hn! he is all right in that respect," replied the bride. "I
have often, by chance, felt his luggage as I turned to and fro in our
bed when I could not sleep."

"That is enough," said the mother; "leave the rest to me. This is what
_you_ must do. In the morning you must pretend to be very ill--even as
though your soul were departing from your body. Your husband will, I
fully expect, seek me out and bid me come to you, and I will play my
part so well that your business will be soon settled, for I shall take
your water to a certain doctor, who will give such advice as I order."

All was done as arranged, for on the morrow, as soon as it was dawn, the
girl, who was sleeping with her husband, began to complain and to sham
sickness as though a strong fever racked her body.

Her booby husband was much vexed and astonished, and knew not what to
say or do. He sent forthwith for his mother-in-law, who was not long in
coming. As soon as he saw her, "Alas! mother!" said he, "your daughter
is dying."

"My daughter?" said she. "What does she want?" and whilst she was
speaking she walked to the patient's chamber.

As soon as the mother saw her daughter, she asked what was the matter;
and the girl, being well instructed what she was to do, answered not at
first, but, after a little time, said, "Mother, I am dying."

"You shall not die, please God! Take courage! But how comes it that you
are taken ill so suddenly?"

"I do not know! I do not know!" replied the girl. "It drives me wild to
answer all these questions."

The old woman took the girl's hand, and felt her pulse; then she said to
her son-in-law;

"On my word she is very ill. She is full of fire, and we must find some
remedy. Have you any of her water?"

"That which she made last night is there," said one of the attendants.

"Give it me," said the mother.

She took the urine, and put it in a proper vessel, and told her
son-in-law that she was about to show it to such-and-such a doctor, that
he might know what he could do to her daughter to cure her.

"For God's sake spare nothing," said she. "I have yet some money left,
but I love my daughter better than money."

"Spare!" quoth he. "If money can help, you shall not want."

"No need to go so fast," said she. "Whilst she is resting, I will go
home; but I will come back if I am wanted."

Now you must know that the old woman had on the previous day, when she
left her daughter, instructed the doctor, who was well aw