hut, where they had given him dry clothes to put on, and how he had
started out alone to find his way through the forest; and how he was
nearly perishing with cold and hunger when this little girl had
rescued him, and how, if it had not been for her, he would have died
in the snow in the forest. He told her how little Paulina was on her
way to Siberia to find her father, and how they went to the woodsman's
hut where a servant had found him, and how he had planned for the
sleigh to meet them on the other side of the forest.

"O," Paulina interrupted him, "then there was somebody talking with
you when we were preparing the evening meal?"

"Yes, and everything came out just as I had planned. And do you know,
little daughter, this Paulina would not let me put my own scarf around
my neck. She thought that I was a thief. She is an honest little girl.
But she will not tell me her name. She does not trust me."

"But why should I trust you, when you will not tell me who you are, or
anything about yourself?" Paulina asked.

"Do trust my father, Paulina. I'm sure he can help you. He will tell
you who he is soon, I know," the beautiful little girl said.

"Yes, little one," the stranger said. "I know someone who could speak
to the Emperor about your father, and perhaps he could be pardoned.
Please tell me your name; and then before you go away I will answer
any questions about myself you may ask me."

"Do tell my father, Paulina," the little girl urged.

Paulina threw her arms about the stranger's knees.

"O, if you could only get the Emperor to pardon him.--But I do not ask
for a _pardon_--he has done nothing to be pardoned for. All that I ask
is that he may have justice done him. My father is Vladimir Betzkoi."

The stranger frowned, and then he whispered,

"There must be some mistake. He must be a good man to have such an
honest little daughter." Then he said to Paulina,

"Do you believe now that I am an honest man, since you have seen my
daughter?"

"O, yes, indeed I do. You couldn't help being good and honest. She is
so beautiful. I think her face is like what a queen's should be,"
Paulina answered eagerly.

The stranger and his little daughter smiled, and the man said,

"Well, I believe that your father is an honest man since I have seen
you. And I can tell you now, I _know_ he will be pardoned."

"Tell her, father, tell the little Paulina who you are," his daughter
whispered.

"Until your father returns t