t balls. Nothing that she thought of seemed
good enough, so, when the message was brought that the ogre and his
wares were below, she at once ordered that he should be brought to her
chamber.

Oh! what beautiful stones he laid before her; what lovely rubies, and
what rare pearls! No other lady would have jewels like those--of that
the princess was quite sure; but she cast down her eyes so that the ogre
might not see how much she longed for them.

'I fear they are too costly for me,' she said carelessly; 'and besides,
I have hardly need of any more jewels just now.'

'I have no particular wish to sell them myself,' answered the ogre, with
equal indifference. 'But I have a necklace of shining stones which was
left me by father, and one, the largest engraven with weird characters,
is missing. I have heard that it is in your husband's possession, and
if you can get me that stone you shall have any of these jewels that you
choose. But you will have to pretend that you want it for yourself; and,
above all, do not mention me, for he sets great store by it, and would
never part with it to a stranger! To-morrow I will return with some
jewels yet finer than those I have with me to-day. So, madam, farewell!'

Left alone, the princess began to think of many things, but chiefly as
to whether she would persuade her husband to give her the stone or not.
At one moment she felt he had already bestowed so much upon her that it
was a shame to ask for the only object he had kept back. No, it would be
mean; she could not do it! But then, those diamonds, and those string of
pearls! After all, they had only been married a week, and the pleasure
of giving it to her ought to be far greater than the pleasure of keeping
it for himself. And she was sure it would be!

Well, that evening, when the young man had supped off his favourite
dishes which the princess took care to have specially prepared for him,
she sat down close beside him, and began stroking his head. For some
time she did not speak, but listened attentively to all the adventures
that had befallen him that day.

'But I was thinking of you all the time,' said he at the end, 'and
wishing that I could bring you back something you would like. But, alas!
what is there that you do not possess already?'

'How good of you not to forget me when you are in the midst of such
dangers and hardships,' answered she. 'Yes, it is true I have many
beautiful things; but if you want to give me a pr