38 ‘THE HISTORY OF A NUTCRACKER.

chin. The Nut-cracker still seemed to suffer much pain,
and appeared very cross.

‘Ah! my dear little fellow,” she said in a low tone, ‘‘do
not be angry, I pray, because my brother Fritz hurt you so
much. He had.no evil intention, rest well assured; only his
manners have become rough, and his heart is a little hardened
by his soldier's. life. Otherwise he is a-very good boy, I can
assure you; and I know that when you are better acquainted
with him, you will forgive him. Besides, to atone for the
injury which he has done
you, I will take care of you;
which I willdo so attentively
that in a few days you will
be quite well. As for putting
in the teeth again and fas-
tening your-chin properly,
that is the business of God-
papa Drosselmayer, who per-
fectly understands those‘ kind
of things.”

Mary could say no more; ‘for the moment she pronounced.
the name of her Godfather Drosselmayer, the Nut-cracker, to
whom this discourse was addressed, made so dreadful a |
grimace, and his eyes suddenly flashed so brightly, that the
little girl stopped short in affright, and.stepped a pace back.
But as the Nut-cracker immediately
afterwards resumed its amiable expression
and its melancholy smile, she fancied that
she must have been the sport of an illusion,
and that the flame of the lamp, agitated
by a current of air, had thus disfigured
the little man. ‘She even laughed at
herself, saying, ‘“I-am indeed very foolish
to think that this wooden puppet could make faces to .me.
Come, let me draw near the poor fellow, and take that. care
of him which he requires.”