smartly in a velvet jacket and knee breeches. A fine cloak fell
loosely from his shoulders. He wore a plumed hat and carried a sword.

As he drew near Hansel said: "Hello! Have they been trying to lose you
too?"

It was then that Everychild recognized the strange youth as Jack the
Giant Killer; and at the same time he heard Grettel whispering:

"How handsome he is!"

Jack the Giant Killer replied smilingly to Hansel: "Lose me? Not at
all! It's plain you don't know who I am." He touched his breast
lightly with his forefinger. "I am Jack the Giant Killer." He then
brought his heels together and removed his hat with a wide gesture, and
made a fine bow.

"I recognized you," said Everychild, "though I didn't know you lived in
this neighborhood. I mean, near Hansel and Grettel."

Jack replied with a certain neat air: "I don't live anywhere in
particular. Did you never hear of my seven-league hoots? I have a way
of bobbing up wherever there are any giants."

In the meantime Grettel had sat down on a grassy bank beside the road.
"It's very tiresome, walking," she said. And then, very politely (to
Jack), "Won't you sit down?"

He accepted this invitation, and Everychild and Hansel also sat down.