and every morning, when the veils were
finished, the mother took them over the bridge and sold them in the
city. Then she bought the food that they needed for the day, and
returned home to do her share of veil-making.

One morning the old woman rose even earlier than usual, and set off
for the city with her wares. She was just crossing the bridge when,
suddenly, she knocked up against a human head, which she had never
seen there before. The woman started back in horror; but what was her
surprise when the head spoke, exactly as if it had a body joined on to
it.

'Take me with you, good mother!' it said imploringly; 'take me with
you back to your house.'

At the sound of these words the poor woman nearly went mad with
terror. Have that horrible thing always at home? Never! never! And she
turned and ran back as fast as she could, not knowing that the head
was jumping, dancing, and rolling after her. But when she reached her
own door it bounded in before her, and stopped in front of the fire,
begging and praying to be allowed to stay.

All that day there was no food in the house, for the veils had not
been sold, and they had no money to buy anything with. So they all
sat silent at their work, inwardly cursing the head which was the
cause of their misfortunes.

When evening came, and there was no sign of supper, the head spoke,
for the first time that day:

'Good mother, does no one ever eat here? During all the hours I have
spent in your house not a creature has touched anything.'

'No,' answered the old woman, 'we are not eating anything.'

'And why not, good mother?'

'Because we have no money to buy any food.'

'Is it your custom never to eat?'

'No, for every morning I go into the city to sell my veils, and with
the few shillings I get for them I buy all we want. To-day I did not
cross the bridge, so of course I had nothing for food.'

'Then _I_ am the cause of your having gone hungry all day?' asked the
head.

'Yes, you are,' answered the old woman.

'Well, then, I will give you money and plenty of it, if you will only
do as I tell you. In an hour, as the clock strikes twelve, you must be
on the bridge at the place where you met me. When you get there call
out "Ahmed," three times, as loud as you can. Then a negro will
appear, and you must say to him: "The head, your master, desires you
to open the trunk, and to give me the green purse which you will find
in it."'

'Very well, my lord,' said the o