Scene II.

GRETEL

(_holds Hänsel back in astonishment_).

Stand still, be still!

HÄNSEL (_surprised_).

O Heaven, what wondrous place is this, as ne'er in all my life have I seen!

GRETEL

(_gradually regains her self-possession_).

What odor delicious! O say, do I dream?

BOTH.

A cottage all made of chocolate cream. The roof is all covered with Turkish delight the windows with lustre of sugar are white; and on all the gables the raisins invite, and think! all around is a gingerbread hedge! O magic castle, how nice you'd be to eat! Where hides the princess who has so great a treat? Ah, could she but visit our little cottage bare, she'd ask us to dinner, her dainties to share!

HÄNSEL (_after a while_).

No sound do I hear; no, nothing is stirring! Come, let's go inside it!

GRETEL

(_pulling him back horrified_).

Are you senseless? Hänsel, however can you make so bold? Who knows who may live there, in that lovely house?

HÄNSEL.

O look, do look how the house seems to smile! (_Enthusiastically._) Ah, the angels did our footsteps beguile!

GRETEL (_reflectively_).

The angels? Yes, it must be so!

HÄNSEL.

Yes, Gretel, the angels are beck'ning us in! Come, let's nibble a bit of the cottage.

BOTH.

Come, let's nibble it, like two mice persevering!

(_They hop along, hand in hand, towards the back of the stage; then stand still, and then steal along cautiously on tiptoe to the house. After some hesitation Hänsel breaks off a bit of cake from the right-hand corner._)