a big dinner of nothing but rice and curds, I should not gain enough merit for all my kingdom.”  Then the old woman got very angry and cursed the queen, saying, “You will become half a frog and half a human being, and you will stand outside your co-wife’s bath-room and croak like a frog.”  But the queen did not mind her the least little bit, and she laughed so loud at the old woman that the noise was like two chains rattling together.  Mahalaxmi went off in a great rage and entered Queen Chimadevrani’s part of the palace.  There she saw all the accessories of worship ready, and there was a beautiful image of Mahalaxmi leaning against the wall; The old woman cried, “Lady, lady, Chimadevrani, mother of sons, what have you in your house to-day?” “To-day,” said the queen, “we are worshipping Mahalaxmi.”  Then the old beggar-woman said, “I am Mahalaxmi.”  But the queen doubted and asked her, “By what sign shall I know you?” The goddess replied, “In the morning I shall take the shape of a little girl.  In the afternoon I shall take that of a young married woman.  In the evening I shall become an old hag.”  After the goddess had taken all three shapes, Queen Chimadevrani called her into the palace and bathed and anointed her.  She gave her a silk skirt and a platform to sit upon.  Then she sent for Wonderways, and both of them worshipped the old beggar-woman and blew on earthen pots in her honour.  The king heard the blowing on the pots and told a sepoy to find out why there was such a noise in Queen Chimadevrani’s quarters.  The sepoy went there, and when he saw what was happening joined also in the worship.  After a little while he went back and told the king.  The king said that he would go there too.  He followed the sepoy, and Queen Chimadevrani came to the steps and met him and took him upstairs, where both played at saripat until dawn.  And all the time Mahalaxmi sat by and watched them.  At dawn Queen Chimadevrani asked Mahalaxmi for her blessing.  She blessed the queen and said, “The king will take you back with him to the palace, and your co-wife will become half frog, half human being, and will have to croak outside your bath-room while you bathe.”  But Queen Chimadevrani begged the goddess not to place such a terrible curse on Patmadhavrani.  The goddess relented a little, but said, “The king will drive her into the jungle for twelve years.”  At these words she vanished and flew to Kolhapur.  When the sun rose the king placed Queen Chimadevrani in his chariot and drove her to his own part of the palace.  He then sent a message to Queen Patmadhavrani asking her to join them.  Shortly afterwards Queen Patmadhavrani appeared, dressed all in rags with a skirt round her legs and her hair all unfastened.  On her head was a pot full of burning coal, and she began to shout and scream at the top of her voice.  The king became very angry and roared out, “Who is this that is shouting and screaming?  Is it a ghost or a she-devil or what?” The sepoys replied, “O King, it is neither a ghost nor a