Page:Tales of the Punjab.pdf/185

Rh much that the tears kept him awake, and he followed her in his thoughts, until the desire to see her face once more became so strong that he changed himself into a dove, which flying after her, fluttered above her hand.She seemed quite happy, talking and whispering to her handsome, so he flew home again to sleep.But the green mantle of his dear little Prince kept floating before his eyes so that he could not rest, and changing himself into a hawk, he sped after her, circling far above her head.She was smiling by her husband's side so the Jinn flew home to his garden, yawning terribly.But the soft eyes of his dear little Pepperina seemed to look into his, driving sleep far from them; so he changed into an eagle, and soaring far up into the blue sky, saw with his bright piercing gaze the Princess entering a King's palace far away on the horizon.Then the good Jinn was satisfied, and fell fast asleep.

Now during the years which followed, the young King reminded passionately in love with his beautiful bride, but the other woman in the palace were very jealous of her, especially after she gave birth to the most lovely young Prince imaginable.They determined to compass her ruin, and spent hours in thinking how they might fill her, or lay a snare for her.

Every night they would come to the door of the Queen's room, and whisper, to see if she was awake, 'The Princess Pepperina is awake, but all the world is fast asleep.'

Now the emerald, which the young Queen still wore round her neck, was a real talisman, and always