21-the history of dwarf long nose-第4节

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goose　is　ill；'　said　he；　'I　must　make　haste　to　kill　and　dress
her。'

But　the　goose　answered　him　quite　distinctly：

　　　　　　　　　　'Squeeze　too　tight
　　　　　　　　　　　And　I'll　bite；　　　　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　　　　　If　my　neck　a　twist　you　gave
　　　　　　　　　　　I'd　bring　you　to　an　early　grave。'

Quite　frightened；　the　dwarf　set　down　the　cage；　and　the　goose
gazed　at　him　with　sad　wise…looking　eyes　and　sighed　again。

'Good　gracious！'　said　Long　Nose。　　'So　you　can　speak；　Mistress
Goose。　　I　never　should　have　thought　it！　　Well；　don't　be　anxious。　
I　know　better　than　to　hurt　so　rare　a　bird。　　But　I　could　bet　you
were　not　always　in　this　plumagewasn't　I　a　squirrel　myself　for　a
time？'

'You　are　right；'　said　the　goose；　'in　supposing　I　was　not　born　in
this　horrid　shape。　　Ah！　　no　one　ever　thought　that　Mimi；　the
daughter　of　the　great　Weatherbold；　would　be　killed　for　the　ducal
table。'

'Be　quite　easy；　Mistress　Mimi；'　comforted　Jem。　　'As　sure　as　I'm
an　honest　man　and　assistant　head　cook　to　his　highness；　no　one
shall　harm　you。　　I　will　make　a　hutch　for　you　in　my　own　rooms；　and
you　shall　be　well　fed；　and　I'll　come　and　talk　to　you　as　much　as　I
can。　　I'll　tell　all　the　other　cooks　that　I　am　fattening　up　a
goose　on　very　special　food　for　the　grand　duke；　and　at　the　first
good　opportunity　I　will　set　you　free。'

The　goose　thanked　him　with　tears　in　her　eyes；　and　the　dwarf　kept
his　word。　　He　killed　the　other　two　geese　for　dinner；　but　built　a
little　shed　for　Mimi　in　one　of　his　rooms；　under　the　pretence　of
fattening　her　under　his　own　eye。　　He　spent　all　his　spare　time
talking　to　her　and　comforting　her；　and　fed　her　on　all　the
daintiest　dishes。　　They　confided　their　histories　to　each　other；
and　Jem　learnt　that　the　goose　was　the　daughter　of　the　wizard
Weatherbold；　who　lived　on　the　island　of　Gothland。　　He　fell　out
with　an　old　fairy；　who　got　the　better　of　him　by　cunning　and
treachery；　and　to　revenge　herself　turned　his　daughter　into　a
goose　and　carried　her　off　to　this　distant　place。　　When　Long　Nose
told　her　his　story　she　said：

'I　know　a　little　of　these　matters；　and　what　you　say　shows　me　that
you　are　under　a　herb　enchantmentthat　is　to　say；　that　if　you　can
find　the　herb　whose　smell　woke　you　up　the　spell　would　be　broken。'

This　was　but　small　comfort　for　Jem；　for　how　and　where　was　he　to
find　the　herb？

About　this　time　the　grand　duke　had　a　visit　from　a　neighbouring
prince；　a　friend　of　his。　　He　sent　for　Long　Nose　and　said　to　him：

'Now　is　the　time　to　show　what　you　can　really　do。　　This　prince　who
is　staying　with　me　has　better　dinners　than　any　one　except　myself；
and　is　a　great　judge　of　cooking。　　As　long　as　he　is　here　you　must
take　care　that　my　table　shall　be　served　in　a　manner　to　surprise
him　constantly。　　At　the　same　time；　on　pain　of　my　displeasure；
take　care　that　no　dish　shall　appear　twice。　　Get　everything　you
wish　and　spare　nothing。　　If　you　want　to　melt　down　gold　and
precious　stones；　do　so。　　I　would　rather　be　a　poor　man　than　have
to　blush　before　him。'

The　dwarf　bowed　and　answered：

'Your　highness　shall　be　obeyed。　　I　will　do　all　in　my　power　to
please　you　and　the　prince。'

