and now stated that he
seemed a wildish sort of brute; but, no matter, he felt sure he would
soon get him well in order; and he set to work to muster his new
squadron of hussars, admirably equipped, in red and gold uniforms, with
real silver swords, and mounted on such shining white horses that you
would have thought they were of pure silver too.

"When the children had sobered down a little, and were beginning upon
the beautiful picture books (which were open, so that you could see all
sorts of most beautiful flowers and people of every hue, to say nothing
of lovely children playing, all as naturally represented as if they
were really alive and could speak), there came another tinkling of a
bell, to announce the display of Godpapa Drosselmeier's Christmas
present, which was on another table, against the wall, concealed by a
curtain. When this curtain was drawn, what did the children behold?

"On a green lawn, bright with flowers, stood a lordly castle with a
great many shining windows and golden towers. A chime of bells was
going on inside it; doors and windows opened, and you saw very small,
but beautiful, ladies and gentlemen, with plumed hats, and long robes
down to their heels, walking up and down in the rooms of it. In the
central hall, which seemed all in a blaze, there were quantities of
little candles burning in silver chandeliers; children, in little short
doublets, were dancing to the chimes of the bells. A gentleman, in an
emerald green mantle, came to a window, made signs thereat, and then
disappeared inside again; also, even Godpapa Drosselmeier himself (but
scarcely taller than papa's thumb) came now and then, and stood at the
castle door, then went in again.

"Fritz had been looking on with the rest at the beautiful castle and
the people walking about and dancing in it, with his arms leant on the
table; then he said:

"'Godpapa Drosselmeier, let me go into your castle for a little.'

"Drosselmeier answered that this could not possibly be done. In which
he was right; for it was silly of Fritz to want to go into a castle
which was not so tall as himself, golden towers and all. And Fritz saw
that this was so.

"After a short time, as the ladies and gentlemen kept on walking about
just in the same fashion, the children dancing, and the emerald man
looking out at the same window, and God papa Drosselmeier coming to the
door Fritz cried impatiently:

"'Godpapa Drosselmeier, please come out at that othe