Now the toys began to
play at "visiting," and at "war," and "giving balls." The tin soldiers
rattled in their box, for they wanted to join, but could not lift the
lid. The nutcracker threw somersaults, and the pencil amused itself on
the table: there was so much noise that the canary woke up, and began
to speak too, and even in verse. The only two who did not stir from
their places were the Tin Soldier and the Dancing Lady: she stood
straight up on the point of one of her toes, and stretched out both
her arms; and he was just as enduring on his one leg; and he never
turned his eyes away from her.
Now the clock struck twelve--and, bounce! the lid flew off the
snuff-box; but there was no snuff in it, but a little black Goblin:
you see, it was a trick.
"Tin Soldier!" said the Goblin, "don't stare at things that don't
concern you."
But the Tin Soldier pretended not to hear him.
"Just you wait till to-morrow!" said the Goblin.
But when the morning came, and the children got up, the Tin Soldier
was placed in the window; and whether it was the Goblin or the draught
that did it, all at once the window flew open, and the Soldier fell
head over heels out of the third story.
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