“Why do you take so little?” said the king.
“What good would a lot do me, your Majesty? if I want some more afterwards, you’ll give it me.”
Having said this the old woman went away.
Time passed, and the news spread abroad that the bride had told her lover to fetch her her wedding-dress or else to get one made, just such a one as she wanted. Well, the old woman, thanks to Prince Ivan’s aid, succeeded in this matter too, and took her the wedding-dress. And afterwards she took her the seamless shoes also, and would only accept one ducat each time and always said that she had made the things herself.
Well, the people heard that there would be a wedding at the palace on such-and-such a day. And the day they all anxiously awaited came at last. Then Prince Ivan said to the old woman:
“Look here, mother! when the bride is just going to be married, let me know.”
The old woman didn’t let the time go by unheeded.
Then Ivan immediately put on his princely raiment, and went out of the house.
“See, mother, this is what I’m really like!” says he.
The old woman fell at his feet.