and, to the surprise of both children, a big opening was made, large enough for them to step through. “Perhaps we may find out where the smoke came from,” said Lisbeth, suddenly remembering the smoke they had seen the night before. Eating as they went, both of them stepped inside the rock and walked into a big room where, by the table, sat an old man asleep. His glasses had tumbled off his nose and the pipe he had been smoking was on the floor beside him, where it had tumbled. His[Pg 95] lamp had gone out and his paper had slipped from his hand. [Pg 95] Lisbeth and Hans looked at him and then at the gingerbread they held. “It is his house,” said Hans. “And we are eating it up! What shall we do?” asked Lisbeth, looking very much frightened. “Better wake him up and tell him,” said Hans, “and perhaps he will let us bake some more and mend the place we have broken.” “I’ll pick up his paper and pipe and brush up the ashes,” said tidy little Lisbeth, “and you light his lamp, and perhaps he will forgive us when we tell him we did not know it was his house we were eating.” But instead of being cross when he awoke, the old man smiled at them and asked, “Did you eat all you wanted of the gingerbread?” Hans told him they were very sorry and that they did not know any one lived inside when they ate the gingerbread. “We will bake you some more and patch the place we made,” said Lisbeth. “Right through that door you will find the kitchen,” said the old man. “Run along, if you like, and bake it.” [Pg 96] [Pg 96] And such a kitchen as Hans and Lisbeth found, for Hans went along, you may be sure, to fix the fire for his sister! The shelves and cupboards were filled with flour and butter and eggs and milk and cream and meat and pies, cookies, puddings, but no gingerbread. “We will get breakfast first for the man,” said Lisbeth, “for I am sure he must be hungry and it is growing light. Look out the window.”
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