Jack was frankly surprised at this question.  “A giant is a giant,” he said shortly.

But the troubled expression did not leave Everychild’s face.  What if there were a few good giants?—­and what if a good giant should encounter Jack?

His reflections were broken in upon by a triumphant voice—­Jack’s voice—­exclaiming, “Here’s luck for you!  Here’s one of them coming now!”

It was true.  A very large giant was approaching through the forest.  And the strangest part of it all was that Everychild knew quite well that this was a good giant.  His eyes began to shine and he was thrilled through and through.

He had never seen so wonderful a creature:  so splendid, so powerful, so fascinating.  The giant seemed almost to tread on air.  He held his face up so that the sun shone on it.  His eyes were filled with magic.  He wore a wreath of leaves about his hair.  A garment like a toga fell gracefully from his shoulders.  He was shod with sandals.  He carried his hands before him as if they would gather in the sunshine.  A smile half sly and half gentle was on his lips.

Everychild clasped his hands eagerly as he gazed at the giant.  He seemed to know that this splendid stranger would lead him presently, and he was not certain whether he should wish to be led or not—­whether it would be good or evil to be led by him.

His musing and wonder were broken in upon by Jack, who was again speaking.  “I’ll give you a little exhibition of my skill,” he said, “I’ll have his life before your very eyes.”

Everychild became greatly troubled.  He could not speak for a moment.  He could not bear to think that the giant should be slain.  He even ventured to hope that he had no cause for fear—­that so powerful a creature might be depended upon to protect himself.  Yet Jack the Giant Killer seemed just now a very valiant figure, and it was plain that he believed it to be his duty to slay the approaching giant.

It was Grettel who replied to Jack.  “Dear me!” she exclaimed incredulously, “How shall you do it?”

“I haven’t thought of a way yet,” was the response.  “It takes wit, you know.  I’ll think of a way before long.  Don’t speak so loud.”

The giant had come quite close to them by this time.  “Good morning,” he said pleasantly.

Not one of the children recognized him, and Everychild ventured to say, in a polite tone, “Good morning . . . though I don’t believe we know who you are.”  He was thinking:  “If he will only explain that he is a good giant!”

“I am known as the giant, Will o’Dreams,” was the reply.

Everychild was charmed by the beauty of his voice; but he was startled when Jack cried out sternly,—­

“And what are you doing here?”

The giant regarded Jack with thoughtful eyes.  “A natural question, I am sure,” he said after a pause.  “Permit me to say, then, that I have merely been looking at a few masterpieces.”