银鼻子
银鼻子 (第2/3页)
daughter,whowasdyingtoleavehome,paidnoattentiontohermotherandleftwiththeman.Theywalkedformilesandmiles,crossingwoodsandmountains,andfinallycameinsightofanintenseglowinthedistancelikethatofafire."WhatisthatIseewaydownthereinthevalley?"askedthegirl,growinguneasy.
"Myhouse.Thatsjustwherewearegoing,"repliedSilverNose.
Thegirlfollowedalong,butcouldntkeepfromtrembling.Theycametoalargepalace,andSilverNosetookherthroughitandshowedhereveryroom,eachonemorebeautifulthantheother,andhegaveherthekeytoeachone.Whentheyreachedthedoorofthelastroom,SilverNosegaveherthekeyandsaid,"Youmustneveropenthisdoorforanyreasonwhatever,oryoullwishyouhadnt!Youreinchargeofalltheroomsbutthisone."
Heshidingsomethingfromme,thoughtthegirl,andresolvedtoopenthatdoortheminuteSilverNoseleftthehouse.Thatnight,whileshewassleepinginherlittleroom,intiptoedSilverNoseandplacedaroseinherhair.Thenheleftjustasquietlyashehadentered.
ThenextmorningSilverNosewentoutonbusiness.Findingherselfalonewithallherkeys,thegirlranandunlockedtheforbiddendoor.Nosoonerhadshecrackeditthansmokeandflamesshotout,whileshecaughtsightofacrowdofdamnedsoulsinagonyinsidethefieryroom.ShethenrealizedthatSilverNosewastheDevilandthattheroomwasHell.Shescreamed,slammedthedoor,andtooktoherheels.Butatongueoffirehadscorchedtherosesheworeinherhair.
SilverNosecamehomeandsawthesingedrose."Sothatshowyouobeyme!"hesaid.Hesnatchedherup,openedthedoortoHell,andflungherintotheflames.
Thenextdayhewentbacktothewidow."Yourdaughterisgettingalongverywellatmyhouse,buttheworkissoheavysheneedshelp.Couldyousendusyourseconddaughtertoo?"SoSilverNosereturnedhomewithoneofthegirlssisters.Heshowedheraroundthehouse,gaveherallthekeys,andtoldhershecouldopenalltheroomsexceptthelast."Doyouthink,"saidthegirl,"Iwouldhaveanyreasontoopenit?Iamnotinterestedinyourpersonalbusiness."Thatnightafterthegirlwenttosleep,SilverNosetiptoedinandputacarnationinherhair.
WhenSilverNosewentoutthenextmorning,thefirstthingthegirldidwasgoandopentheforbiddendoor.Shewasinstantlyassailedbysmoke,flames,andhowlsofthedamnedsouls,inwhosemidstshespottedhersister."Sister,freemefromthisHell!"screamedthefirstgirl.Butthemiddlegirlgrewweakintheknees,slammedthedoor,andran.ShewasnowsurethatSilverNosewastheDevil,fromwhomshecouldnthideorescape.SilverNosereturnedandnoticedherhairrightaway.Thecarnationwaswithered,sowithoutawordhesnatchedherupandthrewherintoHelltoo.
Thenextday,inhiscustomaryaristocraticattire,hereappearedatthewasherwomanshouse."Thereissomuchworktobedoneatmyhousethatnoteventwogirlsareenough.CouldIhaveyourthirddaughteraswell?"Hethusreturnedhomewiththethirdsister,Lucia,whowasthemostcunningofthemall.Shetoowasshownaroundthehouseandgiventhesameinstructionsashersisters.Shetoohadaflowerputinherhairwhileshewassleeping:ajasmineblossom.ThefirstthingLuciadidwhenshegotupnextmorningwasarrangeherhair.Lookinginthemirror,shenoticedthejasmine."Well,well!"shesaid."SilverNosepinnedajasmineonme.Howthoughtfulofhim!Whoknowswhyhedidit?InanycaseIllkeepitfresh."Sheputitintoaglassofwater,combedherhair,thensaid,"Nowletstakealookatthatmysteriousdoor."
Shejustbarelyopenedit,andoutrushedaflame.Sheglimpsedcountlesspeopleburning,andthereinthemiddleofthecrowdwereherbigsisters."Lucia!Lucia!"theyscreamed."Getusoutofhere!Saveus!"
AtonceLuciashutthedoortightlyandbeganthinkinghowshemightrescuehersisters.
BythetimetheDevilgothome,Luciahadputherjasminebackinherhair,andactedasthoughnothinghadhappenedthatday.SilverNoselookedatthejasmine."Oh,itsstillfresh,"hesaid.
"Ofcourse,whyshouldntitbe?Whywouldanyonewearwitheredflowersinherhair?"
"Oh,Iwasjusttalkingtobetalking,"answeredSilverNose."Youseemlikeaclevergirl.Keepitup,andwellneverquarrel.Areyouhappy?"
"Yes,butIdbehappierifIdidnthavesomethingbotheringme."
"Whatsbotheringyou?"
"WhenIleftmymother,shewasntfeelingtoowell.NowIhavenonewsatallofher."
"Ifthatsallyoureworriedabout,"saidtheDevil,"Illdropbyherhouseandseehowshesdoing."
"Thankyou,thatisverykindofyou.Ifyoucangotomorrow,Illgetupabagoflaundryatoncewhichmymothercanwashifsheiswellenough.Thebagwontbetooheavyforyou,willit?"
"Ofcoursenot.Icancarryanythingunderthesun,noma
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