terbock's daughter, would be killed in the kitchen of a
duke."

"Pray be easy, dear Miss Mimi," said the dwarf, comforting her, "for as
sure as I am an honest fellow, and sub-master cook to his highness, no
one shall touch your throat. I will give you a stall in my own
apartments, you shall have enough food, and I will devote my leisure
time to converse with you. I'll tell the others in the kitchen that I
am fattening a goose with various herbs for the duke, and at the first
opportunity you shall be set at liberty."

The goose thanked him, with tears in her eyes, and the dwarf, as he had
promised, killed the other two geese, but built a stall for Mimi, under
the pretence of preserving her for some special occasion. Instead of
feeding her on grain he gave her pastry and sweetmeats. As often as he
had time he went to converse with her and comfort her. They related
their histories to each other, and Nose learnt that she was the
daughter of the enchanter, Wetterbock, who lived in the island of
Gothland. Being involved in a quarrel with an old fairy, her father
had been conquered by stratagems and cunning, and out of revenge the
fairy had changed her into a goose, and brought her to the town.

When the dwarf told his history, she said, "I am not inexperienced in
these matters, my father having given me and my sisters what
instruction he was allowed to impart. The story of the dispute at your
mother's fruit stall, your sudden metamorphosis, when you smelled the
herb, as well as the words the old woman used, show me that you are
enchanted through herbs; that is to say, if you can find out the herb
of which the fairy thought when she bewitched you, you may be
disenchanted." This was but poor consolation for the dwarf, for how
should he find the herb? Yet he thanked her and felt some hope.

About this time the duke had a visit from a neighbouring prince, his
friend. He, therefore, ordered the dwarf to appear, and said, "Now is
the time for you to show whether you serve me faithfully and are master
of your art. The prince, who is now visiting me, keeps, as is well
known, the best table after me. He is a great connoisseur in good
living, and a wise man. Let it now be your care to supply my table
every day so that his astonishment shall daily become greater. But you
must not, under pain of my displeasure, repeat the same dish during his
visits. You may ask of my treasurer all you want, and should it be
needful to