Page:The Way of a Virgin.djvu/47

Rh he put it on his fingernail his yard stretched itself a cubit's length.

"Well, what of it?" asked the aged woman. "Doth thy yard reach to thy knees?"

"Yea, good woman. It reacheth even below my kness."

"Now, my little dove, pass the ring down thy whole finger."

He passed the ring over his entire finger, and his yard lenghtened out even unto seven versts.

"Ah! good woman! where shall I lodge it? It will bring me ill fortune with my wife."

"Thrust up the ring to thy finger nail; thy yard will be but a cubit's span. This for thy guidance—pay attention and never put the ring beyond thy finger nail."

He thanked the aged woman, and retook the road homeward; and as he journeyed he rejoice in that he need not appear before his wife with empty hands.

But as he went, he felt a desire to eat. Going aside, he seated himself not far from the road at the foot of a zurdock, drew biscuits from his wallet, dipped them in water, and fell to eating. Anon, desire to slumber o'er-came him; he lay down, belly uppermost, and played with the ring. He put it upon his finger nail, and his yard rose to the height of a cubit's span; he pressed his whole finger through the ring, and his yard rose to a height of seven versts; he removed the ring, and his yard became small as before. He examined and re-examined the ring, and thus he fell asleep. But he