Карлик-нос

           Alsohehadlearntallthesecretsoftheartofcookeryfromtheoldwoman’sguinea-pigs!

           Hestoodsolongconsideringwhathadbeensaid,thathisfatheraskedhimatlength:"CanIdoanythingforyou,sir?Doyourequireapairofshoes,or,"headdedwithasmile,"perhapsacoveringforyournosewouldbeusefultoyou."

           "Whatisthematterwithmynose?"askedJacob,"whyshouldIrequireacoveringforit?"

           "A’ell,"repliedthecobbler,"ever}’onetohistaste.ButImustsayifIhadanoselikeyoursIwouldmakeacaseforitofbrightredleather.See,Ihavejustsuchapiecebyme.Agoodstoutcoverforyournosewouldbemostuseful,forIamquitesureyoumustbeconstantlyknocking-itagainsteverythingthatcomesinyourway."

           Thelittlefellow’sheartsankwithfear.Hefelthisnoseandfounditwasverythickandquitetwospansinlength.Andsotheoldwomanhadalteredhisappearancetoo!Thatwaswhyhismotherhadnotknownhimandwhyeveryonecalledhim"anuglydwarf."

           "Master,"hesaidtohisfather,"haveyouamirroryoucouldlendme?"

           "Youngsir,"saidthefatherearnestly,"yourfigureishardlysuchastogiveyoucauseforconceit,andyouhavenoreasontolookintoaglassconstantly.Breakyourselfofthehabit,inyourcaseitisafoolishone."

           "BelievemeitisnotoutofconceitthatIwishtoseemyself,"saidJacob,"andIdobeseechyoutolendmeaglassforamoment."

           "Idonotpossesssuchathing,"saidthecobbler.