Thereupon the muleteer, by her direction, gathered up the pearls and put them into the donkey’s panniers; after which he took the blind girl by the hand and led her to his own home. “Wife,” said he, “take good care of this poor maiden, whom I found in great distress. Let no more harm come to her!”
The wife noted the extraordinary beauty of the [[79]]stranger and was deeply touched at her suffering. She led her into an inner chamber and cared for her as if she had been their own child. After a time, when these people gently questioned her, the poor girl related her story from beginning to end.
“Alas! what a pity!” they both exclaimed.
And their sympathy was so sweet to her that, lifting her face toward them, a sweet smile passed over it. At this, roses bloomed near her cheeks.
The muleteer and his wife were speechless with astonishment. But she, taking the roses in her hands, held them toward the old man. “Kind baba, if you would try to help me out of this sorrow, take these roses, lay them in a basket, and, calling aloud that you are selling roses out of season, go past the palace of him who should be my husband. Should you be asked how great is your price for them, you must say that you do not sell for money, but that you will give each handful of roses, only, in exchange for an eye.”
“So be it, my poor child,” answered the kind old man. “With the morning I shall do as you request.”
Accordingly, upon the morrow, the muleteer, with the roses in a basket upon his shoulder, set out upon his journey. As he neared the palace he began to cry: “Roses! roses out of season! I am selling roses that are out of season!” [[80]]
The false one heard the cry and said to her mother: “There is a man with roses. Let us buy some that I may give them to the prince. I will tell him that they grew in my cheeks this morning. Perchance I shall find more favor in his sight.”
Those two—with the evil hearts—ran quickly to the door of the palace and summoned the muleteer as he was passing. When he heard the voices he turned. They motioned him to come. He approached, and let down the basket from his shoulder.
As the beautiful flowers caught the eyes of the girl she asked eagerly, “Well, gardener, for how much will you sell the roses?”