The child was just about to answer in her prompt, straightforward way; but she caught the earnest, scrutinizing look of the stranger, as his eye rested upon her, while he asked the question. She checked herself, and said: “Didn’t you say you had lost your way in this forest? Do you live far from here?”
An odd smile passed over the man’s face, as he answered: “Yes; very far. I have wandered among the depths of this forest till I’m perishing with cold, and starving with hunger. I want food and shelter. How far distant is the next village?”
“They told me it was some miles on,” said the child. “But I’ll tell you what I’ll do for you. Instead of taking you on with me there, I’ll turn back with you, to the good woman at whose hut I slept last night. She gave me a night’s lodging, and I dare say she’ll do as much for you. She has a kind heart.”
The same smile passed over his face, as the man replied: “If you present me to her as your friend,—an unfortunate fellow who has lost his way,—I have no doubt she will take me under her roof. And, truly, in this snow-storm, the sooner food and warmth may be had, the better. But in securing them for me, you are hindering your journey, little one. Shall you not grudge the delay?”
“It will be but a few hours. You need my help. If I turn out of my way to give it you, my journey afterward will prosper the better,” she said. “My father would approve of it.”
“Your father is a worthy man, then?”
“You seem to doubt it!” said the child, turning a flashing eye up toward the speaker.
“If he be so,—and his teaching his child charity and kindliness of conduct speaks in his favor,—how comes it that the emperor banished him?” returned the man.
“The emperor was made to believe unjustly of my father. Enemies misrepresented his actions. My father was too proud to vindicate himself to his sovereign, even had he had the opportunity of pleading his own cause.”
Again the man smiled, and then fell into a reverie, while his young conductress took him by the hand, and led him along the path by which she had come. After a time she looked up into his face, and, seeing its dreamy expression, said: “You are feeling sleepy, are you not? Beware of that!”