21-the history of dwarf long nose-第3节

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reflection。　　Tears　came　to　his　eyes。

'No　wonder　you　did　not　know　your　child　again；　dear　mother；'
thought　he；　'he　wasn't　like　this　when　you　were　so　proud　of　his
looks。'

His　eyes　had　grown　quite　small；　like　pigs'　eyes；　his　nose　was
huge　and　hung　down　over　his　mouth　and　chin；　his　throat　seemed　to
have　disappeared　altogether；　and　his　head　was　fixed　stiffly
between　his　shoulders。　　He　was　no　taller　than　he　had　been　seven
years　ago；　when　he　was　not　much　more　than　twelve　years　old；　but
he　made　up　in　breadth；　and　his　back　and　chest　had　grown　into
lumps　like　two　great　sacks。　　His　legs　were　small　and　spindly；　but
his　arms　were　as　large　as　those　of　a　well…grown　man；　with　large
brown　hands；　and　long　skinny　fingers。

Then　he　remembered　the　morning　when　he　had　first　seen　the　old
woman；　and　her　threats　to　him；　and　without　saying　a　word　he　left
the　barber's　shop。

He　determined　to　go　again　to　his　mother；　and　found　her　still　in
the　market…place。　　He　begged　her　to　listen　quietly　to　him；　and　he
reminded　her　of　the　day　when　he　went　away　with　the　old　woman；　and
of　many　things　in　his　childhood；　and　told　her　how　the　fairy　had
bewitched　him；　and　he　had　served　her　seven　years。　　Hannah　did　not
know　what　to　thinkthe　story　was　so　strange；　and　it　seemed
impossible　to　think　her　pretty　boy　and　this　hideous　dwarf　were
the　same。　　At　last　she　decided　to　go　and　talk　to　her　husband
about　it。　　She　gathered　up　her　baskets；　told　Jem　to　follow　her；
and　went　straight　to　the　cobbler's　stall。

'Look　here；'　said　she；　'this　creature　says　he　is　our　lost　son。　
He　has　been　telling　me　how　he　was　stolen　seven　years　ago；　and
bewitched　by　a　fairy。'

'Indeed！'　interrupted　the　cobbler　angrily。　　'Did　he　tell　you
this？　　　Wait　a　minute；　you　rascal！　　Why　I　told　him　all　about　it
myself　only　an　hour　ago；　and　then　he　goes　off　to　humbug　you。　　So
you　were　bewitched；　my　son　were　you？　　　Wait　a　bit；　and　I'll
bewitch　you！'

So　saying；　he　caught　up　a　bundle　of　straps；　and　hit　out　at　Jem　so
hard　that　he　ran　off　crying。

The　poor　little　dwarf　roamed　about　all　the　rest　of　the　day
without　food　or　drink；　and　at　night　was　glad　to　lie　down　and
sleep　on　the　steps　of　a　church。　　He　woke　next　morning　with　the
first　rays　of　light；　and　began　to　think　what　he　could　do　to　earn
a　living。　　Suddenly　he　remembered　that　he　was　an　excellent　cook；
and　he　determined　to　look　out　for　a　place。

As　soon　as　it　was　quite　daylight　he　set　out　for　the　palace；　for
he　knew　that　the　grand　duke　who　reigned　over　the　country　was　fond
of　good　things。

When　he　reached　the　palace　all　the　servants　crowded　about　him；
and　made　fun　of　him；　and　at　last　their　shouts　and　laughter　grew
so　loud　that　the　head　steward　rushed　out；　crying；　'For　goodness
sake；　be　quiet；　can't　you。　　Don't　you　know　his　highness　is　still
asleep？'

Some　of　the　servants　ran　off　at　once；　and　others　pointed　out　Jem。

Indeed；　the　steward　found　it　hard　to　keep　himself　from　laughing
at　the　comic　sight；　but　he　ordered　the　servants　off　and　led　the
dwarf　into　his　own　room。

