Дюймовочка

           "Youmustworkonyourtrousseauthissummer,"thefieldmousesaid, fortheirneighbor,thatloathsomemoleinhisblackvelvetcoat,hadproposedtoher. "Youmusthavebothwoolensandlinens,bothbeddingandwardrobe,whenyoubecomethemole’swife." 

           Thumbelinahadtoturnthespindle,andthefieldmousehiredfourspiderstospinandweaveforherdayandnight. Themolecametocalleveryevening,andhisfavoriteremarkwasthatthesun,whichnowbakedtheearthashardasarock,wouldnotbenearlysohotwhensummerwasover. Yes,assoonassummerwaspasthewouldbemarryingThumbelina. Butshewasnotatallhappyaboutit,becauseshedidn’tlikethetediousmoletheleastbit. Everymorningatsunriseandeveryeveningatsunset,shewouldstealoutthedoor. Whenthebreezeblewtheearsofgrainapartshecouldcatchglimpsesofthebluesky. Shecoulddreamabouthowbrightandfairitwasoutofdoors,andhowshewishedshewouldseeherdearswallowagain. Buthedidnotcomeback,fordoubtlesshewasfaraway,flyingaboutinthelovelygreenwoods. 

           Whenfallarrived,Thumbelina’swholetrousseauwasready. 

           "Yourweddingdayisfourweeksoff,"thefieldmousetoldher. ButThumbelinacriedanddeclaredthatshewouldnothavethetediousmoleforahusband. 

           "Fiddlesticks,"saidthefieldmouse. "Don’tyoubeobstinate,orI’llbiteyouwithmywhiteteeth. Why,you’regettingasuperbhusband. Thequeenherselfhasn’tablackvelvetcoatasfineashis. Bothhiskitchenandhiscellararewellsupplied.