Карлик-ніс

           Hehadtosweepitoverandthen,wrapsoftpolishingclothsroundhisfeetandslideupanddowntheroomuntiltheglassshonebrilliantly.

           Attheendoftheyearhewaspromotedtothekitchen;thiswasaplaceofhonour,onlytobereachedafterlongtraining.liebeganatthebeginningasascullionandadvancedrapidlyuntilhewasheadcook.Sometimeshecouldnotbutwonderathisownskill,forhecouldcookthemostdifficultdishesandcouldmakenolessthantwohundreddifferentkindsofpastries.Thenhewasafirst-ratehandatsoups,andcouldmakeeverykindthathadeverbeenheardof,andknewtheuseofeverykindofvegetablethatgrew.Severalyearshadnowpassedawayintheserviceoftheoldwomanandonedaysheputonhercocoa-nutshoes,tookherstaffandbasketinherhand,andpreparedtogoout.

           BeforeleavingshetoldJacobtocookachickenforherdinneronherreturnandbesuretostuffitwellwithseasoning.Whenhehadpreparedthechicken,hewenttotheroomwheretheherbswerekepttocollectsometostuffitwith,andtohissurprisesawalittlecupboardthathehadnotnoticedbefore.Thedoorwasajarandhepeepedcuriouslyinandsawanumberoflittlebasketsfromwhichissuedastrongandpleasantodour.Heopenedoneofthemandsawthatitcontainedaverycurious-lookingplant.Theleavesandstalkswereofabluish-greencolouranditboreaflowerofadeepredhue,fleckedwithyellow.