` Yes , seven years : we had him cried -- we went from house to house . Many knew the pretty boy , and were fond of him , but it was all in vain . No one seemed to know the old woman who bought the vegetables either ; only one old woman , who is ninety years old , said it might have been the fairy Herbaline , who came into the town once in every fifty years to buy things . ' As his father spoke , things grew clearer to Jem 's mind , and he saw now that he had not been dreaming , but had really served the old woman seven years in the shape of a squirrel . As he thought it over rage filled his heart . Seven years of his youth had been stolen from him , and what had he got in return ? To learn to rub up cocoa nuts , and to polish glass floors , and to be taught cooking by guinea pigs ! He stood there thinking , till at last his father asked him : ` Is there anything I can do for you , young gentleman ? Shall I make you a pair of slippers , or perhaps ' with a smile -- ' a case for your nose ? ' ` What have you to do with my nose ? ' asked Jem . ` And why should I want a case for it ? ' ` Well , everyone to his taste , ' replied the cobbler ; ` but I must say if I had such a nose I would have a nice red leather cover made for it . Here is a nice piece ; and think what a protection it would be to you . As it is , you must be constantly knocking up against things . ' The lad was dumb with fright . He felt his nose . It was thick , and quite two hands long . So , then , the old woman had changed his shape , and that was why his own mother did not know him , and called him a horrid dwarf ! ` Master , ' said he , ` have you got a glass that I could see myself in ? '
` Young gentleman , ' was the answer , ` your appearance is hardly one to be vain of , and there is no need to waste your time looking XXXXX a glass .
As against for from in into of over that with