第4部分(第5/7 页)

〃But　where　is　your　little　panion？〃　he　said：　〃the　boy　I　put　into　the

tree。〃　The　Giant　loved　him　the　best　because　he　had　kissed　him。

〃We　don't　know；〃　answered　the　children；　〃he　has　gone　away。〃

〃You　must　tell　him　to　be　sure　and　e　here　to…morrow；〃　said　the

Giant。　But　the　children　said　that　they　did　not　know　where　he　lived；　and

had　never　seen　him　before；　and　the　Giant　felt　very　sad。

Every　afternoon；　when　school　was　over；　the　children　came　and　played

with　the　Giant。　But　the　little　boy　whom　the　Giant　loved　was　never　seen

again。　The　Giant　was　very　kind　to　all　the　children；　yet　he　longed　for　his

first　little　friend；　and　often　spoke　of　him。　〃How　I　would　like　to　see　him！〃

he　used　to　say。

Years　went　over；　and　the　Giant　grew　very　old　and　feeble。　He　could

not　play　about　any　more；　so　he　sat　in　a　huge　armchair；　and　watched　the

children　at　their　games；　and　admired　his　garden。　〃I　have　many　beautiful

flowers；〃　he　said；　〃but　the　children　are　the　most　beautiful　flowers　of　all。〃

One　winter　morning　he　looked　out　of　his　window　as　he　was　dressing。

He　did　not　hate　the　Winter　now；　for　he　knew　that　it　was　merely　the　Spring

asleep；　and　that　the　flowers　were　resting。

Suddenly　he　rubbed　his　eyes　in　wonder；　and　looked　and　looked。　It

certainly　was　a　marvellous　sight。　In　the　farthest　corner　of　the　garden　was

a　tree　quite　covered　with　lovely　white　blossoms。　Its　branches　were　all

golden；　and　silver　fruit　hung　down　from　them；　and　underneath　it　stood　the

little　boy　he　had　loved。

Downstairs　ran　the　Giant　in　great　joy；　and　out　into　the　garden。　He

hastened　across　the　grass；　and　came　near　to　the　child。　And　when　he　came

quite　close　hi