for you have almost as much need
of breakfast as myself; when we have done, I will tell you."
Accordingly, both mother and son sat down, and ate with the better
relish as the table was so well furnished. But all the time Aladdin's
mother could not forbear looking at and admiring the dishes, though she
could not judge whether they were silver or any other metal, and the
novelty more than the value attracted her attention.

The mother and son sat at breakfast till it was dinner-time, and then
they thought it would be best to put the two meals together; yet after
this they found they should have enough left for supper, and two meals
for the next day.

When Aladdin's mother had taken away what was left, she went and sat by
her son on the sofa, saying: "I expect now that you should satisfy my
impatience, and tell me exactly what passed between the genie and you
while I was in a swoon;" which he readily complied with.

She was in as great amazement at what her son told her, as at the
appearance of the genie; and said to him: "But, son, what have we to do
with genies? I never heard that any of my acquaintance had ever seen
one. How came that vile genie to address himself to me, and not to you,
to whom he had appeared before in the cave?" "Mother," answered Aladdin,
"the genie you saw is not the one who appeared to me, though he
resembles him in size; no, they had quite different persons and habits;
they belong to different masters. If you remember, he that I first saw
called himself the slave of the ring on my finger; and this you saw,
called himself the slave of the lamp you had in your hand: but I believe
you did not hear him, for I think you fainted as soon as he began to
speak."

"What!" cried the mother, "was your lamp then the occasion of that
cursed genie's addressing himself rather to me than to you? Ah! my son,
take it out of my sight, and put it where you please. I will never touch
it. I had rather you would sell it, than run the hazard of being
frightened to death again by touching it: and if you would take my
advice, you would part also with the ring, and not have anything to do
with genies, who, as our prophet has told us, are only devils."

"With your leave, mother," replied Aladdin, "I shall take care how I
sell a lamp which may be so serviceable both to you and me. Have you not
been an eye-witness of what it has procured us? and it shall still
continue to furnish us with subsistence. My false and wicked u