Page:The Pentamerone, or The Story of Stories.djvu/123

Rh her spindle, reeling it, and working away like a dog; so that on Saturday evening her thread was all done. But Renzolla, thinking she was still the same as in the fairy's house, not having looked at herself in a glass, threw the flax out of the window, saying, "A pretty thing indeed of the king to set me such work to do! If he wants shirts let him buy them, and not fancy that he picked me up out of the gutter. But let him remember that I brought him home seven millions of gold, and that I am his wife and not his servant; methinks too he is somewhat of an ass to treat me in this way."

Nevertheless, when Saturday morning came, seeing that the maid had spun all her share of the flax, Renzolla was greatly afraid of getting a little carding; so away she went to the palace of the fairy, and told her her misfortune. Then the fairy embraced her with great affection, and gave her a bag full of spun thread, to present to the king, and show him what a notable and industrious housewife she was. Renzolla took the bag, and, without saying one word of thanks for the service, she went to the royal palace; so that the fairy was quite angered at the conduct of this graceless girl.

When the king had taken the thread, he gave two little dogs, one to Renzolla and one to the maid, telling them to feed and rear them. The maid reared hers upon bread-crumbs, and treated it like a child; but