From　this　time　the　little　cook　was　hardly　seen　except　in　the
kitchen；　where；　surrounded　by　his　helpers；　he　gave　orders；　baked；
stewed；　flavoured　and　dished　up　all　manner　of　dishes。

The　prince　had　been　a　fortnight　with　the　grand　duke；　and　enjoyed
himself　mightily。　　They　ate　five　times　a　day；　and　the　duke　had
every　reason　to　be　content　with　the　dwarf's　talents；　for　he　saw
how　pleased　his　guest　looked。　　On　the　fifteenth　day　the　duke　sent
for　the　dwarf　and　presented　him　to　the　prince。

'You　are　a　wonderful　cook；'　said　the　prince；　'and　you　certainly
know　what　is　good。　　All　the　time　I　have　been　here　you　have　never
repeated　a　dish；　and　all　were　excellent。　　But　tell　me　why　you
have　never　served　the　queen　of　all　dishes；　a　Suzeraine　Pasty？'

The　dwarf　felt　frightened；　for　he　had　never　heard　of　this　Queen
of　Pasties　before。　　But　he　did　not　lose　his　presence　of　mind；　and
replied：

'I　have　waited；　hoping　that　your　highness'　visit　here　would　last
some　time；　for　I　proposed　to　celebrate　the　last　day　of　your　stay
with　this　truly　royal　dish。'

'Indeed；'　laughed　the　grand　duke；　'then　I　suppose　you　would　have
waited　for　the　day　of　my　death　to　treat　me　to　it；　for　you　have
never　sent　it　up　to　me　yet。　　However；　you　will　have　to　invent
some　other　farewell　dish；　for　the　pasty　must　be　on　my　table
to…morrow。'

'As　your　highness　pleases；'　said　the　dwarf；　and　took　leave。

But　it　did　not　please　HIM　at　all。　　The　moment　of　disgrace　seemed
at　hand；　for　he　had　no　idea　how　to　make　this　pasty。　　He　went　to
his　rooms　very　sad。　　As　he　sat　there　lost　in　thought　the　goose
Mimi；　who　was　left　free　to　walk　about；　came　up　to　him　and　asked
what　was　the　matter？　　　When　she　heard　she　said：

'Cheer　up；　my　friend。　　I　know　the　dish　quite　well：　　we　often　had
it　at　home；　and　I　can　guess　pretty　well　how　it　was　made。'　　Then
she　told　him　what　to　put　in；　adding：　　'I　think　that　will　be　all
right；　and　if　some　trifle　is　left　out　perhaps　they　won't　find　it
out。'

Sure　enough；　next　day　a　magnificent　pasty　all　wreathed　round　with
flowers　was　placed　on　the　table。　　Jem　himself　put　on　his　best
clothes　and　went　into　the　dining　hall。　　As　he　entered　the　head
carver　was　in　the　act　of　cutting　up　the　pie　and　helping　the　duke
and　his　guests。　　The　grand　duke　took　a　large　mouthful　and　threw
up　his　eyes　as　he　swallowed　it。

'Oh！　oh！　this　may　well　be　called　the　Queen　of　Pasties；　and　at
the　same　time　my　dwarf　must　be　called　the　king　of　cooks。　　Don't
you　think　so；　dear　friend？'

The　prince　took　several　small　pieces；　tasted　and　examined
carefully；　and　then　said　with　a　mysterious　and　sarcastic　smile：

'The　dish　is　very　nicely　made；　but　the　Suzeraine　is　not　quite
completeas　I　expected。'

The　grand　duke　flew　into　a　rage。

'Dog　of　a　cook；'　he　shouted；　'how　dare　you　serve　me　so？　　　I've　a
good　mind　to　chop　off　your　great　head　as　a　punishment。'

'For　mercy's　sake；　don't；　your　highness！　　I　made　the　pasty
according　to　the　best　rules；　nothing　has　been　left　out。　　Ask　the
prince　what　else　I　should　have　put　in。'

