Suleiman-bin-Daoud bent his head and whispered very softly , ` Little man , you know that all your stamping would n't bend one blade of grass . What made you tell that awful fib to your wife ? -- for doubtless she is your wife . ' The Butterfly looked at Suleiman-bin-Daoud and saw the most wise King 's eye twinkle like stars on a frosty night , and he picked up his courage with both wings , and he put his head on one side and said , ' O King , live for ever . She is my wife ; and you know what wives are like . Suleiman-bin-Daoud smiled in his beard and said , ` Yes , I know , little brother . ` One must keep them in order somehow , said the Butterfly , and she has been quarrelling with me all the morning . I said that to quiet her . ' And Suleiman-bin-Daoud said , ` May it quiet her . Go back to your wife , little brother , and let me hear what you say . ' Back flew the Butterfly to his wife , who was all of a twitter behind a leaf , and she said , ` He heard you ! Suleiman-bin-Daoud himself heard you ! ' ` Heard me ! ' said the Butterfly . ` Of course he did . I meant him to hear me . ' ` And what did he say ? Oh , what did he say ? ' ` Well , ' said the Butterfly , fanning himself most importantly , ` between you and me , my dear -- of course I do n't blame him , because his Palace must have cost a great deal and the oranges are just ripening , -- he asked me not to stamp , and I promised I would n't . ' ` Gracious ! '
said his wife , and sat quite quiet ; but XXXXX laughed till the tears ran down his face at the impudence of the bad little Butterfly .
Butterfly King Suleiman-bin-Daoud fib head morning night oranges twitter wives