'Ah, pray forgive me; the beggar bade me do it, and I couldn't help
it.'

'Well, you ought to smart for it', said Hacon; 'but for the beggar's
sake it shall be forgiven you.'

So it went now just as it had gone before, and when she got back to
the cabin, the beggar was there before her.

'Oh, Heaven help me', she said; 'you will be the death of me at last,
by making me nothing but what is wicked. The Prince was in such a
towering rage that he threatened me both with the constable and
cage.'

Sometime after, Hacon came home to the cabin at even and said:

'Now, the Prince's will is, that you should go up to the palace and
stand for the bride, old lass! for the bride is still sick, and keeps
her bed; but he won't put off the wedding; and he says, you are so
like her, that no one could tell one from the other; so to-morrow you
must get ready to go to the palace.'

'I think you've lost your wits, both the Prince and you', said she.
'Do you think I look fit to stand in the bride's place? look at me!
Can any beggar's trull look worse than I?'

'Well, the Prince said you were to go, and so go you must', said
Hacon Grizzlebeard.