Карлик-нос

           Nowagiantisnoverygreatwonder,butyouare,mylittleman.Enterintomyservice,andIwillgiveyouboardandlodgingandclothingfree,andallyouwillhavetodoistostandatmydoorandaskfolkstocomeinandbeshaved,andhandthetowels,soapandsoontothecustomers.Ishallgetmorecustomersandyoumaybesureyouwillreceiveagoodmanycoinsforyourself."

           Thelittlefellowwasinwardlyverymuchhurtthatheshouldhavebeeninvitedtoactasabarbersdecoy;butheansweredquitepolitelythathedidnotwishforsuchemploymentandwalkedoutoftheshop.Hisoneconsolationwasthat,howevermuchtheoldwitchhadalteredhisbody,shehadhadnocontroloverhisspirit.Hefeltthathismindhadbecomeenlargedandimproved,andheknewhimselftobewiserandmoreintelligentthanhehadbeensevenyearspreviously.Hewastednotimeinbewailingthelossofhisgoodlooks,butwhatdidgrievehimwasthethoughtthathehadbeendrivenlikeadogfromhisfather’sdoor,andthereforehedeterminedtomakeonemoreefforttoconvincehismotherofhisidentity.

           Hereturnedtothemarket-placeandbeggedhertolistenquietlytohim.Heremindedherofthedayonwhichtheoldwomanhadtakenhimawayandrecalledtohermanyincidentsofhischildhood.Thenhetoldherhow,transformedintoasquirrel,hehadservedthewickedfairyforsevenyears,andhowhispresenthideousfeatureshadbeengivenhimbecausehehadfoundfaultwiththeoldwoman’sfeatures.Thecobbler’swifeknewnotwhattobelieve.