cried the gnome anxiously ; ` every tear of yours falls upon my heart like a drop of molten gold . Greatly as I desire your love , I do not ask a sacrifice . ' ` Ah ! ' cried the false princess , ` why do you misunderstand my tears ? My heart answers to your tenderness , and yet I am fearful . A wife can not always charm , and though YOU will never alter , the beauty of mortals is as a flower that fades . How can I be sure that you will always be as loving and charming as you are now ? ' ` Ask some proof , sweetheart , ' said he . ` Put my obedience and my patience to some test by which you can judge of my unalterable love . ' ` Be it so , ' answered the crafty maiden . ` Then give me just one proof of your goodness . Go ! count the turnips in yonder meadow . My wedding feast must not lack guests . They shall provide me with bride-maidens too . But beware lest you deceive me , and do not miss a single one . That shall be the test of your truth towards me . ' Unwilling as the gnome was to lose sight of his beautiful bride for a moment , he obeyed her commands without delay , and hurried off to begin his task . He skipped along among the turnips as nimble as a grasshopper , and had soon counted them all ; but , to be quite certain that he had made no mistake , he thought he would just run over them again . This time , to his great annoyance , the number was different ; so he reckoned them for the third time , but now the number was not the same as either of the previous ones !
And this was hardly XXXXX be wondered at , as his mind was full of the princess 's pretty looks and words .
as for like of that though to towards upon with