oodstilluhearchwheretheechowouldhelphisvoidcalledoutasloudashecould.

    "Ho!Puestswhoseeklodging.”

    Andwhilehewaswaitingforsomethingtohappeookoffhishatandknockedofftheheavymassofsnowwhichhadgatheredonitswidebrim.

    "Isay,"whisperedScrubbtoJill."Hemaybeawetbla,buthehasplentyofpludcheek.”

    Adooropened,lettingoutadeliciousglowht,aerappeared.Jillbitherlipsforfearsheshouldscream.Hewasnotaperfectlyenormousgiant;thatistosay,hewasrathertallerthananappletreebutnothinglikesotallasatelegraphpole.Hehadbristlyredhair,aleatherjerkinwithmetalplatesfastenedalloveritsoastomakeakindofmailshirt,bareknees(veryhairyindeed)andthingslikeputteesonhislegs.HestoopeddownandgoggledatPuddleglum.

    "Andwhatsortofcreaturedoyoucallyourself,"hesaid.

    Jilltookherceinbothhands."Please,"shesaid,shoutingupatthegiant."TheLadyoftheGreenKirtlesalutestheKingoftheGentleGiants,andhassentustwoSouthernchildrenandthisMarsh-wiggle(hisnamesPuddleglum)toyourAutum.

    -Ifitsquiteve,ofcourse,"sheadded.

    "Oho!"saidthePorter."Thatsquiteadifferentstory.ein,littlepeople,ein.

    YoudbesteintothelodgewhileImsendingwordtohisMajesty."Helookedatthechildrenwithcuriosity."Bluefaces,"hesaid."Ididntknowthey.werethatcolour.Dontcareaboutitmyself.ButIdaresayyoulookquiteooher.Beetlesfancyotherbeetles,theydosay.”

    "Ourfacesareonlybluewithcold,"saidJill."Werenotthiscolourreally.”

    "Th