Theoldladysmiledasweetsmileandsaid：
’I’mnotvexedwithyou，mychild—norwithLootieeither。ButI
don’twantyoutosayanythingmoretoLootieaboutme。Ifsheshouldaskyou，youmustjustbesilent。ButIdonotthinkshewillaskyou。’
Allthetimetheytalkedtheoldladykeptonspinning。
’Youhaven’ttoldmeyetwhatIamspinning，’shesaid。
’BecauseIdon’tknow。It’sveryprettystuff。’
Itwasindeedveryprettystuff。Therewasagoodbunchofitonthedistaffattachedtothespinning—wheel，andinthemoonlightitshonelike—whatshallisayitwaslike？Itwasnotwhiteenoughforsilver—yes，itwaslikesilver，butshonegreyratherthanwhite，andglitteredonlyalittle。AndthethreadtheoldladydrewoutfromitwassofinethatIrenecouldhardlyseeit。
’Iamspinningthisforyou，mychild。’
’Forme！WhatamItodowithit，please？’
’Iwilltellyoubyandby。ButfirstIwilltellyouwhatitis。
Itisspider—web—ofaparticularkind。Mypigeonsbringitmefromoverthegreatsea。Thereisonlyoneforestwherethespiderslivewhomakethisparticularkind—thefinestandstrongestofany。Ihavenearlyfinishedmypresentjob。Whatisontherocknowwillbeenough。Ihaveaweek’sworkthereyet，though，’sheadded，lookingatthebunch。
’Doyouworkalldayandallnight，too，great—great—
great—great—grandmother？’saidtheprincess，thinkingtobeverypolitewithsomanygreats。
’Iamnotquitesogreatasallthat，’sheanswered，smilingalmostmerrily。’Ifyoucallmegrandmother，thatwilldo。No，Idon’tworkeverynight—onlymoonlitnights，andthennolongerthanthemoonshinesuponmywheel。Ishan’tworkmuchlongertonight。’
’Andwhatwillyoudonext，grandmother？’
’Gotobed。Wouldyouliketoseemybedroom？’
’Yes，thatIshould。’
’ThenIthinkIwon’tworkanylongertonight。Ishallbeingoodtime。’
Theoldladyrose，andleftherwheelstandingjustasitwas。Youseetherewasnogoodinputtingitaway，forwheretherewasnotanyfurnituretherewasnodangerofbeinguntidy。
ThenshetookIrenebythehand，butitwasherbadhandandIrenegavealittlecryofpain。’Mychild！’saidhergrandmother，’whatisthematter？’
Ireneheldherhandintothemoonlight，thattheoldladymightseeit，andtoldherallaboutit，atwhichshelookedgrave。Butsheonlysaid：’Givemeyourotherhand’;and，havingledheroutuponthelittledarklanding，openedthedoorontheoppositesideofit。WhatwasIrene’ssurprisetoseetheloveliestroomshehadeverseeninherlife！Itwaslargeandlofty，anddome—shaped。
Fromthecentrehungalampasroundasaball，shiningasifwiththebrightestmoonlight，whichmadeeverythingvisibleintheroom，thoughnotsoclearlythattheprincesscouldtellwhatmanyofthethingswere。Alargeovalbedstoodinthemiddle，withacoverlidofrosecolour，andvelvetcurtainsallrounditofalovelypaleblue。Thewallswerealsoblue—spangledalloverwithwhatlookedlikestarsofsilver。
Theoldladyleftherand，goingtoastrange—lookingcabinet，openeditandtookoutacurioussilvercasket。Thenshesatdownonalowchairand，callingIrene，madeherkneelbeforeherwhileshelookedatherhand。Havingexaminedit，sheopenedthecasket，andtookfromitalittleointment。Thesweetestodourfilledtheroom—likethatofrosesandlilies—assherubbedtheointmentgentlyalloverthehotswollenhand。Hertouchwassopleasantandcoolthatitseemedtodriveawaythepainandheatwhereveritcame。
’Oh，grandmother！itissonice！’saidIrene。’Thankyou;thankyou。’
Thentheoldladywenttoachestofdrawers，andtookoutalargehandkerchiefofgossamer—likecambric，whichshetiedroundherhand。
’Idon’tthinkIcanletyougoawaytonight，’shesaid。’Wouldyouliketosleepwithme？’
’Oh，yes，yes，deargrandmother，’saidIrene，andwouldhaveclappedherhands，forgettingthatshecouldnot。
’Youwon’tbeafraid，then，togotobedwithsuchanoldwoman？’
’No。Youaresobeautiful，grandmother。’
’ButIamveryold。’
’AndIsupposeIamveryyoung。Youwon’tmindsleepingwithsuchaveryyoungwoman，grandmother？’
’Yousweetlittlepertness！’saidtheoldlady，anddrewhertowardsher，andkissedherontheforeheadandthecheekandthemouth。Thenshegotalargesilverbasin，andhavingpouredsomewaterintoitmadeIrenesitonthechair，andwashedherfeet。
Thisdone，shewasreadyforbed。Andoh，whatadeliciousbeditwasintowhichhergrandmotherlaidher！Shehardlycouldhavetoldshewaslyinguponanything：shefeltnothingbutthesoftness。
Theoldladyhavingundressedherselflaydownbesideher。
’Whydon’tyouputoutyourmoon？’askedtheprincess。
’Thatnevergoesout，nightorday，’sheanswered。’Inthedarkestnight，ifanyofmypigeonsareoutonamessage，theyalwaysseemymoonandknowwheretoflyto。’
’Butifsomebodybesidesthepigeonsweretoseeit—somebodyaboutthehouse，Imean—theywouldcometolookwhatitwasandfindyou。’
’Thebetterforthem，then，’saidtheoldlady。’Butitdoesnothappenabovefivetimesinahundredyearsthatanyonedoesseeit。
Thegreaterpartofthosewhodotakeitforameteor，winktheireyes，andforgetitagain。Besides，nobodycouldfindtheroomexceptIpleased。Besides，again—Iwilltellyouasecret—ifthatlightweretogooutyouwouldfancyyourselflyinginabaregarret，onaheapofoldstraw，andwouldnotseeoneofthepleasantthingsroundaboutyouallthetime。’
’Ihopeitwillnevergoout，’saidtheprincess。
’Ihopenot。Butitistimewebothwenttosleep。ShallItakeyouinmyarms？’
Thelittleprincessnestledcloseuptotheoldlady，whotookherinbothherarmsandheldherclosetoherbosom。
’Oh，dear！thisissonice！’saidtheprincess。’Ididn’tknowanythingintheworldcouldbesocomfortable。Ishouldliketoliehereforever。’
’Youmayifyouwill，’saidtheoldlady。’ButImustputyoutoonetrial—notaveryhardone，Ihope。Thisnightweekyoumustcomebacktome。Ifyoudon’t，Idonotknowwhenyoumayfindmeagain，andyouWillsoonwantmeverymuch。’
’Oh！please，don’tletmeforget。’
’Youshallnotforget。TheonlyquestioniswhetheryouwillbelieveIamanywhere—whetheryouwillbelieveIamanythingbutadream。YoumaybesureIwilldoallIcantohelpyoutocome。
Butitwillrestwithyourself，afterall。OnthenightofnextFriday，youmustcometome。Mindnow。’
’Iwilltry，’saidtheprincess。
’Thengoodnight，’saidtheoldlady，andkissedtheforeheadwhichlayinherbosom。
Inamomentmorethelittleprincesswasdreaminginthemidstoftheloveliestdreams—ofsummerseasandmoonlightandmossyspringsandgreatmurmuringtrees，andbedsofwildflowerswithsuchodoursasshehadneversmelledbefore。But，afterall，nodreamcouldbemorelovelythanwhatshehadleftbehindwhenshefellasleep。
