138 Fairy Tales

work. Perhaps he knew that his wife would
tell him afterwards. But the dwarf woman
was much disappointed. “It is only his
jealousy,” she said. ‘“ Now listen.”

And she went on to inform them in a
good many words about the two children
sitting on a wall, and how beautiful they
were, and how cleverly she had managed to
please them, and how very much they liked
honey-cakes, and how she was sure she
could entice them away from the house, so
that the others might seize them and bring
them to the mountain.

The dwarfs listened breathlessly.

“Oh, that is splendid!” cried one, giving
a deep sigh.

“Tt is certain that now we cannot fail to
be respected,” said another.

“Where are the crowns? Dear, dear, dear,
has nobody seen about the crowns for the
monarchs?” cried a very fussy little fellow,
dancing about in his excitement.

A few—a very few—only said ‘ Umph!”
and thought they would hear what the