were a lovely china man, what stood on the chimbley-piece. And he stood, and he stood. And one day he tumbleded off, and he didn't hurt his self one bit. Only he would try again. And the next time he tumbleded off, he hurted his self welly much, and breaked off ever so much varnish."
"But how did he come back on the chimney-piece after his first tumble?" said the Empress. (It was the first sensible question she had asked in all her life.
"I put him there!" cried Bruno.
"Then I'm afraid you know something about his tumbling," said the Professor. "Perhaps you pushed him?"
To which Bruno replied, very seriously, "Didn't pushed him muchhe were a lovely china man," he added hastily, evidently very anxious to change the subject.
"Come, my children!" said the Elfin-King, who had just entered the room. "We must have a little chat together, before you go to bed." And he was leading them away, but at the door they let go his hands, and ran back again to wish the Professor good night.
