“Shut the door!” shrieked a shrill voice, with startling abruptness; and, for the first time, Kate perceived a very little old man seated in a very large chair, and smoking a very long pipe. A great beard reached below his dangling feet and touched the floor.
“a very little old man
seated in a very large chair.”
“May I warm myself at your fire, kind gentleman?” said Kate, dropping a courtesy. The little old man grunted without looking at her.
“May I warm myself at your fire, sir?” repeated Kate, in a louder voice, supposing he must be deaf.
“I heard you!” growled the old dwarf, with sudden rage. “You don’t suppose I’m deaf, do you? I said yes. You don’t want to argue, do you?”
Kate murmured her thanks, feeling much astonished and very uncomfortable at the old gentleman’s conduct. Thus they sat in silence for a long while, the little old man smoking like a volcano. At length:
“Are you hungry?” said he, abruptly.
“Yes, sir,” said Kate, bethinking herself of her bread.
“So am I!” said the old man, shortly, at the same time resuming his smoking. Removing his pipe after another pause, “I haven’t had anything to eat for one hundred years; I feel kind of empty,” said he.