As he spoke , he started for the house , looking back from time to time to make sure that Maria had not run away . All of a sudden , when he glanced round , he found she had vanished completely , without leaving a trace of where she had gone . Search was made all through the town , and there was not a hole or corner which was not ransacked , but there was no sign of her anywhere . This so enraged the king that he became quite ill , and for many months his life was despaired of . Meanwhile the two elder sisters had married the two friends of the king , and were the mothers of little daughters . Now one day Maria stole secretly to the house where her elder sister lived , and snatching up the children put them into a beautiful basket she had with her , covered with flowers inside and out , so that no one would ever guess it held two babies . Then she dressed herself as a boy , and placing the basket on her head , she walked slowly past the palace , crying as she went : ` Who will carry these flowers to the king , who lies sick of love ? ' And the king in his bed heard what she said , and ordered one of his attendants to go out and buy the basket . It was brought to his bedside , and as he raised the lid cries were heard , and peeping in he saw two little children . He was furious at this new trick which he felt had been played on him by Maria , and was still looking at them , wondering how he should pay her out , when he was told that the merchant , Maria 's father , had finished the business on which he had been sent and returned home . Then the king remembered how Maria had refused to receive his visit , and how she had stolen his fruit , and he determined to be revenged on her . So he sent a message by one of his pages that the merchant was to come to see him the next day , and bring with him a coat made of stone , or else he would be punished . Now the poor man had been very sad since he got home the evening before , for though his daughters had promised that nothing should happen while he was away , he had found the two elder ones married without asking his leave . And now there was this fresh misfortune , for how was he to make a coat of stone ? He wrung his hands and declared that the king would be the ruin of him , when Maria suddenly entered . ` Do not grieve about the coat of stone , dear father ; but take this bit of chalk , and go to the palace and say you have come to measure the king . ' The old man did not see the use of this , but Maria had so often helped him before that he had confidence in her , so he put the chalk in his pocket and went to the palace . ` That is no good , ' said the king , when the merchant had told him what he had come for . ` Well , I ca n't make the coat you want , ' replied he . ` Then if you would save your head , hand over to me your daughter Maria . '
The merchant did not reply , but went sorrowfully back to his house , where XXXXX sat waiting for him .
Maria bedside before head home love merchant months palace sign