I can not come down with you , for I do not like anyone to see me , ' she ended with a sob . ` Oh ! I will manage all that , ' said the king 's son , and swinging himself to a lower branch , he bade his slave go quickly into the town , and bring back with him four strong men and a curtained litter . When the man was gone , the girl climbed down , and hid herself on the ground in some bushes . Very soon the slave returned with the litter , which was placed on the ground close to the bushes where the girl lay . ` Now go , all of you , and call my attendants , for I do not wish to say here any longer , ' he said to the men , and as soon as they were out of sight he bade the girl get into the litter , and fasten the curtains tightly . Then he got in on the other side , and waited till his attendants came up . ` What is the matter , O son of a king ? ' asked they , breathless with running . ' I think I am ill ; I am cold , ' he said , and signing to the bearers , he drew the curtains , and was carried through the forest right inside his own house . ` Tell my father and mother that I have a fever , and want some gruel , ' said he , ` and bid them send it quickly . ' So the slave hastened to the king 's palace and gave his message , which troubled both the king and the queen greatly . A pot of hot gruel was instantly prepared , and carried over to the sick man , and as soon as the council which was sitting was over , the king and his ministers went to pay him a visit , bearing a message from the queen that she would follow a little later . Now the prince had pretended to be ill in order to soften his parent 's hearts , and the next day he declared he felt better , and , getting into his litter , was carried to the palace in state , drums being beaten all along the road . He dismounted at the foot of the steps and walked up , a great parasol being held over his head by a slave . Then he entered the cool , dark room where his father and mother were sitting , and said to them : ' I saw a girl yesterday in the forest whom I wish to marry , and , unknown to my attendants , I brought her back to my house in a litter . Give me your consent , I beg , for no other woman pleases me as well , even though she has but one hand ! ' Of course the king and queen would have preferred a daughter-in-law with two hands , and one who could have brought riches with her , but they could not bear to say ` No ' to their son , so they told him it should be as he chose , and that the wedding feast should be prepared immediately . The girl could scarcely believe her good fortune , and , in gratitude for all the kindness shown her , was so useful and pleasant to her husband 's parents that they soon loved her . By and bye a baby was born to her , and soon after that the prince was sent on a journey by his father to visit some of the distant towns of the kingdom , and to set right things that had gone wrong .
No sooner had he started than the girl 's brother , who had wasted all the riches his wife had brought him XXXXX recklessness and folly , and was now very poor , chanced to come into the town , and as he passed he heard a man say , ` Do you know that the king 's son has married a woman who has lost one of her hands ? '
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