"I am a Hermit," answered the old man. "I live here alone with my
animals, as you see. I pass the days in prayer and meditation,
studying the Lord's Holy Book and the living works of His hands."

"Why do you live away from men?" asked Gigi again.

The Hermit's face grew sad.

"Men are wicked and cruel, child," he said. "Men hurt and kill one
another. They love to slay the innocent animals for sport. In their
kingdoms is no love. I have made myself here an animal kingdom, where
all is love and peace."

"Do all animals know you?" asked Gigi, wondering.

"With time I can make friends with them all," said the Hermit, smiling.
"One has but to love and understand and be patient. See!"

He gave a peculiar call. Instantly there came tumbling into the hut,
until it nearly overflowed, a strange medley of creatures,--hares,
mice, birds, kittens, squirrels. Last of all peered into the doorway a
deer and her little speckled fawn.

The dog sat quite still, not moving a muscle. He had been trained not
to frighten his more timid neighbors.

"Follow the example of Brutus, my son," said the Hermit gently. "Make
no sudden movement and do not speak. They know my voice, and they will
learn yours. But you are still a stranger to them, and must expect
them to be shy."

The animals crowded lovingly about the Hermit, some springing upon his
shoulders and knees, the birds flitting about his head.

Gigi thought he had never seen so wonderful a sight. "Oh!" thought he,
"if I could only do this, what money might I not take from a crowd on
market-days!"

After talking to his pets and caressing them tenderly, the old man
dismissed them to the outdoor sunshine, so that he was alone with Gigi,
who could then be free to move and speak once more.

"The beloved innocents!" said the Hermit, with a sigh. "Who could ever
willfully injure one of them. God's creatures?--But now, my son, tell
me about yourself," he broke off. "Who are you? Whence do you come?
Whither are you going?"

"I do not know," said Gigi simply, in answer to all three questions.
And then he told his story as he had told it to Mother Margherita.

The old man listened pitifully. "Poor little lad!" he said. "Men have
been cruel to you, also. You have no home, no friends, no past, and no
future. What shall we do with you?"

"Oh, let me stay with you!" cried Gigi, clasping his hands. "You are
so good and wise. Teach me! Teach me to be good and wise,