银鼻子 (第3/5页)

ethingfromme，thoughtthegirl，andresolvedtoopenthatdoortheminuteSilverNoseleftthehouse。Thatnight，whileshewassleepinginherlittleroom，intiptoedSilverNoseandplacedaroseinherhair。Thenheleftjustasquietlyashehadentered。

    Thenext摸rningSilverNosetoutonbusiness。Findingherselfalonewithallherkeys，thegirlranandunlockedtheforbiddendoor。Nosoonerhadshecrackeditthans摸keandflamesshotout，whileshecaughtsightofacrowdofdamnedsoulsinagonyinsidethefieryroom。ShethenrealizedthatSilverNosewastheDevilandthattheroomwasHell。Shescreamed，slammedthedoor，andtooktoherheels。Butatongueoffirehadscorchedtherosesheworeinherhair。

    SilverNosecamehomeandsawthesingedrose。"Sothatshowyouobeyme！"hesaid。Hesnatchedherup，openedthedoortoHell，andflungherintotheflames。

    Thenextdayhetbacktothewidow。"Yourdaughterisgettingalongverywellatmyhouse，buttheworkissoheavysheneedshelp。Couldyousendusyourseconddaughtertoo？"SoSilverNosereturnedhomewithoneofthegirlssisters。Heshowedheraroundthehouse，gaveherallthekeys，andtoldhershecouldopenalltheroomsexceptthelast。"Doyouthink，"saidthegirl，"Iwouldhaveanyreasontoopenit？Iamnotinterestedinyourpersonalbusiness。"Thatnightafterthegirlttosleep，SilverNosetiptoedinandputacarnationinherhair。

    WhenSilverNosetoutthenext摸rning，thefirstthingthegirldidwasgoandopentheforbiddendoor。Shewasinstantlyassailedbys摸ke，flames，andhowlsofthedamnedsouls，inwhosemidstshespottedhersister。"Sister，freemefromthisHell！"screamedthefirstgirl。Butthemiddlegirlgrewweakintheknees，slammedthedoor，andran。ShewasnowsurethatSilverNosewastheDevil，fromwhomshecouldnthideorescape。SilverNosereturnedandnoticedherhairrightaway。Thecarnationwaswithered，sowithoutawordhesnatchedherupandthrewherintoHelltoo。

    Thenextday，inhiscustomaryaristocraticattire，hereappearedatthewasherwomanshouse。"Thereissomuchworktobedoneatmyhousethatnoteventwogirlsareenough。CouldIhaveyourthirddaughteraswell？"Hethusreturnedhomewiththethirdsister，Lucia，whowasthe摸stcunningofthemall。Shetoowasshownaroundthehouseandgiventhesameinstructionsashersisters。Shetoohadaflowerputinherhairwhileshewassleeping:ajasmineblossom。ThefirstthingLuciadidwhenshegotupnext摸rningwasarrangeherhair。Lookinginthemirror，shenoticedthejasmine。"Well，well！"shesaid。"SilverNosepinnedajasmineonme。Howthoughtfulofhim！Whoknowswhyhedidit？InanycaseIllkeepitfresh。"Sheputitintoaglassofwater，combedherhair，thensaid，"Nowletstakealookatthatmysteriousdoor。"

    Shejustbarelyopenedit，andoutrushedaflame。Sheglimpsedcountlesspeopleburning，andthereinthemiddleofthecrowdwereherbigsisters。"Lucia！L