beans. Well then? What if there is someone hidden inside? If there is, so much the worse for him. I'll settle him." And at that he seized the poor piece of wood with both hands and knocked it against the wall without mercy.
At last he stopped to see if any voice complained. He waited two minutes and heard nothing; five minutes, and there was nothing; ten minutes more, and still there was nothing, and then, forcing a laugh, and rubbing his wig, he said to himself: "I only imagined I heard that voice. I will go back to work." And because he was somewhat frightened, he tried to hum an air to give himself courage. Putting aside his axe he took up a plane to make the wood even and smooth, but as he worked he heard again the little voice, laughing this time, say: "Stop! You are tickling me."
Poor Master Cherry fell down as if he had been shot. When at last he opened his eyes, he found himself seated on the floor. His face expressed nothing but amazement, and the end of his rosy nose had become fairly blue from fear.
