And on hearing his voice the good woman nearly fell to the ground with astonishment . ` How have you got that camel and those clothes ? ' asked she . ` Can a son of mine have committed murder in order to possess them ? ' ` Do not be afraid ; they are quite honestly come by , ' answered the youth . ' I will explain all by-and-by ; but now you must go to the palace and tell the king I wish to marry his daughter . ' At these words the mother thought her son had certainly gone mad , and stared blankly at him . The young man guessed what was in her heart , and replied with a smile : ` Fear nothing . Promise all that he asks ; it will be fulfilled somehow . ' So she went to the palace , where she found the king sitting in the Hall of Justice listening to the petitions of his people . The woman waited until all had been heard and the hall was empty , and then went up and knelt before the throne . ` My son has sent me to ask for the hand of the princess , ' said she . The king looked at her and thought that she was mad ; but , instead of ordering his guards to turn her out , he answered gravely : ` Before he can marry the princess he must build me a palace of ice , which can be warmed with fires , and wherein the rarest singing-birds can live ! ' ` It shall be done , your Majesty , ' said she , and got up and left the hall . Her son was anxiously awaiting her outside the palace gates , dressed in the clothes that he wore every day . ` Well , what have I got to do ? ' he asked impatiently , drawing his mother aside so that no one could overhear them . ` Oh , something quite impossible ; and I hope you will put the princess out of your head , ' she replied . ` Well , but what is it ? ' persisted he .
` Nothing but to build a palace XXXXX ice wherein fires can burn that shall keep it so warm that the most delicate singing-birds can live in it ! ' '
So at before by in of on outside until with