at he could not
rest. He thought of a great many plans, but they all seemed
impossible, for the Princess never went out without a veil, which
covered her entirely. At last, however, he managed to enter the palace
and hide himself behind a door, peeping through a chink when the
Princess passed to go to her bath.

The moment Aladdin's eyes rested upon the beautiful Princess he loved
her with all his heart, for she was as fair as the dawn of a summer
morning.

"Mother," he cried when he reached home, "I have seen the Princess,
and I have made up my mind to marry her. Thou shalt go at once to the
Sultan, and beg him to give me his daughter."

Aladdin's mother stared at her son, and then began to laugh at such a
wild idea. She was almost afraid that Aladdin must be mad, but he gave
her no peace until she did as he wished.

So the next day she very unwillingly set out for the palace, carrying
the magic fruit wrapped up in a napkin, to present to the Sultan.
There were many other people offering their petitions that day, and
the poor woman was so frightened that she dared not go forward, and so
no one paid any attention to her as she stood there patiently holding
her bundle. For a whole week she had gone every day to the palace,
before the Sultan noticed her.

"Who is that poor woman who comes every day carrying a white bundle?"
he asked.

Then the Grand Vizier ordered that she should be brought forward, and
she came bowing herself to the ground.

She was almost too terrified to speak, but when the Sultan spoke so
kindly to her she took courage, and told him of Aladdin's love for the
Princess, and of his bold request, "He sends you this gift," she
continued, and opening the bundle she presented the magic fruit.

A cry of wonder went up from all those who stood around, for never had
they beheld such exquisite jewels before. They shone and sparkled with
a thousand lights and colors, and dazzled the eyes that gazed upon
them.

The Sultan was astounded, and spoke to the Grand Vizier apart.

"Surely it is fit that I should give my daughter to one who can
present such a wondrous gift?" he said....

Now when three months were ended, Aladdin's mother again presented
herself before the Sultan, and reminded him of his promise, that the
Princess should wed her son.

"I ever abide by my royal word," said the Sultan; "but he who marries
my daughter must first send me forty golden basins filled to the brim
with precious sto