Inthemorningshefoundherselfinherownbed。Therewasnohandkerchieforanythingelseonherhand，onlyasweetodourlingeredaboutit。Theswellinghadallgonedown;theprickofthebroochhadvanished—infact，herhandwasperfectlywell。
CHAPTER12
AShortChapterAboutCurdieCurdiespentmanynightsinthemine。HisfatherandhehadtakenMrs。Petersonintothesecret，fortheyknewmothercouldholdhertongue，whichwasmorethancouldbesaidofalltheminers’wives。
ButCurdiedidnottellherthateverynighthespentinthemine，partofitwentinearninganewredpetticoatforher。
Mrs。Petersonwassuchanicegoodmother！Allmothersareniceandgoodmoreorless，butMrs。Petersonwasniceandgoodallmoreandnoless。Shemadeandkeptalittleheaveninthatpoorcottageonthehighhillsideforherhusbandandsontogohometooutofthelowandratherdrearyearthinwhichtheyworked。I
doubtiftheprincesswasverymuchhappiereveninthearmsofherhugegreat—grandmotherthanPeterandCurdiewereinthearmsofMrs。Peterson。True，herhandswerehardandchappedandlarge，butitwaswithworkforthem;andtherefore，inthesightoftheangels，herhandsweresomuchthemorebeautiful。AndifCurdieworkedhardtogetherapetticoat，sheworkedhardeverydaytogethimcomfortswhichhewouldhavemissedmuchmorethanshewouldanewpetticoateveninwinter。NotthatsheandCurdieeverthoughtofhowmuchtheyworkedforeachother：thatwouldhavespoiledeverything。
WhenleftaloneinthemineCurdiealwaysworkedonforanhourortwoatfirst，followingthelodewhich，accordingtoGlump，wouldleadatlastintothedesertedhabitation。Afterthat，hewouldsetoutonareconnoitringexpedition。Inordertomanagethis，orratherthereturnfromit，betterthanthefirsttime，hehadboughtahugeballoffinestring，havinglearnedthetrickfromHop—o’—my—Thumb，whosehistoryhismotherhadoftentoldhim。NotthatHop—o’—my—Thumbhadeverusedaballofstring—Ishouldbesorrytobesupposedsofaroutinmyclassics—buttheprinciplewasthesameasthatofthepebbles。Theendofthisstringhefastenedtohispickaxe，whichfigurednobadanchor，andthen，withtheballinhishand，unrollingitashewent，setoutinthedarkthroughthenaturalgangsofthegoblins’territory。Thefirstnightortwohecameuponnothingworthremembering;sawonlyalittleofthehome—lifeofthecobsinthevariouscavestheycalledhouses;failedincominguponanythingtocastlightupontheforegoingdesignwhichkepttheinundationforthepresentinthebackground。Butatlength，Ithinkonthethirdorfourthnight，hefound，partlyguidedbythenoiseoftheirimplements，acompanyofevidentlythebestsappersandminersamongstthem，hardatwork。Whatweretheyabout？Itcouldnotwellbetheinundation，seeingthathadinthemeantimebeenpostponedtosomethingelse。Thenwhatwasit？Helurkedandwatched，everynowandtheninthegreatestriskofbeingdetected，butwithoutsuccess。Hehadagainandagaintoretreatinhaste，aproceedingrenderedthemoredifficultthathehadtogatheruphisstringashereturneduponitscourse。Itwasnotthathewasafraidofthegoblins，butthathewasafraidoftheirfindingoutthattheywerewatched，whichmighthavepreventedthediscoveryatwhichheaimed。Sometimeshishastehadtobesuchthat，whenhereachedhometowardsmorning，hisstring，forlackoftimetowinditupashe’dodgedthecobs’，wouldbeinwhatseemedmosthopelessentanglement;butafteragoodsleep，thoughashortone，healwaysfoundhismotherhadgotitrightagain。Thereitwas，woundinamostrespectableball，readyforusethemomentheshouldwantit！
’Ican’tthinkhowyoudoit，mother，’hewouldsay。
’Ifollowthethread，’shewouldanswer—’justasyoudointhemine。’Sheneverhadmoretosayaboutit;butthelessclevershewaswithherwords，themoreclevershewaswithherhands;andthelesshismothersaid，themoreCurdiebelievedshehadtosay。Butstillhehadmadenodiscoveryastowhatthegoblinminerswereabout。
CHAPTER13
TheCobs’CreaturesAboutthistimethegentlemenwhomthekinghadleftbehindhimtowatchovertheprincesshadeachoccasiontodoubtthetestimonyofhisowneyes，formorethanstrangeweretheobjectstowhichtheywouldbearwitness。Theywereofonesort—creatures—butsogrotesqueandmisshapenastobemorelikeachild’sdrawingsuponhisslatethananythingnatural。Theysawthemonlyatnight，whileonguardaboutthehouse。Thetestimonyofthemanwhofirstreportedhavingseenoneofthemwasthat，ashewaswalkingslowlyroundthehouse，whileyetintheshadow，hecaughtsightofacreaturestandingonitshindlegsinthemoonlight，withitsforefeetuponawindow—ledge，staringinatthewindow。Itsbodymighthavebeenthatofadogorwolf，hethought，buthedeclaredonhishonourthatitsheadwastwicethesizeitoughttohavebeenforthesizeofitsbody，andasroundasaball，whiletheface，whichitturneduponhimasitfled，wasmorelikeonecarvedbyaboyupontheturnipinsidewhichheisgoingtoputacandlethananythingelsehecouldthinkof。Itrushedintothegarden。
Hesentanarrowafterit，andthoughthemusthavestruckit;foritgaveanunearthlyhowl，andhecouldnotfindhisarrowanymorethanthebeast，althoughhesearchedallabouttheplacewhereitvanished。Theylaughedathimuntilhewasdriventoholdhistongue，andsaidhemusthavetakentoolongapullattheale—jug。
Butbeforetwonightswereoverhehadonetosidewithhim，forhe，too，hadseensomethingstrange，onlyquitedifferentfromthatreportedbytheother。Thedescriptionthesecondmangaveofthecreaturehehadseenwasyetmoregrotesqueandunlikely。Theywerebothlaughedatbytherest;butnightafternightanothercameovertotheirside，untilatlasttherewasonlyonelefttolaughatallhiscompanions。Twonightsmorepassed，andhesawnothing;butonthethirdhecamerushingfromthegardentotheothertwobeforethehouse，insuchanagitationthattheydeclared—foritwastheirturnnow—thatthebandofhishelmetwascrackingunderhischinwiththerisingofhishairinsideit。
RunningwithhimintothatpartofthegardenwhichIhavealreadydescribed，theysawascoreofcreatures，tonotoneofwhichtheycouldgiveaname，andnotoneofwhichwaslikeanother，hideousandludicrousatonce，gambollingonthelawninthemoonlight。
