re all through the house. The doors and
windows are firmly closed--it is impossible to open them."

"My son! my son!" cried Agnella.

"My brother! my brother!" exclaimed Violette.

They ran to the doors; all their efforts to open them or the windows
were ineffectual.

"Oh! my terrible dream!" murmured Violette. "Dear Ourson, adieu for
ever!"

Ourson had also been awakened by the flames and smoke. He slept out of
the farm-house, and near the stable. His first impulse was to run to the
front of the house but notwithstanding his extraordinary strength he
could not open it. One would have thought that the door would break to
pieces under his efforts. It was evidently held fast by the fairy
Furious.

Ourson sprang upon a ladder and passed across the flames into a granary
through an open window, then descended into the room where his mother
and Violette were embracing, expecting instant death. Before they had
time to recognize him he seized them in his arms and cried to Passerose
to follow him. He ran along the granary and descended the ladder with
his mother in one arm and Violette in the other and followed by
Passerose. The moment after they reached the ground in safety, the
ladder and granary became a prey to the flames.

Ourson led Agnella and Violette some distance from the fire. Passerose
was self-possessed: she had quite a large package of clothing which she
had collected at the commencement of the fire. Agnella and Violette had
escaped barefooted and in their night robes, and the clothing brought
by Passerose was thus very necessary to protect them from the cold.
After having thanked Ourson for saving their lives at the peril of his
own they complimented Passerose upon her forethought.

"See," said Passerose, "the advantage of not losing one's senses. Whilst
you two were only thinking of your Ourson, I made up this package of
necessary things."

"That is true, my good Passerose; but what purpose would your package
have served, if my mother and Violette had perished in the flames?"

"Oh, I knew very well that you would not allow them to be burned up
alive. Is any one ever in danger when you are present? Is not this the
third time you have saved Violette's life?"

Violette pressed Ourson's hands tenderly and carried them to her lips.
Agnella embraced her and said:

"Dear Violette, Ourson is happy in your tenderness which fully rewards
him for all he has done for you. I feel assured that on your part you