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 Suleiman-bin-Daoud 's Palace disappear by stamping his foot , I 'm sure I do n't care . He 'll forget all about it to-morrow . ' ` Little sister , ' said Balkis , ` you are quite right ; but next time he begins to boast , take him at his word . Ask him to stamp , and see what will happen . We know what men-folk are like , do n't we ? He 'll be very much ashamed . ' Away flew the Butterfly 's Wife to her husband , and in five minutes they were quarrelling worse than ever . ` Remember ! ' said the Butterfly . ` Remember what I can do if I stamp my foot . ' ' I do n't believe you one little bit , ' said the Butterfly 's Wife . ' I should very much like to see it done . Suppose you stamp now . ' '
I promised XXXXX that I would n't , ' said the Butterfly , ` and I do n't want to break my promise . '
Balkis Butterfly Queen Sheba Suleiman-bin-Daoud men-folk minutes nothing right to-morrow