sound of delicate laughter; and if she had
paid a little attention to what was going on, she would have been sure
to hear a little delicate voice saying, "Pull me, pull me! I am
ripe--ripe--ripe!" However, as we have said, she paid no attention, and
did not hear this.

CHAPTER II.

WHICH CONTAINS AN ACCOUNT OF THE FIRST WONDERFUL EVENT, AND OTHER
MATTERS DESERVING OF PERUSAL, WITHOUT WHICH THIS TALE COULD HAVE
HAD NO EXISTENCE.

Herr Dapsul Von Zabelthau generally came down from his astronomical
tower about noon, to partake of a frugal repast with his daughter,
which usually lasted a very short time, and during which there was
generally a great predominance of silence, for Dapsul did not like to
talk. And Aennchen did not trouble him by speaking much, and this all
the more for the reason that if her papa did actually begin to talk, he
would come out with all sorts of curious unintelligible nonsense, which
made a body's head giddy. This day, however, her head was so full, and
her mind so excited and taken up with the flourishing state of the
kitchen-garden, and the letter from her beloved Amandus, that she
talked of both subjects incessantly, mixed up, without leaving off.
At last Herr Dapsul von Zabelthau laid down his knife and fork,
stopped his ears with his hands, and cried out, "Oh, the dreary
higgledy-piggledy of chatter and gabble!"

Aennchen stopped, alarmed, and he went on to say, in the melancholy
sustained tones which were characteristic of him, "With regard to the
vegetables, my dear daughter, I have long been cognizant that the
manner in which the stars have worked together this season has been
eminently favourable to those growths, and the earthly man will be
amply supplied with cabbage, radishes, and lettuce, so that the earthly
matter may duly increase and withstand the fire of the world-spirit,
like a properly kneaded pot. The gnomic principle will resist the
attacks of the salamander, and I shall have the enjoyment of eating the
parsnips which you cook so well. With regard to young Amandus von
Nebelstern, I have not the slightest objection to your marrying him as
soon as he comes back from the university. Simply send Gottlieb up to
tell me when your marriage is going to take place, so that I may go
with you to the church."

Herr Dapsul kept silence for a few seconds, and then, without looking
at Aennchen, whose face was glowing with delight, he went on,