"Let us stop here!" whereupon the women took up their abode there.
One day Mirza was sitting by the roadside, her head in her hands, weeping sadly. She was thinking of the great palace where she was born, and of her more fortunate sisters, who lacked for nothing, and who had bracelets of gold and diamonds. She thought also of her cruel father, whom she still loved with all her heart. Suddenly Mirza felt a hand on her shoulder, and began to tremble with fear. It was the Queen of the Fairies, who looked at her with a smile.
"My beautiful child, why lament?" said the Queen. "All things are possible to me. Make three wishes and you will be satisfied at once."
Mirza, however, did not answer. She remained silent; she could only weep.
"Grief fills your heart," said the Queen of the Fairies, "and you can only weep. You are thinking of your father, your sisters, and the palace where you were born. Calm yourself. Hereafter you will be as rich and as fortunate as they. Weeping or smiling, walking or standing, no person in the wide world will be as fortunate as you."
At these words the young girl smiled, and beautiful roses fell from her lips. She took a few steps to embrace her benefactress, and a thousand precious stones fell under her feet. The tears that shone in her eyes, in falling, became pearls.
"Kind fairy," exclaimed Mirza, beholding these things, "what wishes could I have made that would have been comparable to these gifts you have heaped upon me? A thousand thanks!"
The young girl pressed the queen of the fairies to her heart, kissed her hands and her lips, and gave full play to her happiness. Some days afterward, the Princess Mirza said to her waiting-maid:
"Go into the neighboring city, inquire for the best architect to be found and tell him to bring a hundred experienced workmen."
The maid went into the city, secured the architect, and when three days had passed the workmen arrived.