I call it your cake and your apple, but of course now you're my
housewife everything belongs to me;
But I shall give you the management of it, and you must make it go as
far as you can amongst three.
And if you make nice feasts every day for me and Nickel, and never
keep us waiting for our food,
And always do everything I want, and attend to everything I say, I'm
sure I shall almost always be good.
And if I am naughty now and then, it'll most likely be your fault;
and, if it isn't, you mustn't mind;
For even if I seem to be cross, you ought to know that I mean to be
kind.
And I'm sure you'll like combing Nickel's hair for my sake; it'll be
something for you to do, and it bothers me so!
But it must be done regularly, for if it's not, his curls tangle into
lugs as they grow.
I think that's all, dear Grethel, for I love you so much that I'm sure
to be easy to please.
Only remember--it's a trifle--but when I want you, never keep that
headless doll on your knees.
I'd much rather not have her in my house--there, don't cry! if you
will have her, I suppose it must be;
Though I can't think what you want with Katerina when you've got
Nickel and me."
So I said, "Thank you, dear Fritz, for letting me bring her, for I've
had her so long I shouldn't like to part with her now;
And I'll try and do everything you want as well as I can, now you've
told me how."
But next morning I heard Fritz's garret-window open, and he put out
his head,