Thesupernaturalorrathersubnaturaluglinessoftheirfaces，thelengthoflegsandnecksinsome，theapparentabsenceofbothoreitherinothers，madethespectators，althoughinoneconsentastowhattheysaw，yetdoubtful，asIhavesaid，oftheevidenceoftheirowneyes—andearsaswell;forthenoisestheymade，althoughnotloud，wereasuncouthandvariedastheirforms，andcouldbedescribedneitherasgruntsnorsqueaksnorroarsnorhowlsnorbarksnoryellsnorscreamsnorcroaksnorhissesnormewsnorshrieks，butonlyassomethinglikeallofthemmingledinonehorribledissonance。Keepingintheshade，thewatchershadafewmomentstorecoverthemselvesbeforethehideousassemblysuspectedtheirpresence;butallatonce，asifbycommonconsent，theyscamperedoffinthedirectionofagreatrock，andvanishedbeforethemenhadcometothemselvessufficientlytothinkoffollowingthem。
Myreaderswillsuspectwhatthesewere;butIwillnowgivethemfullinformationconcerningthem。Theywere，ofcourse，householdanimalsbelongingtothegoblins，whoseancestorshadtakentheirancestorsmanycenturiesbeforefromtheupperregionsoflightintothelowerregionsofdarkness。Theoriginalstocksofthesehorriblecreatureswereverymuchthesameastheanimalsnowseenaboutfarmsandhomesinthecountry，withtheexceptionofafewofthem，whichhadbeenwildcreatures，suchasfoxes，andindeedwolvesandsmallbears，whichthegoblins，fromtheirproclivitytowardstheanimalcreation，hadcaughtwhencubsandtamed。Butinthecourseoftimeallhadundergoneevengreaterchangesthanhadpassedupontheirowners。Theyhadaltered—thatis，theirdescendantshadaltered—intosuchcreaturesasIhavenotattemptedtodescribeexceptinthevaguestmanner—thevariouspartsoftheirbodiesassuming，inanapparentlyarbitraryandself—willedmanner，themostabnormaldevelopments。Indeed，solittledidanydistincttypepredominateinsomeofthebewilderingresults，thatyoucouldonlyhaveguessedatanyknownanimalastheoriginal，andeventhen，whatlikenessremainedwouldbemoreoneofgeneralexpressionthanofdefinableconformation。Butwhatincreasedthegruesomenesstenfoldwasthat，fromconstantdomestic，orindeedratherfamilyassociationwiththegoblins，theircountenanceshadgrowningrotesqueresemblancetothehuman。
Nooneunderstandsanimalswhodoesnotseethateveryoneofthem，evenamongstthefishes，itmaybewithadimnessandvaguenessinfinitelyremote，yetshadowsthehuman：inthecaseofthesethehumanresemblancehadgreatlyincreased：whiletheirownershadsunktowardsthem，theyhadrisentowardstheirowners。Buttheconditionsofsubterraneanlifebeingequallyunnaturalforboth，whilethegoblinswereworse，thecreatureshadnotimprovedbytheapproximation，anditsresultwouldhaveappearedfarmoreludicrousthanconsolingtothewarmestloverofanimalnature。I
shallnowexplainhowitwasthatjustthentheseanimalsbegantoshowthemselvesabouttheking’scountryhouse。
Thegoblins，asCurdiehaddiscovered，wereminingon—atworkbothdayandnight，indivisions，urgingtheschemeafterwhichhelayinwait。Inthecourseoftheirtunnellingtheyhadbrokenintothechannelofasmallstream，butthebreakbeinginthetopofit，nowaterhadescapedtointerferewiththeirwork。Someofthecreatures，hoveringastheyoftendidabouttheirmasters，hadfoundthehole，andhad，withthecuriositywhichhadgrowntoapassionfromtherestraintsoftheirunnaturalcircumstances，proceededtoexplorethechannel。ThestreamwasthesamewhichranoutbytheseatonwhichIreneandherking—papahadsatasI
havetold，andthegoblincreaturesfounditjollyfuntogetoutforaromponasmoothlawnsuchastheyhadneverseeninalltheirpoormiserablelives。Butalthoughtheyhadpartakenenoughofthenatureoftheirownerstodelightinannoyingandalarminganyofthepeoplewhomtheymetonthemountain，theywere，ofcourse，incapableofdesignsoftheirown，orofintentionallyfurtheringthoseoftheirmasters。
Forseveralnightsafterthemen—at—armswereatlengthofonemindastothefactofthevisitsofsomehorriblecreatures，whetherbodilyorspectraltheycouldnotyetsay，theywatchedwithspecialattentionthatpartofthegardenwheretheyhadlastseenthem。Perhapsindeedtheygaveinconsequencetoolittleattentiontothehouse。Butthecreaturesweretoocunningtobeeasilycaught;norwerethewatchersquick—eyedenoughtodescrythehead，orthekeeneyesinit，which，fromtheopeningwhencethestreamissued，wouldwatchtheminturn，ready，themomenttheyshouldleavethelawn，toreporttheplaceclear。
CHAPTER14
ThatNightWeekDuringthewholeoftheweekIrenehadbeenthinkingeveryothermomentofherpromisetotheoldlady，althoughevennowshecouldnotfeelquitesurethatshehadnotbeendreaming。Coulditreallybethatanoldladylivedupinthetopofthehouse，withpigeonsandaspinning—wheel，andalampthatneverwentout？Shewas，however，nonethelessdetermined，onthecomingFriday，toascendthethreestairs，walkthroughthepassageswiththemanydoors，andtrytofindthetowerinwhichshehadeitherseenordreamedhergrandmother。
Hernursecouldnothelpwonderingwhathadcometothechild—shewouldsitsothoughtfullysilent，andeveninthemidstofagamewithherwouldsosuddenlyfallintoadreamymood。ButIrenetookcaretobetraynothing，whatevereffortsLootiemightmaketogetatherthoughts。AndLootiehadtosaytoherself：’Whatanoddchildsheis！’andgiveitup。
Atlengththelonged—forFridayarrived，andlestLootieshouldbemovedtowatchher，Ireneendeavouredtokeepherselfasquietaspossible。Intheafternoonsheaskedforherdoll’shouse，andwentonarrangingandrearrangingthevariousroomsandtheirinhabitantsforawholehour。Thenshegaveasighandthrewherselfbackinherchair。Oneofthedollswouldnotsit，andanotherwouldnotstand，andtheywereallverytiresome。Indeed，therewasonewouldnotevenliedown，whichwastoobad。Butitwasnowgettingdark，andthedarkeritgotthemoreexcitedIrenebecame，andthemoreshefeltitnecessarytobecomposed。
’Iseeyouwantyourtea，princess，’saidthenurse：’Iwillgoandgetit。Theroomfeelsclose：Iwillopenthewindowalittle。
Theeveningismild：itwon’thurtyou。’
’There’snofearofthat，Lootie，’saidIrene，wishingshehadputoffgoingfortheteatillitwasdarker，whenshemighthavemadeherattemptwitheveryadvantage。
IfancyLootiewaslongerinreturningthanshehadintended;forwhenIrene，whohadbeenlostinthought，lookedup，shesawitwasnearlydark，andatthesamemomentcaughtsightofapairofeyes，brightwithagreenlight，gloweringatherthroughtheopenwindow。Thenextinstantsomethingleapedintotheroom。Itwaslikeacat，withlegsaslongasahorse’s，Irenesaid，butitsbodynobiggeranditslegsnothickerthanthoseofacat。Shewastoofrightenedtocryout，butnottoofrightenedtojumpfromherchairandrunfromtheroom。
