The Princess and the Goblin

ittle

she nearly cried when she saw that the weather was no better. But the mist was not of such a dark dingy grey; there was light in it; and as the hours went on it gre

Look how bright he is! Do get my hat, and let us go

e wool the sun had bleached till it was almost too white for the eyes to bear. Between them the sky shone with a deeper and purer blue, because of the rain. The trees on the roadside were hung all over with drops, which sparkled in the sun like jewels. The only things that were no brighter for the rain were the brooks that ran down the mountain; they had ch

ier to go downhill, and saying that when they did turn they would be at home in a moment. So on and on they did go, now to look at a group of ferns over whose tops a stream was pouring in a watery arch, now to pick a shining stone from a rock by the wayside

nursie?' asked Irene, r

be out a mo

being out a good ma

y were nearly a mile up the mountain! If His Majesty, Irene's papa, were to hear of it, Lootie would certainly be dismissed; and to leave the princess would break her heart. I

you run so fast? It shak

t talk,' s

ys saying: 'Look, look, Lootie!' but Lootie pai

't you see that funny ma

and when they came nearer, the princess saw it was only

eature at the foot of that old tree. Look at i

with a crash. It was a hard downhill road, and she had been running very fast-so it was no wonder she began to cry. This p

rincess, trying to keep in her sobs, an

said the nurse,

ttering from somewhere near, and a hoarse indist

sigh that was almost a scream

an't run any more. D

aid the nurse. 'Here

run with, and had to set her down again. Then she l

somewhere, and I don't know w

enough they had lost the way. They had been running down i

ing to see her nurse in such a fright. Before, however, she had time to grow thoroughly alarmed like her, she heard the sound of whistling, and that revived her. Presently she

! dod

hammers

turn a

d puff a

rive t

e goblin

e shin

two,

as gold

five

mattock

eight

ur lamp

leven,

hold t

merry mi

blins hold

and in such a place made her tremble. It would bring the goblins upon them to a certainty, she th

, fourtee

worth th

seventeen

e match, a

een,

in a p

whispered shriek. But the boy, who

scush!

u go in

gobble

u go a w

hobble,

cobble!

ob-go

uuu

They can't bear singing, and they can't stand that song. They can't sing themselves

s in their rocks. He was about twelve years old. His face was almost too pale for beauty, which came of his being so little in the open air and the sunlight-for even vegetables grown in

I did. I knew they were after somebody, but I couldn't se

nurse, offended at the freed

eter's

's P

the m

him.' 'I'm his

d the goblins

t mind them. I'

rence does

hat is. It's a different thing down there. They won't always mind that song even, down there. And if anyone sings it, they stan

him?' asked Irene, w

ning the princess

is curious cap. 'I beg your pardon; but you oughtn't to

rse, beginning to cry again. 'An

incess who will suffer for it. I hope they didn't hear you call her the pri

cried the prince

urse to the boy, almost fiercely. '

way if you hadn't been frightened,' said the boy. 'Come along. I

ling someone belonging to the house, and then it would be sure to come to the king's ears. 'No, thank you,' said Irene. 'I can walk very

between them, hold

run,' sai

can do. If you hadn't run before, you would not have lost you

nt to run,'

ink of me,' s

boy says they won't to

I've kept you out so late I shall be tu

ootie! Who woul

papa,

as all my fault. And yo

d that. I'm s

y knees to him, and beg him not

nd said no more. They went on, walking pre

e to the little miner; 'but it's s

urdie, littl

name! Curdie

on. What's you

re

t mo

more. What more i

ot more than one name

ou must call me just

nurse indignantly. 'He

he call me,

called names. I don't like them. You told me once yourself it's only rude childre

ich showed he enjoyed teasing her; 'it is very kind of yo

ned to speak. She was staring at something a few yards before them in the middle o

you to go out of your way t

Curdie. 'It's on the other side of those

ng us till we're safe home,

e not,' s

I'll give you a kiss when we

mp of earth brought down by the rain, began to move. One after another it shot out four long things, like two arms and two legs, but it was now to

e,

and

e, f

and

e,

e's

n, e

it st

e,

ag

y! s

r! sm

e's

he r

sh

ash

y

y

e ano

and

's en

uuu

ve a great spring, and ran straight up one of the rocks like a huge spider. Curdie turned back laughing, and took Irene's hand again. She grasped his very

quite like your song: it sound

I never thought of that; it's a way we ha

on't l

, as we c

said th

t?' sai

won't. Pl

on't a bit know why. Look! there are the lights of your gre

ging to their part of the house without anyone seeing them. The nurse was rushing in with a hurried and not over-gracious good night to Curdie;

I promised a ki

e kisses. It's not at a

sed,' said t

asion; he's onl

y, and he has been very kind to

houldn't ha

promised

otie, suddenly grown very resp

her word,' said Irene, drawing h

unted neither of them the worse. However much he might have disliked his daughter to kiss the miner-boy, he would not have had her break her word for all the goblins in creation. But, as I say, the nurse was not l

t kiss me tonight. But you shan't break your word.

e!' said the princess

Lootie,' said Curdie, and turned

ttered the nurse, as she carri

You may be sure Curdie will keep

ant. Glad enough that she had succeeded both in getting home unseen, and in keeping the princess from kissing the miner's boy, she resolved to watch her far better i