The Princess and Curdie

s in a

to find their way from the natural hollows of the mountain crossed by goblin paths, if their lamps should go out? To spend the night there would mean to sit and wait until an earth

rew redder and smokier! But they did not lose courage, for there is a kind of capillary attraction in the facing of two souls, that lifts faith quite beyond the level to which either could raise it alone: they k

huddered. First one, then the other went out, leaving for a moment a great, red, evil-smelling snuff. Then all was the blackness of darkness up to their very hearts and everywhere around them. Was it? No. Far away-it looked miles away-shone one minute faint point of green light-where, who could tell? They only knew that it shone. It grew larger, and seemed to draw nearer, until at last, as they wa

me nearer they bowed their heads. Yet now they looked with fearless eyes, for the woman that was old

et you going to and from the mine, and seen

uld take notice of a poor man like me?' said Peter, humb

you sat by the brook, and Curdie told you about my pigeon, and my spinning, and wondered whether he could believe that he had actually seen m

d her laugh was a lightning

many have learned to prize. You must not mistake, however, and imagine it a virtue; it is but a privilege, and one also that, like other privileges, may be terribly misused. Had you been rich, my Peter, you would not have been so good as some rich men I know. And now I am going to tell you what no one knows but myself: you, Peter, and your wife both have the blood of the royal f

to Curdie

Curdie, 'may I

ot, Cu

, ma'am, that nobody must

many as you please-that is, so long as they are sensible. Only I may take a few thousa

a'am, for I feel very confused about i

all me that if you like

ther Wotherwop! And the Princess Irene told me you were her great-great-grandmother! And you spin the spider threads, and take care of a whole people of

She laid hold of it with her fingers, broke it out, and gave it to Peter. 'There!' cried Curdie. 'I told you so. Twenty men

die, and not one of them would be a false one. What

'am. Look at what you were like l

d dresses are only names. That which

n all the shapes

lish talk and nursery tale may please to put upon me. Also, it is one thing what you or your father may think about me, and quite another what a foolish or bad man may see in me. For instance, if a thief were to come in

nderstand,'

then to him, 'you will have to g

s us, ma'am, that w

s. And as she said it she put out her hand, and took the hard, h

dded, 'for we understand ea

bowed his head in thankfulness, and

oung, beautiful princ

are you read

m,' answer

ot know w

a'am. That

e to prepare yourself, Curdie,' she returned, with one of

can I tell what you

? But those who know me well, know me whatever new dress or shape or

rdie, 'could you not give me some sign, or tell me something about you t

nd talk to it as if it heard and saw and loved you. Much good that would do you, Curdie! No; you must do what you can to know me, and if you do, you will. You shall see me again in very different circumstances from these, and, I will tell you so much, it may be in a very different shape. But come now, I will lead you out of this cavern; my good Joan will be getting too anxious about you. One word more:

n front of them, and to which they came no nearer, although following it at a quick pace through the mountain. Such was their confidence in her guidance, however, and so fearless were they in consequence, that they felt their way neither

heir surprise, three paces away they saw, seated upon a stone, an old country-woman, i

ning!' sa

d the old woman, in a v

ook off his

servant,

woman

ove tower tomorrow n

ma'am,' s

n went home to wife and mother-tw