"What!" cried the mother, "was your lamp, then, the occasion of
that cursed genie's addressing himself rather to me than to you?
Ah! my son, take it out of my sight, and put it where you please.
I had rather you would sell it than run the hazard of being
frightened to death again by touching it; and if you would take my
advice you would part also with the ring, and not have anything to
do with genies, who, as our prophet has told us, are only devils."

"With your leave, mother," replied Aladdin, "I shall now take care
how I sell a lamp which may be so serviceable both to you and me.
That false and wicked magician would not have undertaken so long a
journey to secure this wonderful lamp if he had not known its
value to exceed that of gold and silver. And since we have
honestly come by it, let us make a profitable use of it, without
making any great show, and exciting the envy and jealousy of our
neighbors. However, since the genies frighten you so much I will
take it out of your sight, and put it where I may find it when I
want it. The ring I cannot resolve to part with; for without that
you had never seen me again; and though I am alive now, perhaps,
if it were gone, I might not be so some moments hence; therefore,
I hope you will give me leave to keep it, and to wear it always on
my finger."

Aladdin's mother replied that he might do what he pleased; for
her part she would have nothing to do with genies, and never say
anything more about them.

By the next night they had eaten all the provisions the genie had
brought; and the next day Aladdin, who could not bear the thought
of hunger, putting one of the silver dishes under his vest, went