The trembling woman picked up a single piece of the smallest coin she could find upon the heap.
"This is my fee," she spake. "I ask no more than a fair remuneration for my labour."
The water spirit's brow blackened like a tempestuous night, and he showed his green teeth for a moment as if in great ire, but the feeling, whatever it was, appeared to pass away as quickly as it came, and he led her to a huge heap of pearls.
"Here," he said, "take what you will. Perhaps you like these better? They are all pearls of great price, or may be you would wish for some memento of me. Take what you will."
But she still declined to take anything more, although he tempted her with all his treasures. She had not forgotten the advice of her patient.
"I desire nothing more from you, great prince as you are, than I receive from one of my own condition." This was her uniform answer to his entreaties—
"I thank you, but I may not take aught beside my due."
"If," said he, after a short pause, "you had taken more than your due, you would have perished at my hands. And now," proceeded the spirit, "you shall home, but first take this. Fear not."
As he spake he dipped his hand in the heap of gold and poured forth a handful into her lap.
"Use that," he continued, "use it without fear. It is my gift. No evil will come of it; I give you my royal word."