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 tion in the spring and it made him so happy that he said to the Devil:

“Brother-in-law, I’m more grateful to you for this than for all the money you’ve given me. Now my dear Linka will love me!”

He put his arms about the Devil’s neck and off they flew once again. This time they went to a big city where Peter bought beautiful clothes and jewels and coaches and horses. He engaged servants in fine livery and, when he was ready to go to his bride, he had a following that was worthy of any prince.

At the castle the Princess Linka paced her chamber pale and trembling. The two older sisters were with her, laughing heartlessly and making evil jokes, and running every moment to the window to see if the groom were coming.

At last they saw in the distance a long line of shining coaches with outriders in rich livery. The coaches drew up at the castle gate and from the first one a handsome youth, arrayed like a prince, alighted. He hurried into the castle and ran straight upstairs to Linka’s chamber.

At first Linka was afraid to look at him for she supposed he was still black. But when he took her hand and whispered: “Dear Linka, look at me now