, , andwerewavingtheirarmsgentlyabovethechildren’, , , , andhewaswanderingallroundit, , andtheNorthWindwasblowingandroaringaboveit.“Climbup! littleboy,” saidtheTree, anditbentitsbranchesdownaslowasitcould; ’sheartmeltedashelookedout.“HowselfishIhavebeen!” hesaid; “, andthenIwillknockdownthewall, andmygardenshallbethechildren’splaygroundforeverandever.” , , , , , andthebirdscameandsangonit, andthelittleboystretchedouthistwoarmsandflungthemroundtheGiant’sneck, , whentheysawthattheGiantwasnotwickedanylonger, camerunningback, andwiththemcametheSpring.“Itisyourgardennow, littlechildren,” saidtheGiant, ’, andintheeveningtheycametotheGianttobidhimgood-bye.“Butwhereisyourlittlecompanion?” hesaid: “theboyIputintothetree.” TheGiantlovedhimthebestbecausehehadkissedhim.“Wedon’tknow,” answeredthechildren; “hehasgoneaway.”
“Youmusttellhimtobesureandcomeheretomorrow,” , andhadneverseenhimbefore; , whenschoolwasover, , yethelongedforhisfirstlittlefriend, andoftenspokeofhim.“HowIwouldliketoseehim!” , , sohesatinahugearmchair, andwatchedthechildrenattheirgames, andadmiredhisgarden.“Ihavemanybeautifulflowers,” hesaid; “butthechildrenarethemostbeautifulflowersofall.”
, forheknewthatitwasmerelytheSpringasleep, , , andsilverfruithungdownfromthem, , , , andhesaid, “Whohathdaredtowoundthee?” Foronthepalmsofthechild’shandsweretheprintsoftwonails, andtheprintsoftwonailswereonthelittlefeet.“Whohathdaredtowoundthee?” criedtheGiant; “tellme, thatImighttakemybigswordandslayhim.”
“Nay!” answeredthechild; “butthesearethewoundsofLove.”
“Whoartthou?” saidtheGiant, andastrangeawefellonhim, , andsaidtohim, “Youletmeplayonceinyourgarden, todayyoushallcomewithmetomygarden, whichisParadise.”
Andwhenthechildrenraninthatafternoon, theyfoundtheGiantlyingdeadunderthetree, allcoveredwithwhiteblossoms.
