwithastonishment。
\'Howhaveyougotthatcamelandthoseclothes？\'askedshe。\'Canasonofminehavecommittedmurderinordertopossessthem？\'
\'Donotbeafraid;theyarequitehonestlycomeby,\'answeredtheyouth。\'Iwillexplainallby—and—by;butnowyoumustgotothepalaceandtellthekingIwishtomarryhisdaughter。\'
Atthesewordsthemotherthoughthersonhadcertainlygonemad,andstaredblanklyathim。Theyoungmanguessedwhatwasinherheart,andrepliedwithasmile:
\'Fearnothing。Promiseallthatheasks;itwillbefulfilledsomehow。\'
Soshewenttothepalace,whereshefoundthekingsittingintheHallofJusticelisteningtothepetitionsofhispeople。Thewomanwaiteduntilallhadbeenheardandthehallwasempty,andthenwentupandkneltbeforethethrone。
\'Mysonhassentmetoaskforthehandoftheprincess,\'saidshe。
Thekinglookedatherandthoughtthatshewasmad;but,insteadoforderinghisguardstoturnherout,heansweredgravely:
\'Beforehecanmarrytheprincesshemustbuildmeapalaceofice,whichcanbewarmedwithfires,andwhereintherarestsinging—birdscanlive！\'
\'Itshallbedone,yourMajesty,\'saidshe,andgotupandleftthehall。
Hersonwasanxiouslyawaitingheroutsidethepalacegates,dressedintheclothesthatheworeeveryday。
\'Well,whathaveIgottodo？\'heaskedimpatiently,drawinghismotherasidesothatnoonecouldoverhearthem。
\'Oh,somethingquiteimpossible;andIhopeyouwillputtheprincessoutofyourhead,\'shereplied。
\'Well,butwhatisit？\'persistedhe。
\'Nothingbuttobuildapalaceoficewhereinfirescanburnthatshallkeepitsowarmthatthemostdelicatesinging—birdscanliveinit！\'
\'Ithoughtitwouldbesomethingmuchharderthanthat,\'exclaimedtheyoungman。\'Iwillseeaboutitatonce。\'Andleavinghismother,hewentintothecountryandtookthestonefromhisturban。
\'Iwantapalaceoficethatcanbewarmedwithfiresandfilledwiththerarestsinging—birds！\'
\'Shutyoureyes,then,\'saidthestone;andheshutthem,andwhenheopenedthemagaintherewasthepalace,morebeautifulthananythinghecouldhaveimagined,thefiresthrowingasoftpinkglowovertheice。
\'Itisfitevenfortheprincess,\'thoughthetohimself。
Assoonasthekingawokenextmorningherantothewindow,andthereacrosstheplainhebeheldthepalace。
\'Thatyoungmanmustbeagreatwizard;hemaybeusefultome。\'Andwhenthemothercameagaintotellhimthathisordershadbeenfulfilledhereceivedherwithgreathonour,andbadehertellhersonthattheweddingwasfixedforthefollowingday。
Theprincesswasdelightedwithhernewhome,andwithherhusbandalso;andseveraldaysslippedhappilyby,spentinturningoverallthebeautifulthingsthatthepalacecontained。Butatlengththeyoungmangrewtiredofalwaysstayinginsidewalls,andhetoldhiswifethatthenextdayhemustleaveherforafewhours,andgoouthunting。\'Youwillnotmind？\'heasked。Andsheansweredasbecameagoodwife:
\'Yes,ofcourseIshallmind;butIwillspendthedayinplanningoutsomenewdresses;andthenitwillbesodelightfulwhenyoucomeback,youknow！\'
Sothehusbandwentofftohunt,withthefalcononhiswrist,andthegreyhoundandthecatbehindhim——forthepalacewassowarmthateventhecatdidnotmindlivinginit。
Nosoonerhadhegone,thantheogrewhohadbeenwatchinghischanceformanydays,knockedatthedoorofthepalace。