The　prince　laughed。　　'I　was　sure　you　could　not　make　this　dish　as
well　as　my　cook；　friend　Long　Nose。　　Know；　then；　that　a　herb　is
wanting　called　Relish；　which　is　not　known　in　this　country；　but
which　gives　the　pasty　its　peculiar　flavour；　and　without　which
your　master　will　never　taste　it　to　perfection。'

The　grand　duke　was　more　furious　than　ever。

'But　I　WILL　taste　it　to　perfection；'　he　roared。　　'Either　the
pasty　must　be　made　properly　to…morrow　or　this　rascal's　head　shall
come　off。　　Go；　scoundrel；　I　give　you　twenty…four　hours　respite。'

The　poor　dwarf　hurried　back　to　his　room；　and　poured　out　his　grief
to　the　goose。

'Oh；　is　that　all；'　said　she；　'then　I　can　help　you；　for　my　father
taught　me　to　know　all　plants　and　herbs。　　Luckily　this　is　a　new
moon　just　now；　for　the　herb　only　springs　up　at　such　times。　　But
tell　me；　are　there　chestnut　trees　near　the　palace？'

'Oh；　yes！'　cried　Long　Nose；　much　relieved；　'near　the　lakeonly　a
couple　of　hundred　yards　from　the　palaceis　a　large　clump　of
them。　　But　why　do　you　ask？'

'Because　the　herb　only　grows　near　the　roots　of　chestnut　trees；'
replied　Mimi；　'so　let　us　lose　no　time　in　finding　it。　　Take　me
under　your　arm　and　put　me　down　out　of　doors；　and　I'll　hunt　for
it。'

He　did　as　she　bade；　and　as　soon　as　they　were　in　the　garden　put
her　on　the　ground；　when　she　waddled　off　as　fast　as　she　could
towards　the　lake；　Jem　hurrying　after　her　with　an　anxious　heart；
for　he　knew　that　his　life　depended　on　her　success。　　The　goose
hunted　everywhere；　but　in　vain。　　She　searched　under　each　chestnut
tree；　turning　every　blade　of　grass　with　her　billnothing　to　be
seen；　and　evening　was　drawing　on！

Suddenly　the　dwarf　noticed　a　big　old　tree　standing　alone　on　the
other　side　of　the　lake。　　'Look；'　cried　he；　'let　us　try　our　luck
there。'

The　goose　fluttered　and　skipped　in　front；　and　he　ran　after　as
fast　as　his　little　legs　could　carry　him。　　The　tree　cast　a　wide
shadow；　and　it　was　almost　dark　beneath　it；　but　suddenly　the　goose
stood　still；　flapped　her　wings　with　joy；　and　plucked　something；
which　she　held　out　to　her　astonished　friend；　saying：　　'There　it
is；　and　there　is　more　growing　here；　so　you　will　have　no　lack　of
it。'

The　dwarf　stood　gazing　at　the　plant。　　It　gave　out　a　strong　sweet
scent；　which　reminded　him　of　the　day　of　his　enchantment。　　The
stems　and　leaves　were　a　bluish　green；　and　it　bore　a　dark；　bright
red　flower　with　a　yellow　edge。

'What　a　wonder！'　cried　Long　Nose。　　'I　do　believe　this　is　the　very
herb　which　changed　me　from　a　squirrel　into　my　present　miserable
form。　　Shall　I　try　an　experiment？'

'Not　yet；'　said　the　goose。　　'Take　a　good　handful　of　the　herb　with
you；　and　let　us　go　to　your　rooms。　　We　will　collect　all　your　money
and　clothes　together；　and　then　we　will　test　the　powers　of　the
herb。'

So　they　went　back　to　Jem's　rooms；　and　here　he　gathered　together
some　fifty　ducats　he　had　saved；　his　clothes　and　shoes；　and　tied
them　all　up　in　a　bundle。　　Then　he　plunged　his　face　into　the　bunch
of　herbs；　and　drew　in　their　perfume。

As　he　did　so；　all　his　limbs　began　to　crack　and　stretch；　he　felt
his　head　rising　above　his　shoulders；　he　glanc