Itisplainenoughtoeveryoneofmyreaderswhatsheoughttohavedone—andindeed，Irenethoughtofitherself;butwhenshecametothefootoftheoldstair，justoutsidethenurserydoor，sheimaginedthecreaturerunningupthoselongascentsafterher，andpursuingherthroughthedarkpassages—which，afterall，mightleadtonotower！Thatthoughtwastoomuch。Herheartfailedher，and，turningfromthestair，sherushedalongtothehall，whence，findingthefrontdooropen，shedartedintothecourtpursued—atleastshethoughtso—bythecreature。Noonehappeningtoseeher，onsheran，unabletothinkforfear，andreadytorunanywheretoeludetheawfulcreaturewiththestilt—legs。Notdaringtolookbehindher，sherushedstraightoutofthegateandupthemountain。Itwasfoolishindeed—thustorunfartherandfartherfromallwhocouldhelpher，asifshehadbeenseekingafitspotforthegoblincreaturetoeatherinhisleisure;butthatisthewayfearservesus：italwayssideswiththethingweareafraidof。
Theprincesswassoonoutofbreathwithrunninguphill;butsheranon，forshefanciedthehorriblecreaturejustbehindher，forgettingthat，haditbeenafterhersuchlonglegsasthosemusthaveovertakenherlongago。Atlastshecouldrunnolonger，andfell，unableeventoscream，bytheroadside，whereshelayforsometimehalfdeadwithterror。Butfindingnothinglayholdofher，andherbreathbeginningtocomeback，sheventuredatlengthtogethalfupandpeeranxiouslyabouther。Itwasnowsodarkshecouldseenothing。Notasinglestarwasout。Shecouldnoteventellinwhatdirectionthehouselay，andbetweenherandhomeshefanciedthedreadfulcreaturelyingreadytopounceuponher。
Shesawnowthatsheoughttohaverunupthestairsatonce。Itwaswellshedidnotscream;for，althoughveryfewofthegoblinshadcomeoutforweeks，astrayidlerortwomighthaveheardher。
Shesatdownuponastone，andnobodybutonewhohaddonesomethingwrongcouldhavebeenmoremiserable。Shehadquiteforgottenherpromisetovisithergrandmother。Araindropfellonherface。Shelookedup，andforamomentherterrorwaslostinastonishment。Atfirstshethoughttherisingmoonhadleftherplace，anddrawnnightoseewhatcouldbethematterwiththelittlegirl，sittingalone，withouthatorcloak，onthedarkbaremountain;butshesoonsawshewasmistaken，fortherewasnolightonthegroundatherfeet，andnoshadowanywhere。Butagreatsilverglobewashangingintheair;andasshegazedatthelovelything，hercouragerevived。Ifshewerebutindoorsagain，shewouldfearnothing，noteventheterriblecreaturewiththelonglegs！Buthowwasshetofindherwayback？Whatcouldthatlightbe？Coulditbe—？No，itcouldn’t。Butwhatifitshouldbe—
yes—itmustbe—hergreat—great—grandmother’slamp，whichguidedherpigeonshomethroughthedarkestnight！Shejumpedup：shehadbuttokeepthatlightinviewandshemustfindthehouse。Herheartgrewstrong。Speedily，yetsoftly，shewalkeddownthehill，hopingtopassthewatchingcreatureunseen。Darkasitwas，therewaslittledangernowofchoosingthewrongroad。And—whichwasmoststrange—thelightthatfilledhereyesfromthelamp，insteadofblindingthemforamomenttotheobjectuponwhichtheynextfell，enabledherforamomenttoseeit，despitethedarkness。Bylookingatthelampandthendroppinghereyes，shecouldseetheroadforayardortwoinfrontofher，andthissavedherfromseveralfalls，fortheroadwasveryrough。Butallatonce，toherdismay，itvanished，andtheterrorofthebeast，whichhadleftherthemomentshebegantoreturn，againlaidholdofherheart。Thesameinstant，however，shecaughtthelightofthewindows，andknewexactlywhereshewas。Itwastoodarktorun，butshemadewhathasteshecould，andreachedthegateinsafety。Shefoundthehousedoorstillopen，ranthroughthehall，and，withoutevenlookingintothenursery，boundedstraightupthestair，andthenext，andthenext;thenturningtotheright，ranthroughthelongavenueofsilentrooms，andfoundherwayatoncetothedooratthefootofthetowerstair。
Whenfirstthenursemissedher，shefanciedshewasplayingheratrick，andforsometimetooknotroubleabouther;butatlast，gettingfrightened，shehadbeguntosearch;andwhentheprincessentered，thewholehouseholdwashitherandthitheroverthehouse，huntingforher。Afewsecondsaftershereachedthestairofthetowertheyhadevenbeguntosearchtheneglectedrooms，inwhichtheywouldneverhavethoughtoflookinghadtheynotalreadysearchedeveryotherplacetheycouldthinkofinvain。Butbythistimeshewasknockingattheoldlady’sdoor。
CHAPTER15
WovenandThenSpun’Comein，Irene，’saidthesilveryvoiceofhergrandmother。
Theprincessopenedthedoorandpeepedin。Buttheroomwasquitedarkandtherewasnosoundofthespinning—wheel。Shegrewfrightenedoncemore，thinkingthat，althoughtheroomwasthere，theoldladymightbeadreamafterall。Everylittlegirlknowshowdreadfulitistofindaroomemptywhereshethoughtsomebodywas;butIrenehadtofancyforamomentthatthepersonshecametofindwasnowhereatall。Sheremembered，however，thatatnightshespunonlyinthemoonlight，andconcludedthatmustbewhytherewasnosweet，bee—likehumming：theoldladymightbesomewhereinthedarkness。Beforeshehadtimetothinkanotherthought，sheheardhervoiceagain，sayingasbefore：’Comein，Irene。’Fromthesound，sheunderstoodatoncethatshewasnotintheroombesideher。Perhapsshewasinherbedroom。Sheturnedacrossthepassage，feelingherwaytotheotherdoor。Whenherhandfellonthelock，againtheoldladyspoke：
’Shuttheotherdoorbehindyou，Irene。IalwaysclosethedoorofmyworkroomwhenIgotomychamber。’
Irenewonderedtohearhervoicesoplainlythroughthedoor：
havingshuttheother，sheopeneditandwentin。Oh，whatalovelyhaventoreachfromthedarknessandfearthroughwhichshehadcome！Thesoftlightmadeherfeelasifsheweregoingintotheheartofthemilkiestpearl;whilethebluewallsandtheirsilverstarsforamomentperplexedherwiththefancythattheywereinrealitytheskywhichshehadleftoutsideaminuteagocoveredwithrainclouds。
’I’velightedafireforyou，Irene：you’recoldandwet，’saidhergrandmother。
