But the little old person came close to Jules, and drawing up one foot, as if it was so cold that he could stand on it no longer, he said:
"Please, sir, my feet are almost frozen."
"Oh, ho!" thought Jules, "I know all about that. This is one of the fairy-folks who come in distress to a person, and if that person is kind to them, he is made rich and happy; but if he turns them away, he soon finds himself in all sorts of misery. I shall be very careful." And then he said aloud: "Well, sir, what can I do for you?"
JULES AND THE LITTLE MAN.
"That is a strange question," said the dwarf. "If you were to walk by the side of a deep stream, and were to see a man sinking in the water, would you stop and ask him what you could do for him?"
"Would you like my stockings?" said Jules, putting down his knife and sausage, and preparing to pull off one of his boots. "I will let you have them."
"No, no!" said the other. "They are miles too big for me."
"Will you have my cap or my scarf in which to wrap your feet and warm them?"
"No, no!" said the dwarf. "I don't put my feet in caps and scarfs."