“I don’t know what to say, my dear Feldar,” said the Count, “and I can never repay you––”
The giant was just about to exclaim that the Count need not say anything, and that he did not wish to be repaid, when, seeing he felt embarrassed, the fairy broke in:
“Oh, yes, dear Count, you can repay him. You can adopt him. You have no children, you are getting old, and are living alone. He has no parents,–even his grandfather’s uncle is now dead,–and he lives all by himself in his castle on the Shattered Crag. He is rich, and you can show him how to do good with his great wealth. He could come and live in the old wing of the castle, where the rooms are so large; the furniture he has inherited could be sent here, and you could all be so happy together! Will you take him?”
The Count’s eyes filled with tears.
“Would you like us to adopt you?” he said to Feldar.
COUNT CORMO ADOPTS THE YOUNG GIANT
“Indeed I should,” was the reply. Then the young giant kneeled on the floor; and the Count got up on a table, and put his hands on the young giant’s head, and adopted him.
“Now you ought to adopt her,” said Feldar, after he had kissed the Count and the Countess, and had sat down again by the fire.
“No,” said Tillette, “I can not be adopted. But I will often come to see you, and we shall be happy together, and the children will have a splendid Christmas festival every year.”