Page:Tales of the Punjab.pdf/184

162 Now, no sooner had the Jinn appeared, than he began to sniff about, and cry 'Fee! fa! fun!I smell the blood of a man!'

Then the Princess Pepperina soothed him, saying, 'Dear Jinn! you may eat me if you like, for there is no one else here.'

And the Jinn replied, kissing and caressing her the while, 'My dearest life! I would sooner eat bricks and mortar!'

After that the Princess cunningly led the conversation to the Jinn's approaching slumbers, and wondered tearfully what she should do alone in the walled garden.At this the good-hearted Jinn became greatly troubled, until at last he declared that the best plan would be to marry her to some young nobleman, but he added, a worthy husband was hard to find, especially as it was necessary he should be as handsome, as a man, as Princess Pepperina was beautiful amongst woman.Hearing this the, Princess seized her opportunity, and asked the Jinn if he would promise to let her marry any one who was as beautiful as she was.The Jinn promised faithfully, little thinking the Princess already had her eye on such a one, and was immensely astonished when she clapped her hands, and the splendid young King appeared from a thicket.Nevertheless, when the young couple stood together hand in hand, ever the Jinn was obliged to own that such a handsome pair had never before been seen; so he gave his consent to their marriage, which was performed in ever so great a hurry, for already the Jinn had begun to nod and yawn.Still, when it came to saying good-bye to his dear little Princess, he wept so