ThenIrenelookedagain，andsawthatwhatshehadtakenforahugebouquetofredrosesonalowstandagainstthewallwasinfactafirewhichburnedintheshapesoftheloveliestandreddestroses，glowinggorgeouslybetweentheheadsandwingsoftwocherubsofshiningsilver。Andwhenshecamenearer，shefoundthatthesmellofroseswithwhichtheroomwasfilledcamefromthefire—rosesonthehearth。Hergrandmotherwasdressedintheloveliestpalebluevelvet，overwhichherhair，nolongerwhite，butofarichgoldencolour，streamedlikeacataract，herefallingindullgatheredheaps，thererushingawayinsmoothshiningfalls。Andeverasshelooked，thehairseemedpouringdownfromherheadandvanishinginagoldenmistereitreachedthefloor。Itflowedfromundertheedgeofacircleofshiningsilver，setwithalternatedpearlsandopals。Onherdresswasnoornamentwhatever，neitherwastherearingonherhand，oranecklaceorcarcanetaboutherneck。ButherslippersglimmeredwiththelightoftheMilkyWay，fortheywerecoveredwithseed—pearlsandopalsinonemass。Herfacewasthatofawomanofthree—and—twenty。
Theprincesswassobewilderedwithastonishmentandadmirationthatshecouldhardlythankher，anddrewnighwithtimidity，feelingdirtyanduncomfortable。Theladywasseatedonalowchairbythesideofthefire，withhandsoutstretchedtotakeher，buttheprincesshungbackwithatroubledsmile。
’Why，what’sthematter？’askedhergrandmother。’Youhaven’tbeendoinganythingwrong—Iknowthatbyyourface，thoughitisrathermiserable。What’sthematter，mydear？’
Andshestillheldoutherarms。
’Deargrandmother，’saidIrene，’I’mnotsosurethatIhaven’tdonesomethingwrong。Ioughttohaverunuptoyouatoncewhenthelong—leggedcatcameinatthewindow，insteadofrunningoutonthemountainandmakingmyselfsuchafright。’
’Youweretakenbysurprise，mychild，andyouarenotsolikelytodoitagain。Itiswhenpeopledowrongthingswilfullythattheyarethemorelikelytodothemagain。Come。’
Andstillsheheldoutherarms。
’But，grandmother，you’resobeautifulandgrandwithyourcrownon;andIamsodirtywithmudandrain！Ishouldquitespoilyourbeautifulbluedress。’
Withamerrylittlelaughtheladysprungfromherchair，morelightlyfarthanIreneherselfcould，caughtthechildtoherbosom，and，kissingthetear—stainedfaceoverandover，satdownwithherinherlap。
’Oh，grandmother！You’llmakeyourselfsuchamess！’criedIrene，clingingtoher。
’Youdarling！doyouthinkIcaremoreformydressthanformylittlegirl？Besides—lookhere。’
Asshespokeshesetherdown，andIrenesawtoherdismaythatthelovelydresswascoveredwiththemudofherfallonthemountainroad。Buttheladystoopedtothefire，andtakingfromit，bythestalkinherfingers，oneoftheburningroses，passeditonceandagainandathirdtimeoverthefrontofherdress;andwhenIrenelooked，notasinglestainwastobediscovered。
’There！’saidhergrandmother，’youwon’tmindcomingtomenow？’
ButIreneagainhungback，eyingtheflamingrosewhichtheladyheldinherhand。
’You’renotafraidoftherose—areyou？’shesaid，abouttothrowitonthehearthagain。
’Oh！don’t，please！’criedIrene。’Won’tyouholdittomyfrockandmyhandsandmyface？AndI’mafraidmyfeetandmykneeswantittoo。’
’No，answeredhergrandmother，smilingalittlesadly，asshethrewtherosefromher;’itistoohotforyouyet。Itwouldsetyourfrockinaflame。Besides，Idon’twanttomakeyoucleantonight。
Iwantyournurseandtherestofthepeopletoseeyouasyouare，foryouwillhavetotellthemhowyouranawayforfearofthelong—leggedcat。Ishouldliketowashyou，buttheywouldnotbelieveyouthen。Doyouseethatbathbehindyou？’
Theprincesslooked，andsawalargeovaltubofsilver，shiningbrilliantlyinthelightofthewonderfullamp。
’Goandlookintoit，’saidthelady。
Irenewent，andcamebackverysilentwithhereyesshining。
’Whatdidyousee？’askedhergrandmother。
’Thesky，andthemoonandthestars，’sheanswered。’Itlookedasiftherewasnobottomtoit。’
Theladysmiledapleasedsatisfiedsmile，andwassilentalsoforafewmoments。Thenshesaid：
’Anytimeyouwantabath，cometome。IknowYOUhaveabatheverymorning，butsometimesyouwantoneatnight，too。’
’Thankyou，grandmother;Iwill—Iwillindeed，’answeredIrene，andwasagainsilentforsomemomentsthinking。Thenshesaid：
’Howwasit，grandmother，thatIsawyourbeautifullamp—notthelightofitonly—butthegreatroundsilverylampitself，hangingaloneinthegreatopenair，highup？ItwasyourlampIsaw—
wasn’tit？’
’Yes，mychild—itwasmylamp。’
’Thenhowwasit？Idon’tseeawindowallround。’
’WhenIpleaseIcanmakethelampshinethroughthewalls—shinesostrongthatitmeltsthemawayfrombeforethesight，andshowsitselfasyousawit。But，asItoldyou，itisnoteverybodycanseeit。’
’HowisitthatIcan，then？I’msureIdon’tknow。’
’Itisagiftbornwithyou。AndonedayIhopeeverybodywillhaveit。’
’Buthowdoyoumakeitshinethroughthewalls？’
’Ah！thatyouwouldnotunderstandifIweretotryeversomuchtomakeyou—notyet—notyet。But，’addedthelady，rising，’youmustsitinmychairwhileIgetyouthepresentIhavebeenpreparingforyou。Itoldyoumyspinningwasforyou。Itisfinishednow，andIamgoingtofetchit。Ihavebeenkeepingitwarmunderoneofmybroodingpigeons。’
Irenesatdowninthelowchair，andhergrandmotherlefther，shuttingthedoorbehindher。Thechildsatgazing，nowattherosefire，nowatthestarrywalls，nowatthesilverlight;andagreatquietnessgrewinherheart。Ifallthelong—leggedcatsintheworldhadcomerushingatherthenshewouldnothavebeenafraidofthemforamoment。Howthiswasshecouldnottell—sheonlyknewtherewasnofearinher，andeverythingwassorightandsafethatitcouldnotgetin。
Shehadbeengazingatthelovelylampforsomeminutesfixedly：
turninghereyes，shefoundthewallhadvanished，forshewaslookingoutonthedarkcloudynight。Butthoughsheheardthewindblowing，noneofitblewuponher。Inamomentmorethecloudsthemselvesparted，orrathervanishedlikethewall，andshelookedstraightintothestarryherds，flashinggloriouslyinthedarkblue。Itwasbutforamoment。Thecloudsgatheredagainandshutoutthestars;thewallgatheredagainandshutouttheclouds;andtherestoodtheladybesideherwiththeloveliestsmileonherface，andashimmeringballinherhand，aboutthesizeofapigeon’segg。
’There，Irene;thereismyworkforyou！’shesaid，holdingouttheballtotheprincess。
Shetookitinherhand，andlookedatitallover。Itsparkledalittle，andshonehereandthere，butnotmuch。Itwasofasortofgrey—whiteness，somethinglikespunglass。
’Isthisallyourspinning，grandmother？’sheasked。
’Allsinceyoucametothehouse。Thereismoretherethanyouthink。’
’Howprettyitis！WhatamItodowithit，please？’
’ThatIwillnowexplaintoyou，’answeredthelady，turningfromherandgoingtohercabinet。Shecamebackwithasmallringinherhand。ThenshetooktheballfromIrene’s，anddidsomethingwiththering—Irenecouldnottellwhat。
’Givemeyourhand，’shesaid。Ireneheldupherrighthand。
’Yes，thatisthehandIwant，’saidthelady，andputtheringontheforefingerofit。
