brothers and sisters."

"But we could take your brothers and sisters, too," said Everychild to
the little boy.

The little boy now gazed at Everychild, and the blank expression in his
eyes was there no more.

"Come, we'll get them," declared Everychild. "Do you live far away?"

"There," said the little boy, pointing away into the forest, where not
a sign of a house was visible.

Here Grettel spoke for the first time: "Let's not," she said. "I don't
think I care about wandering away into the woods."

"We might get lost," suggested Cinderella.

And now the giant interposed. "I agree with Everychild that we ought
to take the little boy and his brothers and sisters with us," he said;
"and as for wandering away into the woods, that will not be necessary.
I'll take you to the house where the little boy lives by a secret
method which I understand."

With that he faced the depths of the forest and stood very erect, with
hands uplifted. There was a very solemn expression in his eyes. And
suddenly it seemed that the nearby trees began to lift and disappear;
and presto!--Everychild and his companions were standing quite close to
one of the most famous and remarkable houses ever heard of.