Карлик-нос

           Helookedcloselyattheflower,thensmeltitandnoticedithadthesamescentasthesoupwhichtheoldwomanhadoncecookedforhim.Itwasaverystrongscent,sostrongindeedthatitmadehimsneeze,andhewentonsneezingagainandagainuntilatlength—heawoke.Helayontheoldwoman’ssofaandlookedaroundhiminsurprise.

           "Howrealdreamsdoseemsometimes,"hesaidtohimself."IcouldhavebeencertainthatIwasasquirreljustnow,andhadguinea-pigsandsquirrelsformycompanions,alsothatIhadlearnttobeafirst-ratecook.HowMotherwilllaughwhenItellherallaboutit,butshewillscoldme,too,forhavingfallenasleepinastranger’shouseinsteadofhelpingherinthemarket-place."

           Hejumpedupinahurrybuthislimbswerestifffromsleepingsolong,especiallyhisneck;hecouldnotturnitaboutveryeasily,andheseemedsosleepystillthathekeptstrikinghisnoseagainstthewallsandcupboards.Ashestooduponthethresholdtheguinea-pigsandsquirrelscamewhimperingroundhimasthoughtheywouldliketogowithhimandhebeggedthemtocome,fortheyweredearlittlecreatures,buttheywentclatteringbackintheirnutshellshoesandhecouldhearthemsqueakingawayinthehouse.

           Theoldwomanhadbroughthimalongdistancefromthemarket-place,andhehadsomedifficultyinfindinghiswaybackthroughthenarrowlanes,especiallyasthereseemedtobeagreatcrowdofpeople.