“Where is your father?” asked the man.

“He is in Siberia.  They banished him.”

“But, little one,” said the stranger, “that is a terrible place for a child to go to.  That frozen country, where wicked people are sent!”

“O, yes,—­but my father is there, you know,” said Paulina.

“Who is your father?” the man asked.

The little girl was about to tell him, when she noticed a look of interest on the stranger’s face, so she said,

“Did you say that you had lost your way in the forest?  Do you live far from here?”

“Yes, very far.  I am lost, and am nearly perishing from hunger and cold.  How far is it to the next village?”

“They told me it was some miles on,” said the child.  “But I will take you back to the woodsman’s cottage where I spent the night.  The woman is a kind-hearted person, and I am sure she will give you shelter.”

“That is kind of you, little one,” said the stranger, “but you will be hindering your own journey if you do that.”

“I know that my father would want me to show a kindness, even though it did put me back some,” Paulina said.

“You must have a good father, to give you such training.  Why did the Emperor send him into exile?” the stranger asked her.

“O, my father had enemies who lied to the Emperor—­and there was no chance given to my father to explain.  So the Emperor sent him away to Siberia,—­and I am trying to find my way there to him.”

While they walked through the forest, the stranger told Paulina about his own little daughter who was expecting him to spend Christmas with her.  At last they reached the woodsman’s hut.  The woman greeted them kindly, and while Paulina went into another room to help her prepare the evening meal, the stranger was left warming himself by the fire, and rocking the cradle.

Once Paulina thought she heard voices, as if the stranger were talking to someone; but when she went back, she found him alone, still warming his hands and rocking the cradle with his foot.

That night the stranger slept on the floor in front of the fire—­there was no other place for him; but he was glad to be safe from the storm outside.

Early in the morning, the two started out through the forest again.  They must hurry, if they were to reach the next village before darkness fell.  The storm had passed over, and the day was cold and clear.  A beautiful winter’s day.  The little girl and the stranger reached the village on the other side of the forest early in the afternoon, and there before them they saw a beautiful sleigh drawn by four horses.  There were four servants standing near.

“What a lovely sleigh!” exclaimed Paulina.

“Yes, I wonder where they are going.  I will ask them,” the stranger said.  He went nearer the men and spoke to them.

“We are driving for our master to Igorhof,” they said.

“Why, that is where my daughter is.  If I might only ride with you, I could spend Christmas with her.  Tomorrow is Christmas day, you know.  And, little one, you could spend Christmas with us, too.”