And as he told Lallakalla all that had passed, he
wept; but she bade him be of good cheer, and, having comforted
him, withdrew to her apartments, and was very busy there all the
afternoon.
In the evening came a litter from the palace, and with it a
letter from the Sultan, commanding that Lallakalla should come,
and bidding Ashimullah to expect his four wives the next day.
Accordingly Ashimullah, having divorced Lallakalla according to
the formalities of the law, set her in the litter, and she, being
brought to the palace, was soon visited by the Sultan, who was
full of curiosity to see her. But, when he entered, he gave a
loud cry of surprise. For, behold, the hair on Lallakalla's head
was red. But then he smiled and said to her:
"Take off the wig, my daughter."
"I obey," said she, "but I pray you to look away while I obey."
So the Sultan looked away, and, when he turned again, her hair
was golden.
"Take that off also," said the Sultan, turning his head away.
And when he looked again her hair was coal-black.
"Take that off also," said the Sultan.
"I obey," said Lallakalla, and the Sultan turned away.
"Now," said he, "I will behold your own brown hair," and he
turned to her. But again he cried out in surprise and horror.
For there was no brown hair on Lallakalla's head, but her head
was bare and shaven as clean as the ball of ivory on the staff
that the Sultan carried.
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