"You want to leave us?" exclaimed the tiger. "What is it that you want? Tell me, and you shall have it."
"My husband is a king's son," replied Malancha, "and now that he is five years old he must be put to school, so that later on he may be qualified to fill his proper position."
"There are learned scholars here," the tiger assured her, "and I can get as many of them as you like to tutor your husband."
"No, uncle, forgive me," Malancha answered him. "I will go and live in the nearest town, where you may visit me as often as you please."
The tiger at length yielded, though with great reluctance, and the objects of his love and care left him. It was a great blow to him, to the tigress, and to the cubs; and they suffered greatly on account of it.
The kotál's daughter and the prince, in the meantime, reached in four days a large stretch of jungle from which there seemed to be no outlet. They were too tired to move on, and so they sat under a tree near a flower garden, belonging to a Malini, which had produced no flowers for many years. The tank in it had become dry, and it was obvious that no one had recently visited the garden. On the approach of the two travellers, however, the garden became suddenly full of flowers, and bees and butterflies crowded there. The malini, noticing the change, ran towards the garden with great delight, and was greatly surprised to find the strangers seated under a tree. She thus addressed Malanchamala—"O Mother! who are you? a human being, a goddess, or a peri?"
"I am neither a goddess nor a peri, but a houseless girl, wandering about with this dear boy," replied Malancha sadly.
"Come into my house," cried the malini, full of sympathy. "This is not a fit place for you. I had a sister's daughter, who has left me these twelve years. She was like you in age, beauty, and every other respect, and you remind me much of
