said his wife , ` what in the world do you mean ? ' ` These are the king 's commands , ' he answered ; ` go and do as I bid you . The letter says `` at once , '' and `` ask no questions . '' The marriage , therefore , must take place this evening . ' In vain did his wife urge every objection ; the more she argued , the more determined was her husband . ' I know how to obey orders , ' he said , ` and these are as plain as the nose on my face ! ' So the princess was summoned , and , somewhat to their surprise , she seemed to take the news very calmly ; next Nur Mahomed was informed , and he was greatly startled , but of course he could but be delighted at the great and unexpected honour which he thought the king had done him . Then all the castle was turned upside down ; and when the news spread in the town , THAT was turned upside down too . Everybody ran everywhere , and tried to do everything at once ; and , in the middle of it all , the old governor went about with his hair standing on end , muttering something about ` obeying orders . ' And so the marriage was celebrated , and there was a great feast in the castle , and another in the soldiers ' barracks , and illuminations all over the town and in the beautiful gardens . And all the people declared that such a wonderful sight had never been seen , and talked about it to the ends of their lives . The next day the governor despatched the princess and her bridegroom to the king , with a troop of horsemen , splendidly dressed , and he sent a mounted messenger on before them , with a letter giving the account of the marriage to the king . When the king got the governor 's letter , he grew so red in the face that everyone thought he was going to have apoplexy . They were all very anxious to know what had happened , but he rushed off and locked himself into a room , where he ramped and raved until he was tired . Then , after awhile , he began to think he had better make the best of it , especially as the old governor had been clever enough to send him back his letter , and the king was pretty sure that this was in the princess 's handwriting . He was fond of his daughter , and though she had behaved badly , he did not wish to cut HER head off , and he did not want people to know the truth because it would make him look foolish . In fact , the more he considered the matter , the more he felt that he would be wise to put a good face on it , and to let people suppose that he had really brought about the marriage of his own free will . So , when the young couple arrived , the king received them with all state , and gave his son-in-law a province to govern . Nur Mahomed soon proved himself as able and honourable a governor as he was a brave soldier ; and , when the old king died , he became king in his place , and reigned long and happily . Nur Mahomed 's old mother lived for a long time in her ` son 's ' palace , and died in peace .
The princess , his wife , although she had got her husband by a trick , found that she could not trick HIM , and XXXXX she never tried , but busied herself in teaching her children and scolding her maids .
about after in into of on so though to with