Page 19 - The Green Beaubird

to the queen-mother, and with humble salutations
said to her: 'We know, madam, that your highness
has little love for our sister,and quite justly;for she is
of humble stock, and it is not seemly that your son
and our king should have mated with such an one.
Hence, knowing the mind you have towards her, we
have brought you here three mongrel pups, which,
as you will see, were born with a star on their

foreheads, and you can deal with them as you list.'
At these words the queen-mother was much
pleased, divining well their evil intent, and she
contrived to bring to her daughter-in-law, who as
yet had not seen the children she had borne, the
three whelps, telling her at the same time they were
her own offspring. And for the better hiding of this

trick the wicked old woman bade the midwife to
tell the same story to the queen.So when she herself
and the two sisters and the midwife returned to the
chamber, they presented to the queen the three
mongrel whelps, saying, 'See, O queen, the fruit of
your womb! Cherish it well, so that the king, when
he comes back, may rejoice in the fair gift you have
made him.' And with these words the midwife put
the mongrels by her side, consoling her and telling

her that such mischance as hers happened now and
then to persons of high estate.

19