Atondido Stories
four wives too. All came, at least all but the gardener's daughter.
No one had told her to go to the feast, for no one had thought of
her.
When all the people were assembled, the prince saw his
mother was not there, and he asked the King, "Has every one in
your country come to my feast?"
"Yes, every one," said the King.
"Are you sure of that?" asked the prince.
"Quite sure," answered the King.
"I am sure one woman has not come," said the prince. "She is
your gardener's daughter, who was once your wife and is now a
servant in your palace."
"True," said the King, "I had forgotten her." Then the prince
told his servants to take his finest palanquin and to fetch the gar-
dener's daughter. They were to bathe her, dress her in beautiful
clothes and handsome jewels, and then bring her to him in the
palanquin.
While the servants were bringing the gardener's daughter,
the King thought how handsome the young prince was; and he
noticed particularly the moon on his forehead and the star on his
chin, and he wondered in what country the young prince was
born.
And now the palanquin arrived bringing the gardener's
daughter, and the young prince went himself and took her out of
it, and brought her into the tent. He made her a great many sa-
laams. The four wicked wives looked on and were very much
surprised and very angry. They remembered that, when they ar-
rived, the prince had made them no salaams, and since then had
not taken the least notice of them; whereas he could not do
enough for the gardener's daughter, and seemed very glad to see
her.
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