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208 her. The people, ignorant of the ruse practised on them, were at a loss to account for the changed behaviour of their queen, but they could do nothing except patiently submit to the cruelties inflicted on them. The former queen was not an exception. She could not even see her dear husband. The most humilating work was allotted to her; and she passed her days and nights in weeping.

But better days were in store for her. One day, when proceeding towards the river to wash some of her old clothes, for new ones were never allowed her, she saw a man sitting by the roadside with a heap of bundles of thread before him, and bawling out, "I shall have a good day of it if I can get a thousand needles; the enjoyment of a prince if I have ten thousands; I shall fly triumphantly in the air if I can procure a million." The poor queen, then only a despised servant, was glad at what she heard; and promising to give the man innumerable needles if he would take them, led him to the palace, and managed to obtain for him comfortable quarters. Every one was told why he was there, and he was respectfully received. The next day he told the girl who had usurped the queen's place that it was the day of a certain festival, to be celebrated by the eating of cakes, and asked her to prepare the best ones. She knew that she was not a good hand at making cakes, and so took the assistance of the real queen. They made cakes together; those prepared by the latter being the best of their kind, while those made by the former were of the coarser sort, fit to be eaten only by peasants. All were struck with this difference, but none dared venture any remarks. The stranger, however, addressed the false queen thus: "You, a mere slave, have installed yourself as queen; but now you are caught. You are no other than the vulgar woman that was bought with a Konkun (bracelet)." At this the woman, frantic with rage, had the public executioner brought before her, and ordered him to cut off the man's head, as well as that of the real queen, who had introduced him into the royal mansion. The executioner was preparing