“‘Tis enough,” said the mother. “Leave the rest to me. This is what thou must do. In the morning thou must feign grave illness—e’en as though thy soul were about to depart thy body. Thy husband will, I expect full well, seek me out and bid me come to thee, and I will play my part so that thy business will soon be settled, for I shall carry thy water to a certain doctor, who will give such counsel as I order.”
All was accomplished as arranged, for on the morrow, as soon as it was dawn, the girl, who was sleeping with her husband, fell to complaining and feigning sickness as though a strong fever racked her body.
Her foolish husband was much vexed and astonished, and knew not what to say or do. He sent forthwith for his mother-in-law, who was not long in coming. As soon as he saw her he said:
“Alas! mother! thy daughter is dying!”
“My daughter?” quoth she. “What doth she want?” And while she spoke, she walked to the patient’s chamber.
As soon as the mother perceived her daughter, she inquired of her as to her trouble, and the girl, being well instructed in what she must do, answered not at first, but, after a while, said:
“Mother, I am dying.”
“Please God, thou shalt not die! Take courage! But how cometh it that thou art fallen ill so suddenly?”
“I know not! I know not!” answered the girl. “Thou dost madden me by these questions.”
The mother took the daughter’s hand, and felt her pulse, her body and her head; then she said to her son-in-law: