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13 
on:account of her grace and exquisite beauty (al- 
though a dwarf), was universally admired and 
petted; so she possessed much influence; and 
never failed to use it, whenever she could, for the 
benefit of Hop-Frog. 
On some grand state occasion—I forget what— 
the king determined to have a masquerade; and 
whenever a masquerade, or any thing of that kind, 
occurred at our court, then the talents both of Hop- 
Frog and Trippetta were sure to be’ called into 
play. | 
Hop-Frog, in especial, was so inventive in the 
way of getting up pageants, Suggesting novel 
characters, and arranging costume, .for masked 
balls, that nothing could be done, it seems, with- 
out his assistance. - 
The night appointed for the £é te had arrived. 
A gorgeous hall had been fitted up, under Trippet- 
ta’s eye, with every kind of device which could 
possibly give éclat to a masquerade. The whole 
court was in a fever of expectation. 
As for costumes and characters, it might well be 
supposed that everybody had. come to a decision 
on such points. Many had made up: their minds 
(as to what roles they should assume) a week, 
or even a month, in advance; and, in fact, there 
was not a particle of indecision anywhere—except 
in the case of the king and his seven ministers. 
Why they hesitated I never could tell, unless 
they did it by way of, a joke. More probably, they 
found it difficult, on account of being so fat, to 
make up their minds. At all events, time flew; and, 
as a last resort, they sent for Trippetta and 
Hop-Frog. | a. 
Aber 
heit 
und 
SAUD 
zugu 
Be 
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fest 
etwa 
beide 
Spiel 
Hop; 
Aust 
woh 
Kost 
konr. 
De 
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eing 
weis 
Hof 
Was 
man 
schlı 
ihre 
getr 
und 
ents 
nnd 
Wai 
sie 1 
liche 
eine 
Zeit 
pett