“I can't bear to see any more,”she said.“I must get out of this drawer at once.”But when they got back to the floor and looked up at the table,they saw the old Chinaman was wide awake now.Not only his head,but his whole body rocked forward.The lower part of his body was one solid piece,you see.
“The old Chainman's coming!”cried the little Shepherdess,who was so upset that she fell down on her porcelain knees.
“I have an idea,”said the chimney-sweeper.“We'll hide in the pot-pourri vase in the corner.There we can rest upon rose petals and lavender,and when he finds us we can throw salt in his eyes.”
“It's no use,”she said.“Besides,I know the pot-pourri vase was once the old Chainman's sweetheart,and where there used to be love a little affection is sure to remain.No,there's nothing for us to do but to run away into the big wide world.”
“Are you really so brave that you'd go into the wide world with me?”asked the chimney-sweep.“Have you thought about how big it is,and that we can never come back here?”
“I have,”she said.
The chimney-sweep looked her straight in the face and said,“My way lies up through the chimney.Are you really so brave that you'll come with me into the stove,and crawl through the stovepipe?It will take us to the chimney.Once we get there,I'll know what to do.We shall climb so high that they'll never catch us,and at the very top there's an opening into the big wide world.”
He led her to the stove door.
“It looks very black in there,”she said.But she let him lead her through the stove and through the stovepipe,where it was pitch-black night.
“Now we've come to the chimney,”he said.“And see!See how the bright star shines over our heads.”
A real star,high up in the heavens,shone down as if it wished to show them the way.They clambered and scuffled,for it was hard climbing and terribly steep-way,way up high!But he lifted her up,held her safe,and found the best places for her little porcelain feet.At last they reached the top of the chimney,where they sat down.For they were so tired,and no wonder!