The Princess and the Goblin

s and-We Sh

nd of the rain, which now she scarcely heard. The low sweet humming sound went on, sometimes stopping for a little while and then beginning again. It was more like the hum of a very happy bee that had found a rich well of honey in some globular flower, than anything else I can think of at this moment. Where could it come from? She laid her ear first to one of the doors

from her forehead and face, and hung loose far down and all over her back. That is not much like an old lady-is it? Ah! but it was white almost as snow. And although her face was so smooth, her eyes looked so wise that y

the old lady lifted hers, and said, in a sweet, but old and rather shaky

r; come in. I am

the door, and stare without moving, as I have known some do who ought to have been princesses but were only rat

my dear,' sai

ather slowly, I confess-but did not stop until she stood by her side, and

doing with your eyes, c

answered t

, ch

ldn't find my

uld find yo

st-not for

e back of a zebra. Hadn't you a ha

N

ou come to me to w

know you were here

d child!' said

a little silver basin and a soft white towel, with which she washed and wiped th

shone like silver. There was hardly any more furniture in the room than there might have been in that of the poorest old woman who made her bread by her spinning. There was no carpet on the floor-no table anywhere-nothing but the spinning-wheel and the chair beside it. Wh

now my na

ow it,' answere

me is

ame!' cried

ave mine. I haven't got y

the princess, bewildered.

objection to your having it; and, of course,

ive me your name-and such a p

ose things one can give away and keep all the same. I have a go

I should-

great-grandmothe

t?' asked t

r's mother's fa

understand that,'

ect you would. But that's no

answered t

the lady went on. 'But you will be able to understa

esterday? Or was it today, because i

ever since you

id the princess. 'I do

suppo

ver saw y

u shall see

e in this r

n the opposite side of the land

ch prettier. You must be a queen too,

I am a

crown, then?' '

d like t

some day-

y nursie nev

't know. She

nows that you a

nob

get your d

oultry-of

o you ke

l show

the chicken b

ll any of M

can't un

r breakfast this morn

lk, and an egg-I dare s

s it. I eat

makes your h

It's old age.

so. Are y

re than

ou a h

too old for you to guess.

chickens, but instead of that, she saw the blue sky first, and then the roofs of the house, with a multitude of the loveliest pigeons, mostly white, but of all colours, walking about,

my poultry,' said t

e princess, smiling too. 'But what v

oon you must have! Wouldn't it be bett

I feed the

s. 'The pigeons feed them

ouldn't fly, I coul

t at the eggs? Whe

great many pigeon-holes with nests, some with young ones and some with eggs in them. The birds came in at the other

e princess. 'Will you give me a

, or nursie will be miserable about you. I

, how surprised she will be when I tell h

lady with a curious smile. 'Mind

ase will you take

ou to the top of the stair, and then you m

the second, and did not leave her till she saw her half-way down the third. When she heard the cry of her nurse's pleasure at finding her, she turned and w

of hers I will tell

t she was