Who’s nibbling my house?’
The children answered:
The tempest wild,’
and went on eating, without putting themselves about. Hansel, who thoroughly appreciated the roof, tore down a big bit of it, while Grettel pushed out a whole round window-pane, and sat down the better to enjoy it. Suddenly the door opened, and an ancient dame leaning on a staff hobbled out.
Hansel and Grettel were so terrified that they let what they had in their hands fall. But the old woman shook her head and said: ‘Oh, ho! you dear children, who led you here? Just come in and stay with me, no ill shall befall you. She took them both by the hand and led them into the house, and laid a most sumptuous dinner before them—milk and sugared pancakes, with apples and nuts. After they had finished, two beautiful little
