The kitchen of Schloss Wentzel, like most German
kitchens, was a great sunny room, with a clean,
painted floor. Over the big windows hung dainty
muslin curtains, so fresh and white that never a
speck of dust seemed to touch them.
On one side of the room was a blue and white
porcelain stove, and over the stove were rows of
shelves on which were arranged all sizes and shapes
of copper pans and brass kettles which had been
polished until they shone like gold.
Up and down, on each side of the stove, were
bright brass hooks on which were hung big pitchers
and little pitchers, bigs mugs and little mugs ; and
between two sunny windows was a cupboard, with
glass doors and white shelves covered with blue
paper, on which were ranged the cooking dishes, —
plates, bowls and jars, all spotlessly clean.
In a distant corner of the room stood a frame like
a clothes-horse on which broad sheets of nudel were
spread to dry. This nudel is similar to the Italian
macaroni; but it is made with eggs and flour and
is rolled out in a thin sheet and then cut into tiny
pieces, instead of being made in long tubes.
Anna Schmidt, the cook, in her white apron and
cap, with her sleeves rolled up to show her round,



36 FRITZ IN GERMANY

red arms, was making this nudel for some soup
for dinner, and was so busy that Frieda had to make
her own cakes for the circle-sisters.
