'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。