who understood what belonged to furniture, the nice arrangement of everything. They conducted her also into the garden, which she admired, observing that the person who planned it must have been an excellent master of his art. Afterwards she was brought before the princess, who waited for her in the great hall.
As soon as the princess saw the devout woman, she said to her, 'My good mother, come near and sit down by me. I am overjoyed at the happiness of having the opportunity of profiting for some moments by the good example and conversation of such a person as you, who have taken the right way, by dedicating yourself to the service of God. I wish everybody were as wise.'
The religious woman, instead of sitting upon a sofa, would only sit upon the edge of it. The princess would not permit her to do so, but rising from her seat, and taking her by the hand, obliged her to come and sit by her. The good woman said, 'Madam, I ought not to have so much respect shown me; but since you command me, and are mistress of your own house, I will obey you.' When she had sat down, before they entered into any conversation, one of the princess's women brought a little low table of mother-of-pearl and ebony, with a china dish full of cakes, and a great many others full of the fruits in season, and sweetmeats.
The princess took up one of the cakes and said, 'Eat, good mother, and make choice of what you like best; you had need to eat after coming so far.'
'Madam,' replied the good woman, 'I am not used to eat such nice things, but will not refuse what God has sent me by so liberal a hand as yours.'
While the religious woman was eating, the princess ate something too, to keep her company, and asked her a great many questions about the devotion which she practised, and how she lived; all which questions she answered with great modesty. At last she asked her what she thought of the house and how she liked it.
'Madam,' answered the devout woman, 'I should certainly have very bad taste to disapprove of anything in it, since it is beautiful, regular, and magnificently furnished, and all its ornaments are in the best manner. Its situation is agreeable, and no
