andtheoldattendantnoddedandlookedverypleased,andthenhecarriedthetinsoldierintothehouse.

afterwardshewassentovertoaskthelittleboyifhewouldnotliketopayavisithimself.hisparentsgavehimpermission,andsoitwasthathegainedadmissiontotheoldhouse.

thebrassyknobsontherailingsshonemorebrightlythanever,asiftheyhadbeenpolishedonaccountofhisvisit;andonthedoorwerecarvedtrumpetersstandingintulips,anditseemedasiftheywereblowingwithalltheirmight,theircheeksweresopuffedout."tanta-ra-ra,thelittleboyiscoming;tanta-ra-ra,thelittleboyiscoming."

thenthedooropened.allroundthehallhungoldportraitsofknightsinarmor,andladiesinsilkgowns;andthearmorrattled,andthesilkdressesrustled.thencameastaircasewhichwentupalongway,andthencamedownalittlewayandledtoabalcony,whichwasinaveryruinousstate.therewerelargeholesandlongcracks,outofwhichgrewgrassandleaves,indeedthewholebalcony,thecourtyard,andthewallsweresoovergrownwithgreenthattheylookedlikeagarden.inthebalconystoodflower-pots,onwhichwereheadshavingasses'ears,buttheflowersinthemgrewjustastheyonepotpinksweregrowingalloverthesides,atleastthegreenleaveswereshootingforthstalkandstem,andsayingasplainlyastheycouldspeak,"theairhasfannedme,thesunhaskissedme,andiampromisedalittleflowerfornextsunday-reallyfornextsunday."

thentheyenteredaroominwhichthewallswerecoveredwithleather,andtheleatherhadgoldenflowersstampeduponit.

"gildingwillfadeindampweather,

toendure,thereisnothinglikeleather,"saidthewalls.chairshandsomelycarved,withelbowsoneachside,andwithveryhighbacks,stoodintheroom,andastheycreakedtheyseemedtosay,"sitdown.ohdear,howiamcreaking.ishallcertainlyhavethegoutliketheoldcupboard.goutinmyback,ugh."

andthenthelittleboyenteredtheroomwheretheoldmansat.

"thankyouforthetinsoldiermylittlefriend,"saidtheoldman,"andthankyoualsoforcomingtoseeme."

"thanks,thanks,"or"creak,creak,"saidallthefurniture.

therewassomuchthatthepiecesoffurniturestoodineachother'swaytogetasightofthelittleboy.

onthewallnearthecentreoftheroomhungthepictureofabeautifullady,youngandgay,dressedinthefashionoftheoldentimes,withpowderedhair,andafull,stiffskirt.shesaidneither"thanks"nor"creak,"butshelookeddownuponthelittleboywithhermildeyes;andthenhesaidtotheoldman,

"wheredidyougetthatpicture?"