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94 the Mouse-King watches for him at every hole and corner. I cannot, thou—thou alone canst rescue him; be firm and true." Neither Maria nor any one else knew what Drosselmeier meant by these words; and they appeared so singular to Doctor Stahlbaum, that he felt the Counsellor's pulse, and said: "Worthy friend, you have some violent congestion about the head; I will prescribe something for you." But the mother shook her head thoughtfully, and spoke: "I feel what it is that the Counsellor means, but I cannot express it in words."  

long after, Maria was awaked one moonlight night by a strange rattling, that seemed to come out of a corner of the chamber. It sounded as if little stones were thrown and rolled about; and every now and then there was a 