The Princess and Curdie

Mi

n talking about all manner of wonderful tales that were abroad in the country, chiefly, of course, those connected with the mines, and the mountains in which they lay. Their wives and mothers and grandmothers were their chief authorities. For when they sa

, however, had seen her also, and they all had told them tales about her when they were children. They said she could take any shape she liked, but that in reality she was a withered old woman, so old and so withered that she was as

s sure to be ill. To this, one of them, however, added that he remembered his mother saying that whoever in bad health drank of the well was sure to get better. But the majority agreed that the former was the right version of the story-for was she not a

rm of an angel. But nobody except Curdie, who was holding his peace with all his might, saw any sense in the question. They said an old woma

s a bad creature. Even if they didn't know it, they said, a woman like that was so much more likely to be bad than good. Why did she go about at night? Why did she appear only now and then, and on such occasions? One went on to tell how one night when his grandfather had been having

a good thing water was,' said Peter; but the ma

y say too that the housekeeper knows all about it, and is hand and glove with the old witch. I don't doubt they have man

me night. To be sure she left a fine calf behind her-I mean the cow did, not the witch. I

a whole congregation of cobs about her. When they saw my wife they all scampered off as fast as they could run, and where the wi

put in a word now and then, and Curdie diligently held his peace. B

rdie, what are

m thinking of anyth

're not sayi

ou are saying so much, you're n

a set of fools you are to talk such rubbish; as if ever there was or could be su

says anything about her should be quite sure it is true,

man. 'If she is What they say-I don't know-but I never knew a ma

being afraid of anything that's bad. I suspect that the things they tell, however, if we knew all about them, would turn ou

rst into a

y cried. 'He believes

fraid o

all she do

ith her, that she may help

world! And so I'd advise you too, Master Curdie; that is, when your eyes ha

ot as close to his father as he could, however, for that helped him to bear it. As soon as they were tired of laughi

uld rather walk home together without other company, and ther