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 Suleiman-bin-Daoud laughed till the tears ran down his face at the impudence of the bad little Butterfly . Balkis the Most Beautiful stood up behind the tree among the red lilies and smiled to herself , for she had heard all this talk . She thought , ` If I am wise I can yet save my Lord from the persecutions of these quarrelsome Queens , ' and she held out her finger and whispered softly to the Butterfly 's Wife , ` Little woman , come here . ' Up flew the Butterfly 's Wife , very frightened , and clung to Balkis 's white hand . Balkis bent her beautiful head down and whispered , ` Little woman , do you believe what your husband has just said ? ' The Butterfly 's Wife looked at Balkis , and saw the most beautiful Queen 's eyes shining like deep pools with starlight on them , and she picked up her courage with both wings and said , ' O Queen , be lovely for ever . You know what men-folk are like . ' And the Queen Balkis , the Wise Balkis of Sheba , put her hand to her lips to hide a smile and said , ` Little sister , I know . ' ` They get angry , ' said the Butterfly 's Wife , fanning herself quickly , ` over nothing at all , but we must humour them , O Queen . They never mean half they say .
If it pleases my husband to believe that I believe he can make XXXXX 's Palace disappear by stamping his foot , I 'm sure I do n't care .
Balkis Butterfly Queen Queens Sheba Suleiman-bin-Daoud clung eyes persecutions twitter