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never find。 Why had your mother not got it in her basket？'
The child could not think what she was talking about； but he
quite understood the soup； which tasted most delicious。 His
mother had often given him nice things； but nothing had ever
seemed so good as this。 The smell of the herbs and spices rose
from the bowl； and the soup tasted both sweet and sharp at the
same time； and was very strong。 As he was finishing it the
guinea pigs lit some Arabian incense； which gradually filled the
room with clouds of blue vapour。 They grew thicker and thicker
and the scent nearly overpowered the boy。 He reminded himself
that he must get back to his mother； but whenever he tried to
rouse himself to go he sank back again drowsily； and at last he
fell sound asleep in the corner of the sofa。
Strange dreams came to him。 He thought the old woman took off
all his clothes and wrapped him up in a squirrel skin； and that
he went about with the other squirrels and guinea pigs； who were
all very pleasant and well mannered； and waited on the old woman。
First he learned to clean her cocoa…nut shoes with oil and to rub
them up。 Then he learnt to catch the little sun moths and rub
them through the finest sieves； and the flour from them he made
into soft bread for the toothless old woman。
In this way he passed from one kind of service to another；
spending a year in each； till in the fourth year he was promoted
to the kitchen。 Here he worked his way up from under…scullion to
head…pastrycook； and reached the greatest perfection。 He could
make all the most difficult dishes； and two hundred different
kinds of patties； soup flavoured with every sort of herbhe had
learnt it all； and learnt it well and quickly。
When he had lived seven years with the old woman she ordered him
one day； as she was going out； to kill and pluck a chicken； stuff
it with herbs； and have it very nicely roasted by the time she
got back。 He did this quite according to rule。 He wrung the
chicken's neck； plunged it into boiling water； carefully plucked
out all the feathers； and rubbed the skin nice and smooth。 Then
he went to fetch the herbs to stuff it with。 In the store…room
he noticed a half…opened cupboard which he did not remember
having seen before。 He peeped in and saw a lot of baskets from
which came a strong and pleasant smell。 He opened one and found
a very uncommon herb in it。 The stems and leaves were a bluish
green； and above them was a little flower of a deep bright red；
edged with yellow。 He gazed at the flower； smelt it； and found
it gave the same strong strange perfume which came from the soup
the old woman had made him。 But the smell was so sharp that he
began to sneeze again and again； and at lasthe woke up！
There he lay on the old woman's sofa and stared about him in
surprise。 'Well； what odd dreams one does have to be sure！' he
said to himself。 'Why； I could have sworn I had been a squirrel；
a companion of guinea pigs and such creatures； and had become a
great cook； too。 How mother will laugh when I tell her！ But
won't she scold me； though； for sleeping away here in a strange
house； instead of helping her at market！'
He jumped up and prepared to go： all his limbs still seemed
quite stiff with his long sleep； especially his neck； for he
could not move his head easily； and he laughed at his own
stupidity at being still so drowsy that he kept knocking his nose
against the wall or cupboards。 The squirrels and guinea pigs ran
whimpering after him； as though they would like to go too； and he
begged them to come when he reached the door； but they all turned
and ran quickly back into the house again。
The part of the town was out of the way； and Jem did not know the
many narrow streets in it and was puzzled by their windings and
by the crowd of people； who seemed excited about some show。 From
what he heard； he fancied they were going to see a dwarf； for he
heard them call out： 'Just look at the ugly dwarf！' 'What a long
nose he has； and see how his head is stuck in between his
shoulders； and only look at his ugly brown hands！' If he had not
been in such a hurry to get back to his mother； he would have
gone too； for he loved shows with giants and dwarfs and the like。
He was quite puzzled when he reached the market…place。 There
sat his mother； with a good deal of fruit still in her baskets；
so he felt he could not have slept so very long； but it struck
him that she was sad； for she did not call to the passers…by； but
sat with her head resting on her hand； and as he came nearer he
thought she looked paler than usual。
He hesitated what to do； but at last he slipped behind her； laid
a hand on her arm； and said： 'Mammy； what's the matter？ Are
you angry with me？'
She turned round quickly and jumped up with a cry of horror。
'What do you want； you hideous dwarf？' she cried； 'get away； I
can't bear such tricks。'
'But； mother dear； what's the matter with you？' repeated Jem；
quite frightened。 'You can't be well。 Why do you want to drive
your son away？'
'I have said already； get away；' replied Hannah； quite angrily。
'You won't get anything out of me by your games； you
monstrosity。'
'Oh dear； oh dear！ she must be wandering in her mind；' murmured
the lad to himself。 'How can I manage to get her home？ Dearest
mother； do look at me close。 Can't you see I am your own son
Jem？'
'Well； did you ever hear such impudence？' asked Hannah； turning
to a neighbour。 'Just see that frightful dwarfwould you
believe that he wants me to think he is my son Jem？'
Then all the market women came round and talked all together and
scolded as hard as they could； and said what a shame it was to
make game of Mrs。 Hannah； who had never got over the loss of her
beautiful boy； who had been stolen from her seven years ago； and
they threatened to fall upon Jem and scratch him well if he did
not go away at once。
Poor Jem did not know what to make of it all。 He was sure he had
gone to market with his mother only that morning； had helped to
set out the stall； had gone to the old woman's house； where he
had some soup and a little nap； and now； when he came back； they
were all talking of seven years。 And they called him a horrid
dwarf！ Why； what had happened to him？ When he found that his
mother would really have nothing to do with him he turned away
with tears in his eyes； and went sadly down the street towards
his father's stall。
'Now I'll see whether he will know me；' thought he。 'I'll stand
by the door and talk to him。'
When he got to the stall he stood in the doorway and looked in。
The cobbler was so busy at work that he did not see him for some
time； but； happening to look up； he caught sight of his visitor；
and letting shoes； thread； and everything fall to the ground； he
cried with horror： 'Good heavens！ what is that？'
'Good evening； master；' said the boy； as he stepped in。 'How do
you do？'
'Very ill； little sir； replied the father； to Jem's surprise； for
he did not seem to know him。 'Business does not go well。 I am
all alone； and am getting old； and a workman is costly。'
'But haven't you a son who could learn yo