Next night she crept out again to him . There he was alive , but very weak ; he could only open his eyes for a moment and look at Thumbelina , who was standing in front of him with a piece of rotten wood in her hand , for she had no other lantern . ` Thank you , pretty little child ! ' said the swallow to her . ' I am so beautifully warm ! Soon I shall regain my strength , and then I shall be able to fly out again into the warm sunshine . ' ` Oh ! ' she said , ` it is very cold outside ; it is snowing and freezing ! stay in your warm bed ; I will take care of you ! ' Then she brought him water in a petal , which he drank , after which he related to her how he had torn one of his wings on a bramble , so that he could not fly as fast as the other swallows , who had flown far away to warmer lands . So at last he had dropped down exhausted , and then he could remember no more . The whole winter he remained down there , and Thumbelina looked after him and nursed him tenderly . Neither the mole nor the field-mouse learnt anything of this , for they could not bear the poor swallow . When the spring came , and the sun warmed the earth again , the swallow said farewell to Thumbelina , who opened the hole in the roof for him which the mole had made . The sun shone brightly down upon her , and the swallow asked her if she would go with him ; she could sit upon his back . Thumbelina wanted very much to fly far away into the green wood , but she knew that the old field-mouse would be sad if she ran away . ` No , I must n't come ! ' she said . ` Farewell , dear good little girl ! ' said the swallow , and flew off into the sunshine .
Thumbelina gazed after him with the tears standing in her XXXXX , for she was very fond of the swallow .
earth eyes farewell girl lantern moment spring sun water winter