When　he　heard　him　ask　for　a　place　as　cook；　he　said：　　'You　make
some　mistake；　my　lad。　　I　think　you　want　to　be　the　grand　duke's
dwarf；　don't　you？'

'No；　sir；'　replied　Jem。　　'I　am　an　experienced　cook；　and　if　you
will　kindly　take　me　to　the　head　cook　he　may　find　me　of　some　use。'

'Well；　as　you　will；　but　believe　me；　you　would　have　an　easier
place　as　the　grand　ducal　dwarf。'

So　saying；　the　head　steward　led　him　to　the　head　cook's　room。

'Sir；'　asked　Jem；　as　he　bowed　till　his　nose　nearly　touched　the
floor；　'do　you　want　an　experienced　cook？'

The　head　cook　looked　him　over　from　head　to　foot；　and　burst　out
laughing。

'You　a　cook！　　Do　you　suppose　our　cooking　stoves　are　so　low　that
you　can　look　into　any　saucepan　on　them？　　　Oh；　my　dear　little
fellow；　whoever　sent　you　to　me　wanted　to　make　fun　of　you。'

But　the　dwarf　was　not　to　be　put　off。

'What　matters　an　extra　egg　or　two；　or　a　little　butter　or　flour
and　spice　more　or　less；　in　such　a　house　as　this？'　said　he。　　'Name
any　dish　you　wish　to　have　cooked；　and　give　me　the　materials　I　ask
for；　and　you　shall　see。'

He　said　much　more；　and　at　last　persuaded　the　head　cook　to　give
him　a　trial。

They　went　into　the　kitchena　huge　place　with　at　least　twenty
fireplaces；　always　alight。　　A　little　stream　of　clear　water　ran
through　the　room；　and　live　fish　were　kept　at　one　end　of　it。　
Everything　in　the　kitchen　was　of　the　best　and　most　beautiful
kind；　and　swarms　of　cooks　and　scullions　were　busy　preparing
dishes。

When　the　head　cook　came　in　with　Jem　everyone　stood　quite　still。

'What　has　his　highness　ordered　for　luncheon？'　asked　the　head
cook。

'Sir；　his　highness　has　graciously　ordered　a　Danish　soup　and　red
Hamburg　dumplings。'

'Good；'　said　the　head　cook。　　'Have　you　heard；　and　do　you　feel
equal　to　making　these　dishes？　　　Not　that　you　will　be　able　to　make
the　dumplings；　for　they　are　a　secret　receipt。'

'Is　that　all！'　said　Jem；　who　had　often　made　both　dishes。　
'Nothing　easier。　　Let　me　have　some　eggs；　a　piece　of　wild　boar；
and　such　and　such　roots　and　herbs　for　the　soup；　and　as　for　the
dumplings；'　he　added　in　a　low　voice　to　the　head　cook；　'I　shall
want　four　different　kinds　of　meat；　some　wine；　a　duck's　marrow；
some　ginger；　and　a　herb　called　heal…well。'

'Why；'　cried　the　astonished　cook；　'where　did　you　learn　cooking？　　
Yes；　those　are　the　exact　materials；　but　we　never　used　the　herb
heal…well；　which；　I　am　sure；　must　be　an　improvement。'

And　now　Jem　was　allowed　to　try　his　hand。　　He　could　not　nearly
reach　up　to　the　kitchen　range；　but　by　putting　a　wide　plank　on　two
chairs　he　managed　very　well。　　All　the　cooks　stood　round　to　look
on；　and　could　not　help　admiring　the　quick；　clever　way　in　which　he
set　to　work。　　At　last；　when　all　was　ready；　Jem　ordered　the　two
dishes　to　be　put　on　the　fire　till　he　gave　the　word。　　Then　he
began　to　count：　　'One；　two；　three；'　till　he　got　to　five　hundred
when　he　cried；　'Now！'　The　saucepans　were　taken　off；　and　he
invited　the　head　cook　to　taste。

