cradle that
Mimi, daughter of the great Wetterbock, would meet her death in the
kitchen of a duke!"

"Do not be uneasy, dear Miss Mimi," said the dwarf cheerfully. "On my
word of honor, and as sure as I am the assistant master of the kitchen
of His Grace, no one shall harm you. I will fix you up a coop in my own
room, where you shall have plenty of food, and I will devote all my
leisure time to your entertainment. The other kitchen servants shall be
told that I am fattening a goose with different kinds of vegetables,
for the duke; and whenever an opportunity offers, I will set you at
liberty."

The goose thanked him with tears, and the dwarf did as he had promised.
Nor did he furnish her with common goose food, but with pastry and
sweetmeats, and whenever he was at liberty he paid her visits of
condolence. They told one another their histories, and in this way
Nosey learned that she was a daughter of the magician Wetterbock, who
lived on the island of Gothland, and who had begun a quarrel with an
old witch, who in turn had vanquished him by a clever stratagem, and
had then revenged herself upon him by transforming his daughter into a
goose, and bringing her thus far from home. When the dwarf had told her
his story, she said:

"I am not inexperienced in these matters. My father gave my sisters and
myself instructions in the art, as far as he thought best; your account
of the quarrel you had with the old woman over the market baskets, your
sudden transformation while inhaling the steam of that vegetable soup,
taken in connection with some expressions of the old woman that you
told me of, prove conclusively to me that you are bewitched by herbs;
that is to say, if you can find the plant that the old woman used in
your transformation, you can be restored to your former shape."

This announcement was not very consoling to the dwarf, for where was he
to find the plant? Still, he thanked the goose, and strove to be
hopeful.

About this time the duke received a visit from a neighboring prince who
was on friendly terms with him. He sent for the dwarf, and said to him:
"Now is the time when you will have to prove your devotion to me, and
your mastery of the art of cooking. The prince who visits me is
accustomed to the very best, as you know, and is an excellent judge of
fine cooking as well as a wise man. See to it, therefore, that my table
is provided daily with such dishes as will cause his wonder to increase
from day t