’Whatabeautifulring！’saidIrene。’Whatisthestonecalled？’
’Itisafire—opal。’
’Please，amItokeepit？’
’Always。’
’Oh，thankyou，grandmother！It’sprettierthananythingIeversaw，exceptthose—ofallcolours—inyour—Please，isthatyourcrown？’
’Yes，itismycrown。Thestoneinyourringisofthesamesort—onlynotsogood。Ithasonlyred，butminehaveallcolours，yousee。’
’Yes，grandmother。Iwilltakesuchcareofit！But—’sheadded，hesitating。
’Butwhat？’askedhergrandmother。
’WhatamItosaywhenLootieasksmewhereIgotit？’
’Youwillaskherwhereyougotit，’answeredtheladysmiling。
’Idon’tseehowIcandothat。’
’Youwill，though。’
’OfcourseIwill，ifyousayso。But，youknow，Ican’tpretendnottoknow。’
’Ofcoursenot。Butdon’ttroubleyourselfaboutit。Youwillseewhenthetimecomes。’
Sosaying，theladyturned，andthrewthelittleballintotherosefire。
’Oh，grandmother！’exclaimedIrene;’Ithoughtyouhadspunitforme。’
’SoIdid，mychild。Andyou’vegotit。’
’No;it’sburntinthefire！’
Theladyputherhandinthefire，broughtouttheball，glimmeringasbefore，andheldittowardsher。Irenestretchedoutherhandtotakeit，buttheladyturnedand，goingtohercabinet，openedadrawer，andlaidtheballinit。
’HaveIdoneanythingtovexyou，grandmother？’saidIrenepitifully。
’No，mydarling。Butyoumustunderstandthatnooneevergivesanythingtoanotherproperlyandreallywithoutkeepingit。Thatballisyours。’
’Oh！I’mnottotakeitwithme！Youaregoingtokeepitforme！’
’Youaretotakeitwithyou。I’vefastenedtheendofittotheringonyourfinger。’
Irenelookedatthering。
’Ican’tseeitthere，grandmother，’shesaid。
’Feel—alittlewayfromthering—towardsthecabinet，’saidthelady。
’Oh！Idofeelit！’exclaimedtheprincess。’ButIcan’tseeit，’
sheadded，lookingclosetoheroutstretchedhand。
’No。Thethreadistoofineforyoutoseeit。Youcanonlyfeelit。Nowyoucanfancyhowmuchspinningthattook，althoughitdoesseemsuchalittleball。’
’ButwhatusecanImakeofit，ifitliesinyourcabinet？’
’ThatiswhatIwillexplaintoyou。Itwouldbeofnousetoyou—itwouldn’tbeyoursatallifitdidnotlieinmycabinet。Nowlisten。Ifeveryoufindyourselfinanydanger—such，forexample，asyouwereinthissameevening—youmusttakeoffyourringandputitunderthepillowofyourbed。Thenyoumustlayyourfinger，thesamethatworethering，uponthethread，andfollowthethreadwhereveritleadsyou。’
’Oh，howdelightful！Itwillleadmetoyou，grandmother，Iknow！’
’Yes。But，remember，itmayseemtoyouaveryroundaboutwayindeed，andyoumustnotdoubtthethread。Ofonethingyoumaybesure，thatwhileyouholdit，Iholdittoo。’
’Itisverywonderful！’saidIrenethoughtfully。Thensuddenlybecomingaware，shejumpedup，crying：
’Oh，grandmother！herehaveIbeensittingallthistimeinyourchair，andyoustanding！Ibegyourpardon。’
Theladylaidherhandonhershoulder，andsaid：
’Sitdownagain，Irene。Nothingpleasesmebetterthantoseeanyonesitinmychair。Iamonlytoogladtostandsolongasanyonewillsitinit。’
’Howkindofyou！’saidtheprincess，andsatdownagain。
’Itmakesmehappy，’saidthelady。
’But，’saidIrene，stillpuzzled，’won’tthethreadgetinsomebody’swayandbebroken，iftheoneendisfasttomyring，andtheotherlaidinyourcabinet？’
’Youwillfindallthatarrangeitself。Iamafraiditistimeforyoutogo。’
’Mightn’tIstayandsleepwithyoutonight，grandmother？’
’No，nottonight。IfIhadmeantyoutostaytonight，Ishouldhavegivenyouabath;butyouknoweverybodyinthehouseismiserableaboutyou，anditwouldbecrueltokeepthemsoallnight。Youmustgodownstairs。’
’I’msoglad，grandmother，youdidn’tsay\"Gohome，\"forthisismyhome。Mayn’tIcallthismyhome？’
’Youmay，mychild。AndItrustyouwillalwaysthinkityourhome。Nowcome。Imusttakeyoubackwithoutanyoneseeingyou。’
’Please，Iwanttoaskyouonequestionmore，’saidIrene。’Isitbecauseyouhaveyourcrownonthatyoulooksoyoung？’
’No，child，’answeredhergrandmother;’itisbecauseIfeltsoyoungthiseveningthatIputmycrownon。AndIthoughtyouwouldliketoseeyouroldgrandmotherinherbest。’
’Whydoyoucallyourselfold？You’renotold，grandmother。’
’Iamveryoldindeed。Itissosillyofpeople—Idon’tmeanyou，foryouaresuchatiny，andcouldn’tknowbetter—butitissosillyofpeopletofancythatoldagemeanscrookednessandwitherednessandfeeblenessandsticksandspectaclesandrheumatismandforgetfulness！Itissosilly！Oldagehasnothingwhatevertodowithallthat。Therightoldagemeansstrengthandbeautyandmirthandcourageandcleareyesandstrongpainlesslimbs。Iamolderthanyouareabletothink，and—’
’Andlookatyou，grandmother！’criedIrene，jumpingupandflingingherarmsaboutherneck。’Iwon’tbesosillyagain，I
promiseyou。Atleast—I’mratherafraidtopromise—butifI
am，Ipromisetobesorryforit—Ido。IwishIwereasoldasyou，grandmother。Idon’tthinkyouareeverafraidofanything。’
’Notforlong，atleast，mychild。PerhapsbythetimeIamtwothousandyearsofage，Ishall，indeed，neverbeafraidofanything。ButIconfessIhavesometimesbeenafraidaboutmychildren—sometimesaboutyou，Irene。’
’Oh，I’msosorry，grandmother！Tonight，Isuppose，youmean。’
’Yes—alittletonight;butagooddealwhenyouhadallbutmadeupyourmindthatIwasadream，andnorealgreat—great—grandmother。YoumustnotsupposeIamblamingyouforthat。Idaresayyoucouldnothelpit。’
’Idon’tknow，grandmother，’saidtheprincess，beginningtocry。
’Ican’talwaysdomyselfasIshouldlike。AndIdon’talwaystry。I’mverysorryanyhow。’
Theladystooped，liftedherinherarms，andsatdownwithherinherchair，holdingherclosetoherbosom。Inafewminutestheprincesshadsobbedherselftosleep。HowlongshesleptIdonotknow。Whenshecametoherselfshewassittinginherownhighchairatthenurserytable，withherdoll’shousebeforeher。
CHAPTER16
TheRingThesamemomenthernursecameintotheroom，sobbing。Whenshesawhersittingthereshestartedbackwithaloudcryofamazementandjoy。Thenrunningtoher，shecaughtherinherarmsandcoveredherwithkisses。
’Mypreciousdarlingprincess！wherehaveyoubeen？Whathashappenedtoyou？We’veallbeencryingoureyesout，andsearchingthehousefromtoptobottomforyou。’
’Notquitefromthetop，’thoughtIrenetoherself;andshemighthaveadded，’notquitetothebottom’，perhaps，ifshehadknownall。Buttheoneshewouldnot，andtheothershecouldnotsay。
’Oh，Lootie！I’vehadsuchadreadfuladventure！’shereplied，andtoldherallaboutthecatwiththelonglegs，andhowsheranoutuponthemountain，andcamebackagain。Butshesaidnothingofhergrandmotherorherlamp。
