Читать книгу The Nutcracker and the Mouse-King - E. T. A. Hoffmann - Страница 13

In the Stahlbaum’s living room, just as one entered the door on the left wall stood a high cupboard in which the children kept all the pretty things which were given to them each year. Their father had this cupboard made by a very skillful cabinetmaker, who had used such clear glass and had arranged everything in it so cleverly, that all the gifts looked brighter and lovelier in it than when one held them in one’s hands.

On the upper shelf, inaccessible to Marie and Fritz, stood Godfather Drosselmeier’s mechanical toys and the shelf just below it contained their picture books. The two lower shelves Fritz and Marie used for whatever they wanted. It usually happened, however, that Marie used the lower space as a home for her dolls, while Fritz used the shelf above it as barracks for his soldiers.

That was what had happened today also for while Fritz was setting up his hussars above, Marie had taken out Mamsell Trudchen, and had moved the new, beautifully dressed doll into the well furnished rooms and had invited herself to tea and cakes. The room was certainly well furnished, and any other child would have been happy to possess such a little flowered sofa, such charming little chairs, such a dear tea table, and above all, such a bright brass bed in which the most beautiful dolls could rest. All of this stood in the corner of the cupboard, the walls of which were papered with gay colored pictures. In this room, the new doll, whose name was Mamsell Clärchen, could feel much at home.

It was almost midnight and Godfather Drosselmeier had been gone for a long time, and still Fritz and Marie could not come away from the cupboard, although their mother was urging them to go to bed. “It is true,” called Fritz, “the poor hussars also want to rest, for while I am here not one even dares to nod, I am certain of that.”

With that he departed, but Marie was begging, “Just a little while longer; let me stay here, Mother, as I have several things to attend to; and when they are done, I will go to bed at once.”

As Marie was a sensible and obedient child her mother could leave her with the playthings without worrying about her. To guard against her being so engrossed in the new doll that she might forget the lights, her mother extinguished all those around the cupboard, and left burning only the lamp that was suspended from the ceiling in the middle of the room which gave a soft mellow light.

“Go to bed soon, dear, or you will not be able to get up in time tomorrow morning,” called her mother, as she went into her bedroom.

As soon as Marie found she was alone, she began to do the things so dear to her heart. She still had the injured Nutcracker in her arm, wrapped in her handkerchief, and now she laid him carefully on the table, unwrapped him and looked after his wounds. Nutcracker was very pale, and smiled so sadly that Marie became sad herself.