\'Ihavejustreturnedfromafarcountry,\'hesaid,\'andIhavesomeofthelargestandmostbrilliantstonesintheworldwithme。Theprincessisknowntolovebeautifulthings,perhapsshemightliketobuysome？\'
Nowtheprincesshadbeenwonderingformanydayswhattrimmingsheshouldputonherdresses,sothattheyshouldoutshinethedressesoftheotherladiesatthecourtballs。Nothingthatshethoughtofseemedgoodenough,so,whenthemessagewasbroughtthattheogreandhiswareswerebelow,sheatonceorderedthatheshouldbebroughttoherchamber。
Oh！whatbeautifulstoneshelaidbeforeher;whatlovelyrubies,andwhatrarepearls！Nootherladywouldhavejewelslikethose——ofthattheprincesswasquitesure;butshecastdownhereyessothattheogremightnotseehowmuchshelongedforthem。
\'Ifeartheyaretoocostlyforme,\'shesaidcarelessly;\'andbesides,Ihavehardlyneedofanymorejewelsjustnow。\'
\'Ihavenoparticularwishtosellthemmyself,\'answeredtheogre,withequalindifference。\'ButIhaveanecklaceofshiningstoneswhichwasleftmebyfather,andone,thelargestengravenwithweirdcharacters,ismissing。Ihaveheardthatitisinyourhusband\'spossession,andifyoucangetmethatstoneyoushallhaveanyofthesejewelsthatyouchoose。Butyouwillhavetopretendthatyouwantitforyourself;and,aboveall,donotmentionme,forhesetsgreatstorebyit,andwouldneverpartwithittoastranger！
To—morrowIwillreturnwithsomejewelsyetfinerthanthoseIhavewithmeto—day。So,madam,farewell！\'
Leftalone,theprincessbegantothinkofmanythings,butchieflyastowhethershewouldpersuadeherhusbandtogiveherthestoneornot。
Atonemomentshefelthehadalreadybestowedsomuchuponherthatitwasashametoaskfortheonlyobjecthehadkeptback。No,itwouldbemean;shecouldnotdoit！Butthen,thosediamonds,andthosestringofpearls！Afterall,theyhadonlybeenmarriedaweek,andthepleasureofgivingittoheroughttobefargreaterthanthepleasureofkeepingitforhimself。Andshewassureitwouldbe！
Well,thatevening,whentheyoungmanhadsuppedoffhisfavouritedisheswhichtheprincesstookcaretohavespeciallypreparedforhim,shesatdownclosebesidehim,andbeganstrokinghishead。Forsometimeshedidnotspeak,butlistenedattentivelytoalltheadventuresthathadbefallenhimthatday。
\'ButIwasthinkingofyouallthetime,\'saidheattheend,\'andwishingthatIcouldbringyoubacksomethingyouwouldlike。But,alas！whatistherethatyoudonotpossessalready？\'
\'Howgoodofyounottoforgetmewhenyouareinthemidstofsuchdangersandhardships,\'answeredshe。\'Yes,itistrueIhavemanybeautifulthings;butifyouwanttogivemeapresent——andto—morrowismybirthday——thereISonethingthatIwishforverymuch。\'
\'Andwhatisthat？Ofcourseyoushallhaveitdirectly！\'heaskedeagerly。
\'Itisthatbrightstonewhichfelloutofthefoldsofyourturbanafewdaysago,\'sheanswered,playingwithhisfinger;\'thelittlestonewithallthosefunnymarksuponit。Ineversawanystonelikeitbefore。\'
Theyoungmandidnotansweratfirst;thenhesaid,slowly:
\'Ihavepromised,andthereforeImustperform。Butwillyouswearnevertopartfromit,andtokeepitsafelyaboutyoualways？MoreI
cannottellyou,butIbegyouearnestlytotakeheedtothis。\'
Theprincesswasalittlestartledbyhismanner,andbegantobesorrythatshehadeverylistenedtotheogre。Butshedidnotliketodrawback,andpretendedtobeimmenselydelightedathernewtoy,andkissedandthankedherhusbandforit。