’Andtherewe’vebeensearchingforyoualloverthehouseformorethananhourandahalf！’exclaimedthenurse。’Butthat’snomatter，nowwe’vegotyou！Only，princess，Imustsay，’sheadded，hermoodchanging，’whatyououghttohavedonewastocallforyourownLootietocomeandhelpyou，insteadofrunningoutofthehouse，andupthemountain，inthatwild，Imustsay，foolishfashion。’
’Well，Lootie，’saidIrenequietly，’perhapsifyouhadabigcat，alllegs，runningatyou，youmightnotexactlyknowwhatwasthewisestthingtodoatthemoment。’
’Iwouldn’trunupthemountain，anyhow，’returnedLootie。
’Notifyouhadtimetothinkaboutit。Butwhenthosecreaturescameatyouthatnightonthemountain，youweresofrightenedyourselfthatyoulostyourwayhome。’
ThisputastoptoLootie’sreproaches。Shehadbeenonthepointofsayingthatthelong—leggedcatmusthavebeenatwilightfancyoftheprincess’s，butthememoryofthehorrorsofthatnight，andofthetalking—towhichthekinghadgivenherinconsequence，preventedherfromsayingwhatafterallshedidnothalfbelieve—havingastrongsuspicionthatthecatwasagoblin;forsheknewnothingofthedifferencebetweenthegoblinsandtheircreatures：
shecountedthemalljustgoblins。
Withoutanotherwordshewentandgotsomefreshteaandbreadandbutterfortheprincess。Beforeshereturned，thewholehousehold，headedbythehousekeeper，burstintothenurserytoexultovertheirdarling。Thegentlemen—at—armsfollowed，andwerereadyenoughtobelieveallshetoldthemaboutthelong—leggedcat。
Indeed，thoughwiseenoughtosaynothingaboutit，theyremembered，withnolittlehorror，justsuchacreatureamongstthosetheyhadsurprisedattheirgambolsupontheprincess’slawn。
Intheirownheartstheyblamedthemselvesfornothavingkeptbetterwatch。Andtheircaptaingaveordersthatfromthisnightthefrontdoorandallthewindowsonthegroundfloorshouldbelockedimmediatelythesunset，andopenedafteruponnopretencewhatever。Themen—at—armsredoubledtheirvigilance，andforsometimetherewasnofurthercauseofalarm。
Whentheprincesswokethenextmorning，hernursewasbendingoverher。’Howyourringdoesglowthismorning，princess！—justlikeafieryrose！’shesaid。
’Doesit，Lootie？’returnedIrene。’Whogavemethering，Lootie？
IknowI’vehaditalongtime，butwheredidIgetit？Idon’tremember。’
’Ithinkitmusthavebeenyourmothergaveityou，princess;butreally，foraslongasyouhavewornit，Idon’trememberthateverIheard，’answeredhernurse。
’Iwillaskmyking—papathenexttimehecomes，’saidIrene。
CHAPTER17
SpringtimeThespringsodeartoallcreatures，youngandold，cameatlast，andbeforethefirstfewdaysofithadgone，thekingrodethroughitsbuddingvalleystoseehislittledaughter。Hehadbeeninadistantpartofhisdominionsallthewinter，forhewasnotinthehabitofstoppinginonegreatcity，orofvisitingonlyhisfavouritecountryhouses，buthemovedfromplacetoplace，thatallhispeoplemightknowhim。Whereverhejourneyed，hekeptaconstantlook—outfortheablestandbestmentoputintooffice;
andwhereverhefoundhimselfmistaken，andthosehehadappointedincapableorunjust，heremovedthematonce。Henceyouseeitwashiscareofthepeoplethatkepthimfromseeinghisprincesssooftenashewouldhaveliked。Youmaywonderwhyhedidnottakeheraboutwithhim;buttherewereseveralreasonsagainsthisdoingso，andIsuspecthergreat—great—grandmotherhadhadaprincipalhandinpreventingit。OncemoreIreneheardthebugle—blast，andoncemoreshewasatthegatetomeetherfatherasherodeuponhisgreatwhitehorse。
Aftertheyhadbeenaloneforalittlewhile，shethoughtofwhatshehadresolvedtoaskhim。
’Please，king—papa，’shesaid，’WillyoutellmewhereIgotthisprettyring？Ican’tremember。’
Thekinglookedatit。Astrangebeautifulsmilespreadlikesunshineoverhisface，andanansweringsmile，butatthesametimeaquestioningone，spreadlikemoonlightoverIrene’s。’Itwasyourqueen—mamma’sonce，’hesaid。
’Andwhyisn’tithersnow？’askedIrene。
’Shedoesnotwantitnow，’saidtheking，lookinggrave。
’Whydoesn’tshewantitnow？’
’Becauseshe’sgonewhereallthoseringsaremade。’
’AndwhenshallIseeher？’askedtheprincess。
’Notforsometimeyet，’answeredtheking，andthetearscameintohiseyes。
Irenedidnotrememberhermotheranddidnotknowwhyherfatherlookedso，andwhythetearscameinhiseyes;butsheputherarmsroundhisneckandkissedhim，andaskednomorequestions。
Thekingwasmuchdisturbedonhearingthereportofthegentlemen—at—armsconcerningthecreaturestheyhadseen;andI
presumewouldhavetakenIrenewithhimthatveryday，butforwhatthepresenceoftheringonherfingerassuredhimof。Aboutanhourbeforeheleft，Irenesawhimgouptheoldstair;andhedidnotcomedownagaintilltheywerejustreadytostart;andshethoughtwithherselfthathehadbeenuptoseetheoldlady。Whenhewentawayheleftothersixgentlemenbehindhim，thattheremightbesixofthemalwaysonguard。
Andnow，inthelovelyspringweather，Irenewasoutonthemountainthegreaterpartoftheday。Inthewarmerhollowstherewerelovelyprimroses，andnotsomanythatsheevergottiredofthem。Asoftenasshesawanewoneopeninganeyeoflightintheblindearth，shewouldclapherhandswithgladness，andunlikesomechildrenIknow，insteadofpullingit，wouldtouchitastenderlyasifithadbeenanewbaby，and，havingmadeitsacquaintance，wouldleaveitashappyasshefoundit。Shetreatedtheplantsonwhichtheygrewlikebirds’nests;everyfreshflowerwaslikeanewlittlebirdtoher。Shewouldpayvisitstoalltheflower—nestssheknew，rememberingeachbyitself。Shewouldgodownonherhandsandkneesbesideoneandsay：’Goodmorning！Areyouallsmellingverysweetthismorning？Good—bye！’andthenshewouldgotoanothernest，andsaythesame。Itwasafavouriteamusementwithher。Thereweremanyflowersupanddown，andshelovedthemall，buttheprimroseswereherfavourites。
’They’renottooshy，andthey’renotabitforward，’shewouldsaytoLootie。
Thereweregoatstooabout，overthemountain，andwhenthelittlekidscameshewasaspleasedwiththemaswiththeflowers。Thegoatsbelongedtotheminersmostly—afewofthemtoCurdie’smother;buttherewereagoodmanywildonesthatseemedtobelongtonobody。Thesethegoblinscountedtheirs，anditwasuponthempartlythattheylived。Theysetsnaresanddugpitsforthem;anddidnotscrupletotakewhattameoneshappenedtobecaught;buttheydidnottrytostealtheminanyothermanner，becausetheywereafraidofthedogsthehill—peoplekepttowatchthem，fortheknowingdogsalwaystriedtobitetheirfeet。Butthegoblinshadakindofsheepoftheirown—veryqueercreatures，whichtheydroveouttofeedatnight，andtheothergoblincreatureswerewiseenoughtokeepgoodwatchoverthem，fortheyknewtheyshouldhavetheirbonesbyandby。
