O Queen, you were a kite that flew high up in the heavens. Beneath
where you used to fly was an altar to Shiva, and every day at noon
you would spread your wings over it and shade it from the sun's
heat. So the god was pleased with you and in this life made you one
of the queens of Atpat. As you spread your wings over Shiva's altar,
so now a canopy hangs over your bed. And just as you served Shiva,
now do service to the king, your husband. And you will thereby gain
full merit and in the end reach Kailas." Then the rishi blessed her,
and she went off quite gaily to attend to the king's clothes.

And the four queens never quarrelled any more, but lived happily ever
afterwards with the king. And all little girls who hear this story
should try to be as good as the queens were after Vasishta had cured
them of their squabbling.



CHAPTER XIV

The Lamps and the King's Daughter-in-Law

Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. In it there lived a
king who had one little daughter-in-law. Now she was a very greedy
little girl, and one day when some sweetmeats were got ready for all
the family she went quietly and ate them all up herself. Then she
got very frightened, for she knew that, if the king knew what she
had done, he would order her to be well slapped. So, when the family
began asking where the sweetmeats were she said that the mice had
eaten them. And then every one began abusing the mice, saying what
horrid little wretches they were, and what a good thing it would be