ted of a straw bed, a
bench, and a dirty table. You can imagine that when Stella saw herself
in this place she thought she should die. When the prince saw her so
amazed, he said: "What is the matter? Does the house not please you? Do
you not know that I am a poor man? Have you been deceived?" "What have
you done with all the things I gave you?" "Oh, I had many debts, and I
have paid them, and then I have done with the rest what seemed good to
me. You must make up your mind to work and gain your bread as I have
done. You must know that I am a porter of the king of this city, and I
often go and work at the palace. To-morrow, they have told me, the
washing is to be done, so you must rise early and go with me there. I
will set you to work with the other women, and when it is time for them
to go home to dinner, you will say that you are not hungry, and while
you are alone, steal two shirts, conceal them under your skirt, and
carry them home to me." Poor Stella wept bitterly, saying it was
impossible for her to do that; but her husband replied: "Do what I say,
or I shall beat you." The next morning her husband rose with the dawn,
and made her get up, too. He had bought her a striped skirt and a pair
of coarse shoes, which he made her put on, and then took her to the
palace with him, conducted her to the laundry and left her, after he had
introduced her as his wife, saying that she should remember what awaited
her at home. Then the prince ran and dressed himself like a king, and
waited at the gate of the palace until it was time for his wife to come.
Meanwhile poor Stella did as her husband had commanded, and stole the
shirts. As she was leaving the palace, she met the king, who said:
"Pretty girl, you are our porter's wife, are you not?" Then he asked her
what she had under her skirt, and shook her until the shirts dropped
out, and the king cried: "See there! the porter's wife is a thief; she
has stolen some shirts." Poor Stella ran home in tears, and her husband
followed her when he had put on his disguise again. When he reached home
Stella told him all that had happened and begged him not to send her to
the palace again; but he told her that the next day they were to bake,
and she must go into the kitchen and help, and steal a piece of dough.
Everything happened as on the previous day. Stella's theft was
discovered, and when her husband returned he found her crying like a
condemned soul, and swearing that she had rather be ki