\'AfterallIneedn\'tgiveittotheogre,\'thoughtsheasshedroppedofftosleep。
Unluckilythenextmorningtheyoungmanwenthuntingagain,andtheogre,whowaswatching,knewthis,anddidnotcometillmuchlaterthanbefore。Atthemomentthatheknockedatthedoorofthepalacetheprincesshadtiredofallheremployments,andherattendantswereattheirwits\'endhowtoamuseher,whenatallnegrodressedinscarletcametoannouncethattheogrewasbelow,anddesiredtoknowiftheprincesswouldspeaktohim。
\'Bringhimhitheratonce！\'criedshe,springingupfromhercushions,andforgettingallherresolvesofthepreviousnight。Inanothermomentshewasbendingwithraptureovertheglitteringgems。
\'Haveyougotit？\'askedtheogreinawhisper,fortheprincess\'sladieswerestandingasnearastheydaredtocatchaglimpseofthebeautifuljewels。
\'Yes,here,\'sheanswered,slippingthestonefromhersashandplacingitamongtherest。Thensheraisedhervoice,andbegantotalkquicklyofthepricesofthechainsandnecklaces,andaftersomebargaining,todeceivetheattendants,shedeclaredthatshelikedonestringofpearlsbetterthanalltherest,andthattheogremighttakeawaytheotherthings,whichwerenothalfasvaluableashesupposed。
\'Asyouplease,madam,\'saidhe,bowinghimselfoutofthepalace。
Soonafterhehadgoneacuriousthinghappened。Theprincesscarelesslytouchedthewallofherroom,whichwaswonttoreflectthewarmredlightofthefireonthehearth,andfoundherhandquitewet。
Sheturnedround,and——wasitherfancy？ordidthefireburnmoredimlythanbefore？Hurriedlyshepassedintothepicturegallery,wherepoolsofwatershowedhereandthereonthefloor,andacoldchillranthroughherwholebody。Atthatinstantherfrightenedladiescamerunningdownthestairs,crying:
\'Madam！madam！whathashappened？Thepalaceisdisappearingunderoureyes！\'
\'Myhusbandwillbehomeverysoon,\'answeredtheprincess——who,thoughnearlyasmuchfrightenedasherladies,feltthatshemustsetthemagoodexample。\'Waittillthen,andhewilltelluswhattodo。\'
Sotheywaited,seatedonthehighestchairstheycouldfind,wrappedintheirwarmestgarments,andwithpilesofcushionsundertheirfeet,whilethepoorbirdsflewwithnumbedwingshitherandthither,tilltheyweresoluckyastodiscoveranopenwindowinsomeforgottencorner。Throughthistheyvanished,andwereseennomore。
Atlast,whentheprincessandherladieshadbeenforcedtoleavetheupperrooms,wherethewallsandfloorshadmeltedaway,andtotakerefugeinthehall,theyoungmancamehome。Hehadriddenbackalongawindingroadfromwhichhedidnotseethepalacetillhewascloseuponit,andstoodhorrifiedatthespectaclebeforehim。Heknewinaninstantthathiswifemusthavebetrayedhistrust,buthewouldnotreproachher,asshemustbesufferingenoughalready。Hurryingonhesprangoverallthatwasleftofthepalacewalls,andtheprincessgaveacryofreliefatthesightofhim。
\'Comequickly,\'hesaid,\'oryouwillbefrozentodeath！\'Andadrearylittleprocessionsetoutfortheking\'spalace,thegreyhoundandthecatbringinguptherear。
Atthegatesheleftthem,thoughhiswifebesoughthimtoallowhertoenter。
\'Youhavebetrayedmeandruinedme,\'hesaidsternly;\'Igotoseekmyfortunealone。\'Andwithoutanotherwordheturnedandlefther。