So he repaired to the draper and buying of him a turban-cloth of lawn, returned with it to the old woman, who took it and burned it in two places.  Then she donned devotees’ apparel and taking the turban-cloth with her, went to the draper’s house and knocked at the door.  When the draper’s wife saw her, she opened to her and received her kindly and made much of her and welcomed her.  So the old woman went in to her and conversed with her awhile.  Then said she to her, “[I desire to make] the ablution [preparatory] to prayer.”  So the wife brought her water and she made the ablution and standing up to pray, prayed and did her occasion.  When she had made an end of her prayers, she left the turban-cloth in the place of prayer and went away.

Presently, in came the draper, at the hour of evening prayer, and sitting down in the place where the old woman had prayed, looked about him and espied the turban.  He knew it [for that which he had that day sold to the young man] and misdoubted of the case, wherefore anger appeared in his face and he was wroth with his wife and reviled her and abode his day and his night, without speaking to her, what while she knew not the cause of his anger.  Then she looked and seeing the turban-cloth before him and noting the traces of burning thereon, understood that his anger was on account of this and concluded that he was wroth because it was burnt.

When the morning morrowed, the draper went out, still angered against his wife, and the old woman returned to her and found her changed of colour, pale of face, dejected and heart-broken. [So she questioned her of the cause of her dejection and she told her how her husband was angered against her (as she supposed) on account of the burns in the turban-cloth.] “O my daughter,” rejoined the old woman, “be not concerned; for I have a son, a fine-drawer, and he, by thy life, shall fine-draw [the holes] and restore the turban-cloth as it was.  “The wife rejoiced in her saying and said to her, “And when shall this be?” “To-morrow, if it please God the Most High,” answered the old woman, “I will bring him to thee, at the time of thy husband’s going forth from thee, and he shall mend it and depart forth-right.”  Then she comforted her heart and going forth from her, returned to the young man and told him what had passed.

Now, when the draper saw the turban-cloth, he resolved to put away his wife and waited but till he should get together that which was obligatory on him of the dowry and what not else,[FN#56] for fear of her people.  When the old woman arose in the morning, she took the young man and carried him to the draper’s house.  The wife opened the door to her and the ill-omened old woman entered with him and said to the lady, “Go, fetch that which thou wouldst have fine-drawn and give it to my son.”  So saying, she locked the door on her, whereupon the young man forced her and did his occasion of her and went forth.  Then said the old woman to her, “Know that this