t
it wrong not to help such a weakly old creature; so, still crying, he
gathered the cabbages into a basket and followed the old woman across
the Market Place.

It took her more than half an hour to get to a distant part of the
little town, but at last she stopped in front of a small tumble-down
house. She drew a rusty old hook from her pocket and stuck it into a
little hole in the door, which suddenly flew open. How surprised Jem
was when they went in! The house was splendidly furnished, the walls and
ceiling of marble, the furniture of ebony inlaid with gold and precious
stones, the floor of such smooth slippery glass that the little fellow
tumbled down more than once.

The old woman took out a silver whistle and blew it till the sound rang
through the house. Immediately a lot of guinea pigs came running down
the stairs, but Jem thought it rather odd that they all walked on their
hind legs, wore nutshells for shoes, and men's clothes, whilst even
their hats were put on in the newest fashion.

'Where are my slippers, lazy crew?' cried the old woman, and hit about
with her stick. 'How long am I to stand waiting here?'

They rushed upstairs again and returned with a pair of cocoa nuts lined
with leather, which she put on her feet. Now all limping and shuffling
was at an end. She threw away her stick and walked briskly across the
glass floor, drawing little Jem after her. At last she paused in a room
which looked almost like a kitchen, it was so full of pots and pans, but
the tables were of mahogany and the sofas and chairs covered with the
richest stuffs.

'Sit down,' said the old woman pleasantly, and she pushed Jem into
a corner of a sofa and put a table close in front of him. 'Sit down,
you've had a long walk and a heavy load to carry, and I must give you
something for your trouble. Wait a bit, and I'll give you some nice
soup, which you'll remember as long as you live.'

So saying, she whistled again. First came in guinea pigs in men's
clothing. They had tied on large kitchen aprons, and in their belts were
stuck carving knives and sauce ladles and such things. After them hopped
in a number of squirrels. They too walked on their hind legs, wore full
Turkish trousers, and little green velvet caps on their heads. They
seemed to be the scullions, for they clambered up the walls and brought
down pots and pans, eggs, flour, butter, and herbs, which they carried
to the stove. Here the old woman was bustling about, a