VI + 

Her own people⁠—for they came to be her own people. The fairytale came into a man’s life, and as often happens in a fairytale, so it now occurred in life. Peter Antònovitch fell in love with Turandina and Turandina loved him also. He made up his mind to marry her, and this led to slight difficulties in the family. + 

The teacher-cousin and his wife said: “In spite of her mysterious origin and her obstinate silence about her family, your Turandina is a very dear girl, beautiful, intelligent, very good and capable, and well brought up. In short, she is everything that one could wish. But you ought to remember that you have no money, and neither has she. + 

“It will be difficult for two people to live in Petersburg on the money your father allows you. + 

“Especially with a princess. + 

“You must remember that in spite of her sweet ways she’s probably accustomed to live in good style. + 

“She has very small soft hands. True, she has been very modest here, and you say she was barefoot when you met her first and had very little clothing. But we don’t know what kind of garments she will want to wear in a town.” + 

Peter Antònovitch himself was rather pessimistic at first. But by and by he remembered how he had found a dress for Turandina in the little bag. A bold thought came into his mind, and he smiled and said: + 

“I found a house-frock for Turandina in her little bag. Perhaps if I were to rummage in it again I might find a ball-dress for her.” + 

But the teacher’s wife, a kind young woman with a genius for housekeeping, said: + 

“Much better if you could find some money. If only she had five hundred roubles we could manage to get her a good trousseau.” + 

“We ought to find five hundred thousand⁠—for a princess’s dowry,” said Peter Antònovitch, laughing. + 

“Oh, a hundred thousand would be quite enough for you,” laughed his cousin in reply. + 

Just then Turandina came quietly up the steps leading from the garden, and Peter Antònovitch called to her and said: + 

“Turandina, show me your little bag, dear. Perhaps you have a hundred thousand roubles there.” + 

Turandina held out her little bag to him and said: + 

“If it’s necessary, you will find it in the bag.” + 

And Peter Antònovitch again put his hand into the little bag and drew forth a large packet of notes. He began to count them, but without counting he could see they represented a large quantity of money. + 