Meantime the Count Bernard, who was really a very kind and noble lord, and who lived in a beautiful castle on the farther verge of the forest, quite reassured Felix by talking to him kindly, and telling him of the six days’ journey from which he and his squire Brian were just returning, and how they had been delayed on the way until nightfall.

“And, by my faith!” said Count Bernard, “thou shalt sleep this night in the strong castle of Bois Varne, with not even a mouse to fret thy yellow head; and, what is more, thou shalt see the fairest little maid that ever thou hast set eyes on!”

And then he told him of his little daughter, the Lady Elinor, and how she would play with Felix and show him the castle, and how on the morrow they would see about sending him home to Sur Varne.

And all the while the count was talking they were trotting briskly onward, till by and by they emerged from the forest and saw towering near at hand the castle of Bois Varne.  The tall turrets shone and shimmered in the moonlight, and over the gateway of the drawbridge hung a lighted cresset—­ that is, a beautiful wrought-iron basket, in which blazed a ruddy torch of oil to light them on their way.

At sight of this the count and Brian spurred on their horses, and were soon clattering across the bridge and into the great paved courtyard.  The count flung his bridle to a little page who hastened out to meet him, and then, springing from his saddle, lightly lifted Felix and swung him to the ground.  He took the boy by the hand and led him into the great hall of the castle.

To Felix this looked marvelously beautiful.  Christmas garlands of myrtle hung on the walls, and a great pile of freshly cut laurel boughs lay on a bench, ready for the morrow’s arranging.  But that which took his eyes most of all was the lovely carving everywhere to be seen.  The benches and tables were covered with it; the wainscot of the spacious room was richly adorned; and over and about the wide fireplace great carved dragons of stone curled their long tails and spread their wings through a maze of intricate traceries.  Felix was enchanted, and gazed around till his eyes fairly ached.

Presently in came running a little girl, laughing with delight.  Bounding up into Count Bernard’s arms, she hugged and kissed him in true Provencal fashion.  Then, catching sight of Felix, “Ah, mon pere,” she exclaimed, “and where foundest thou thy pretty new page?”

“Nay, sweetheart,” answered the count, looking down at Felix’s yellow hair; “’t is no page, but a little goldfinch we found perched in a chestnut-tree as we rode through the forest.”

Then, smiling at the Lady Elinor’s bewilderment, he told her the little boy’s story, and she at once slipped down and greeted him kindly.  Then, clapping her hands with pleasure at finding a new playmate, she declared he must come and see the Christmas creche which she was just finishing.  She seized him by the hand and hastened across the hall, where her creche was built up on a carved bench.  The poor little Lady Elinor had no mother, and her father, the count, had been gone for several days; and while in the castle were no end of serving men and women and retainers, yet none of these presumed to dictate to the little mistress, and so she had put her creche together in a very odd fashion.