THE HISTORY OF A NUT-CRACKER. 41

instead of the income of six hundred pounds a year and
the telescope of honour which he had promised the first,
—instead, also, of the sword set with diamonds, the Order
of the Golden Spider, and the drab frock-coat, which he
ought to have given to the latter,—he banished them both
from his kingdom, granting them only twenty-four hours to
cross the frontiers.

Obedience was necessary. The mechanician, the astro-
loger, and young Drosselmayer (now become a nut-cracker),
left the capital and quitted
the country. But when
night came, the two learned
men consulted the stars
once more, and read in them
that, all deformed though he
were, Nathaniel would not
the less become a prince
and king, unless indeed he

W, %, "8 chose to remain a private

mf. = 7\ | individual, which was left

; =" to hisown choice. This was

to happen when his deformity should disappear ; and that

deformity would disappear when he should have commanded

an army in battle,—when he should have killed the seven-

headed king of the mice, who was born after Dame

Mousey’s seven first sons had been put to death,—and,
lastly, when a beautiful lady should fall in love with him.

But while awaiting these brilliant destinies, Nathaniel
Drosselmayer, who had left the paternal shop as the only son
and heir, now returned to it in the form of a nut-cracker !

I need scarcely tell you that his.father did not recognise
him; and that, when Christopher Zacharias inquired of the
mechanician and his friend the astrologer, what had become
of his dearly-beloved son, those two illustrious persons
replied, with the seriousness of learned men, that the king
and the queen would not allow the saviour of the princess