24 THE HISTORY OF A NUT-CRACKER.

might be taken for the
doctor, as if seen at a
great distance — went
out and in the front door
of the mansion with the
air of a gentleman, in-
viting those who were
walking outside to enter
his abode.

The first moment was
one of surprise and delight for the two children; but, having
watched the building for a few minutes with his elbows
resting on the table, Fritz rose and exclaimed, ‘“‘ But, God-
papa Drosselmayer, why do you keep going in and coming
out by the same door? You must be tired of going back-
wards and forwards like that. Come, enter by that door
there, and come out by this one here.”

And Fritz pointed with his finger to the doors of the
two towers.
‘‘No, that cannot be done,” answered Godfather Dros-

  

selmayer.

«Well, then,” said Fritz, ‘do me the pleasure of going
up those stairs, and taking the place of that gentleman at
the window: then tell him to go down to the door.”

‘Tt is impossible, my dear Fritz,” again said the doctor.

* Atall events the children have danced enough: let them

“ ” go and walk, while the gen-

tlemen and ladies who are now

walking, dance in their turn.”

on “But you are not reasonable,

a you little rogue,” cried the

ow godpapa, who begun to grow

=SS angry: “the mechanism must
S move in a certain way.”

“Then let me go into the

house,” said Fritz.