CHAPTER18
Curdie’sClueCurdiewasaswatchfulasever，butwasalmostgettingtiredofhisillsuccess。Everyothernightorsohefollowedthegoblinsabout，astheywentondiggingandboring，andgettingasnearthemashecould，watchedthemfrombehindstonesandrocks;butasyetheseemednonearerfindingoutwhattheyhadinview。Asatfirst，healwayskeptholdoftheendofhisstring，whilehispickaxe，leftjustoutsidetheholebywhichheenteredthegoblins’countryfromthemine，continuedtoserveasananchorandholdfasttheotherend。Thegoblins，hearingnomorenoiseinthatquarter，hadceasedtoapprehendanimmediateinvasion，andkeptnowatch。
Onenight，afterdodgingaboutandlisteningtillhewasnearlyfallingasleepwithweariness，hebegantorolluphisball，forhehadresolvedtogohometobed。Itwasnotlong，however，beforehebegantofeelbewildered。Oneafteranotherhepassedgoblinhouses，caves，thatis，occupiedbygoblinfamilies，andatlengthwassuretheyweremanymorethanhehadpassedashecame。Hehadtousegreatcautiontopassunseen—theylaysoclosetogether。
Couldhisstringhaveledhimwrong？Hestillfollowedwindingit，andstillitledhimintomorethicklypopulatedquarters，untilhebecamequiteuneasy，andindeedapprehensive;foralthoughhewasnotafraidofthecobs，hewasafraidofnotfindinghiswayout。
Butwhatcouldhedo？Itwasofnousetositdownandwaitforthemorning—themorningmadenodifferencehere。Itwasdark，andalwaysdark;andifhisstringfailedhimhewashelpless。Hemightevenarrivewithinayardofthemineandneverknowit。
Seeinghecoulddonothingbetterhewouldatleastfindwheretheendofhisstringwas，and，ifpossible，howithadcometoplayhimsuchatrick。Heknewbythesizeoftheballthathewasgettingprettynearthelastofit，whenhebegantofeelatuggingandpullingatit。Whatcoulditmean？Turningasharpcorner，hethoughtheheardstrangesounds。Thesegrew，ashewenton，toascufflingandgrowlingandsqueaking;andthenoiseincreased，until，turningasecondsharpcorner，hefoundhimselfinthemidstofit，andthesamemomenttumbledoverawallowingmass，whichheknewmustbeaknotofthecobs’creatures。Beforehecouldrecoverhisfeet，hehadcaughtsomegreatscratchesonhisfaceandseveralseverebitesonhislegsandarms。Butashescrambledtogetup，hishandfelluponhispickaxe，andbeforethehorridbeastscoulddohimanyseriousharm，hewaslayingaboutwithitrightandleftinthedark。Thehideouscrieswhichfollowedgavehimthesatisfactionofknowingthathehadpunishedsomeofthemprettysmartlyfortheirrudeness，andbytheirscamperingandtheirretreatinghowls，heperceivedthathehadroutedthem。Hestoodforalittle，weighinghisbattle—axeinhishandasifithadbeenthemostpreciouslumpofmetal—butindeednolumpofgolditselfcouldhavebeensopreciousatthetimeasthatcommontool—thenuntiedtheendofthestringfromit，puttheballinhispocket，andstillstoodthinking。Itwasclearthatthecobs’
creatureshadfoundhisaxe，hadbetweenthemcarrieditoff，andhadsoledhimheknewnotwhere。Butforallhisthinkinghecouldnottellwhatheoughttodo，untilsuddenlyhebecameawareofaglimmeroflightinthedistance。Withoutamoment’shesitationhesetoutforit，asfastastheunknownandruggedwaywouldpermit。Yetagainturningacorner，ledbythedimlight，hespiedsomethingquitenewinhisexperienceoftheundergroundregions—asmallirregularshapeofsomethingshining。Goinguptoit，hefounditwasapieceofmica，orMuscovyglass，calledsheep—silverinScotland，andthelightflickeredasiffromafirebehindit。Aftertryinginvainforsometimetodiscoveranentrancetotheplacewhereitwasburning，hecameatlengthtoasmallchamberinwhichanopening，highinthewall，revealedaglowbeyond。Tothisopeninghemanagedtoscrambleup，andthenhesawastrangesight。
Belowsatalittlegroupofgoblinsaroundafire，thesmokeofwhichvanishedinthedarknessfaraloft。Thesidesofthecavewerefullofshiningmineralslikethoseofthepalacehall;andthecompanywasevidentlyofasuperiororder，foreveryoneworestonesabouthead，orarms，orwaist，shiningdullgorgeouscoloursinthelightofthefire。NorhadCurdielookedlongbeforeherecognizedthekinghimself，andfoundthathehadmadehiswayintotheinnerapartmentoftheroyalfamily。Hehadneverhadsuchagoodchanceofhearingsomething。Hecreptthroughtheholeassoftlyashecould，scrambledagoodwaydownthewalltowardsthemwithoutattractingattention，andthensatdownandlistened。
Theking，evidentlythequeen，andprobablythecrownprinceandthePrimeMinisterweretalkingtogether。Hewassureofthequeenbyhershoes，forasshewarmedherfeetatthefire，hesawthemquiteplainly。
’Thatwillbefun！’saidtheonehetookforthecrownprince。
Itwasthefirstwholesentenceheheard。
’Idon’tseewhyyoushouldthinkitsuchagrandaffair！’saidhisstepmother，tossingherheadbackward。
’Youmustremember，myspouse，’interposedHisMajesty，asifmakingexcuseforhisson，’hehasgotthesamebloodinhim。Hismother—’
’Don’ttalktomeofhismother！Youpositivelyencouragehisunnaturalfancies。Whateverbelongstothatmotheroughttobecutoutofhim。’
’Youforgetyourself，mydear！’saidtheking。
’Idon’t，’saidthequeen，’noryoueither。Ifyouexpectmetoapproveofsuchcoarsetastes，youwillfindyourselfmistaken。I
don’twearshoesfornothing。’
’Youmustacknowledge，however，’thekingsaid，withalittlegroan，’thatthisatleastisnowhimofHarelip’s，butamatterofStatepolicy。Youarewellawarethathisgratificationcomespurelyfromthepleasureofsacrificinghimselftothepublicgood。
Doesitnot，Harelip？’
’Yes，father;ofcourseitdoes。Onlyitwillbenicetomakehercry。I’llhavetheskintakenoffbetweenhertoes，andtiethemuptilltheygrowtogether。Thenherfeetwillbelikeotherpeople’s，andtherewillbenooccasionforhertowearshoes。’
’DoyoumeantoinsinuateI’vegottoes，youunnaturalwretch？’
criedthequeen;andshemovedangrilytowardsHarelip。Thecouncillor，however，whowasbetwixtthem，leanedforwardsoastopreventhertouchinghim，butonlyasiftoaddresstheprince。
’YourRoyalHighness，’hesaid，’possiblyrequirestoberemindedthatyouhavegotthreetoesyourself—oneononefoot，twoontheother。’
’Ha！ha！ha！’shoutedthequeentriumphantly。