The　first　cook　took　a　golden　spoon；　washed　and　wiped　it；　and
handed　it　to　the　head　cook；　who　solemnly　approached；　tasted　the
dishes；　and　smacked　his　lips　over　them。　　'First　rate；　indeed！'　he
exclaimed。　　'You　certainly　are　a　master　of　the　art；　little
fellow；　and　the　herb　heal…well　gives　a　particular　relish。'

As　he　was　speaking；　the　duke's　valet　came　to　say　that　his
highness　was　ready　for　luncheon；　and　it　was　served　at　once　in
silver　dishes。　　The　head　cook　took　Jem　to　his　own　room；　but　had
hardly　had　time　to　question　him　before　he　was　ordered　to　go　at
once　to　the　grand　duke。　　He　hurried　on　his　best　clothes　and
followed　the　messenger。

The　grand　duke　was　looking　much　pleased。　　He　had　emptied　the
dishes；　and　was　wiping　his　mouth　as　the　head　cook　came　in。　　'Who
cooked　my　luncheon　to…day？'　asked　he。　　'I　must　say　your　dumplings
are　always　very　good；　but　I　don't　think　I　ever　tasted　anything　so
delicious　as　they　were　to…day。　　Who　made　them？'

'It　is　a　strange　story；　your　highness；'　said　the　cook；　and　told
him　the　whole　matter；　which　surprised　the　duke　so　much　that　he
sent　for　the　dwarf　and　asked　him　many　questions。　　Of　course；　Jem
could　not　say　he　had　been　turned　into　a　squirrel；　but　he　said　he
was　without　parents　and　had　been　taught　cooking　by　an　old　woman。

'If　you　will　stay　with　me；'　said　the　grand　duke；　'you　shall　have
fifty　ducats　a　year；　besides　a　new　coat　and　a　couple　of　pairs　of
trousers。　　You　must　undertake　to　cook　my　luncheon　yourself　and　to
direct　what　I　shall　have　for　dinner；　and　you　shall　be　called
assistant　head　cook。'

Jem　bowed　to　the　ground；　and　promised　to　obey　his　new　master　in
all　things。

He　lost　no　time　in　setting　to　work；　and　everyone　rejoiced　at
having　him　in　the　kitchen；　for　the　duke　was　not　a　patient　man；
and　had　been　known　to　throw　plates　and　dishes　at　his　cooks　and
servants　if　the　things　served　were　not　quite　to　his　taste。　　Now
all　was　changed。　　He　never　even　grumbled　at　anything；　had　five
meals　instead　of　three；　thought　everything　delicious；　and　grew
fatter　daily。

And　so　Jem　lived　on　for　two　years；　much　respected　and　considered；
and　only　saddened　when　he　thought　of　his　parents。　　One　day　passed
much　like　another　till　the　following　incident　happened。

Dwarf　Long　Noseas　he　was　always　calledmade　a　practice　of
doing　his　marketing　as　much　as　possible　himself；　and　whenever
time　allowed　went　to　the　market　to　buy　his　poultry　and　fruit。　
One　morning　he　was　in　the　goose　market；　looking　for　some　nice　fat
geese。　　No　one　thought　of　laughing　at　his　appearance　now；　he　was
known　as　the　duke's　special　body　cook；　and　every　goose…woman
felt　honoured　if　his　nose　turned　her　way。

He　noticed　one　woman　sitting　apart　with　a　number　of　geese；　but
not　crying　or　praising　them　like　the　rest。　　He　went　up　to　her；
felt　and　weighed　her　geese；　and；　finding　them　very　good；　bought
three　and　the　cage　to　put　them　in；　hoisted　them　on　his　broad
shoulders；　and　set　off　on　his　way　back。

As　he　went；　it　struck　him　that　two　of　the　geese　were　gobbling　and
screaming　as　geese　do；　but　the　third　sat　quite　still；　only
heaving　a　deep　sigh　now　and　then；　like　a　human　being。　　'That
goose　is　ill；'　said　he；　'I　must　make　haste　to　kill　and　dress
her。'

But　the　goose　answered　him　quite　distinct