21-the history of dwarf long nose-第5节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



As　he　did　so；　all　his　limbs　began　to　crack　and　stretch；　he　felt
his　head　rising　above　his　shoulders；　he　glanced　down　at　his　nose；
and　saw　it　grow　smaller　and　smaller；　his　chest　and　back　grew
flat；　and　his　legs　grew　long。

The　goose　looked　on　in　amazement。　　'Oh；　how　big　and　how　beautiful
you　are！'　she　cried。　　'Thank　heaven；　you　are　quite　changed。'

Jem　folded　his　hands　in　thanks；　as　his　heart　swelled　with
gratitude。　　But　his　joy　did　not　make　him　forget　all　he　owed　to
his　friend　Mimi。

'I　owe　you　my　life　and　my　release；'　he　said；　'for　without　you　I
should　never　have　regained　my　natural　shape；　and；　indeed；　would
soon　have　been　beheaded。　　I　will　now　take　you　back　to　your
father；　who　will　certainly　know　how　to　disenchant　you。'

The　goose　accepted　his　offer　with　joy；　and　they　managed　to　slip
out　of　the　palace　unnoticed　by　anyone。

They　got　through　the　journey　without　accident；　and　the　wizard
soon　released　his　daughter；　and　loaded　Jem　with　thanks　and
valuable　presents。　　He　lost　no　time　in　hastening　back　to　his
native　town；　and　his　parents　were　very　ready　to　recognise　the
handsome；　well…made　young　man　as　their　long…lost　son。　　With　the
money　given　him　by　the　wizard　he　opened　a　shop；　which　prospered
well；　and　he　lived　long　and　happily。

I　must　not　forget　to　mention　that　much　disturbance　was　caused　in
the　palace　by　Jem's　sudden　disappearance；　for　when　the　grand　duke
sent　orders　next　day　to　behead　the　dwarf；　if　he　had　not　found　the
necessary　herbs；　the　dwarf　was　not　to　be　found。　　The　prince
hinted　that　the　duke　had　allowed　his　cook　to　escape；　and　had
therefore　broken　his　word。　　The　matter　ended　in　a　great　war
between　the　two　princes；　which　was　known　in　history　as　the　'Herb
War。'　　After　many　battles　and　much　loss　of　life；　a　peace　was　at
last　concluded；　and　this　peace　became　known　as　the　'Pasty　Peace；'
because　at　the　banquet　given　in　its　honour　the　prince's　cook
dished　up　the　Queen　of　Pastiesthe　Suzeraineand　the　grand
duke　declared　it　to　be　quite　excellent。