The Dwarf Woman 161

place in the world, and that his young
master was very foolish to be so fussy about
getting out of it. Joan, too, liked some
things. But poor Barthel was growing mis-
erable. He was afraid the dwarfs meant to
keep them. He hated the ceremony, and
the darkness, and the stuffiness, and the
honey-cakes; and, when he thought of the
home-people, his heart swelled, and tears
would force themselves into his eyes. He
tried with all his might to find a way out,
but the dwarfs were much too clever for
him, and, as you know,:the tiny entrance
was always guarded by a dozen policemen.
So he almost despaired.

There was only one person in the place
who was disposed to help the children, and
this, though they would never have guessed
it, was the master-tailor. You see, he had
been extremely annoyed because his advice
had been set aside for that of the dwarf
woman. He had always been considered
very wise, and had no doubt on the matter

himself; while as for women, he despised
L