22 THE HISTORY OF A NUT-CRACKER.

Bucephalus, which was already saddled and bridled; and,
having ridden two or
three times round the
table, he got off again,
declaring that though
the animal was very
spirited and restive, he
should soon be able to
tame him in such a man-
= ner that ere a month
=. passed the horse would
= be as quiet as a lamb.
ess But at the moment when

ae Fritz set his foot upon
the ground, and when Mary was baptising her new doll by
the name of Clara, the bell rang a second time; and the
children turned towards that
corner of the room whence the
sound came.

They then beheld something
which had hitherto escaped
their attention, so intent had
they been upon the beautiful
Christmas tree. In fact, the
corner of the room of which
I have just spoken, was con- 4h
cealed, or cut off as it were, by SS
a large Chinese screen, behind
which there was a certain noise .
accompanied by a certain sweet music, which proved that
something unusual was going on in that quarter. The
children then recollected that they had not yet seen the
doctor; and they both exclaimed at the same moment,
“Oh! Godpapa Drosselmayer !”

At these words—and as if it had only waited for that
exclamation to put itself in motion—the screen opened