 CHAPTER 1 Why the Princess has a story about her. There was once a little princess whose father was king over a great country full of mountains and valleys. His palace was built upon one of the mountains, and was very grand and beautiful. The princess, whose name was Irene, was born there, but she was sent soon after her birth, because her mother was not very strong, to be brought up by country people in a large house, half castle, half farmhouse, on the side of another mountain, about half way between its base and its peak. The princess was a sweet little creature, and at the time my story begins was about eight years old, I think, but she got older very fast. Her face was fair and pretty, with eyes like two bits of night sky, each with a star dissolved in the blue. Those eyes you would have thought must have known they came from there, so often were they turned up in that direction. The ceiling of her nursery was blue, with stars in it, as like the sky as they could make it, but I doubt if ever she saw the real sky with the stars in it, for a reason which I'd better mention at once. These mountains were full of hollow places underneath, huge caverns and winding ways, some with water running through them, and some shining with all colours of the rainbow when a light was taken in. There would not have been much known about them, had there not been mines there, great deep pits, with long galleries and passages running off from them, which had been dug to get out the ore of which the mountains were full. In the course of digging, the miners came upon many of these natural caverns. A few of them had far-off openings, out on the side of a mountain, or into a ravine. Now, in these subterranean caverns lived a strange race of beings, called by some gnomes, by some kobolds, by some goblins. There was a legend, current in the country, that at one time they lived above ground, and were very like other people, but for some reason or other, concerning which there were different legendary theories. The king had laid what they thought too severe taxes upon them, or had required observances of them they did not like, or had begun to treat them with more severity in some way or other, and imposed stricter laws. And the consequence was that they had all disappeared from the face of the country. According to the legend, however, instead of going to some other country, they had all taken refuge in the subterranean caverns, whence they never came out but at night, and then seldom showed themselves in any numbers, and never to many people at once. It was only in the least frequented and most difficult parts of the mountains that they were said to gather, even at night, and in the open air. Those who had caught sight of any of them said that they had greatly altered in the course of generations. And no wonder, seeing they lived away from the sun in cold and wet and dark places. They were now not ordinarily ugly, but either absolutely hideous, or ludicrously grotesque, both in face and form. There was no invention, they said, of a most lawless imagination expressed by pen or paper, that could surpass the extravagance of their appearance. But I suspect those who said so had mistaken some of their animal companions for the goblins themselves, of which, more by and by, the goblins themselves were not so far removed from the human, as such a description would imply. And as they grew misshapen in body, they had grown in knowledge and cleverness, and now were able to do things no mortal could see the possibility of. But as they grew in cunning, they grew in mischief, and their great delight was in every way they could think of to an either people who lived in the open air-story above them. They had enough of affection left for each other, to preserve them from being absolutely cruel for cruelty's sake, to those that came in their way. But still they so heartily cherished the ancestral grudge against those who occupied their former possessions, and especially against the descendants of the king who had caused their expulsion, that they sought every opportunity of tormenting them in ways that were as odd as their inventors. And although dwarfed and misshapen, they had strength equal to their cunning. In the process of time they had got a king and a government of their own, whose chief business, beyond their own simple affairs, was to devise trouble for their neighbours. It will now be pretty evident why the little princess had never seen the sky at night. They were too much afraid of the goblins to let her out of the house again, even in company with ever so many attendants. And they had good reason, as we shall see by and by. CHAPTER II The Princess Loses Herself I have said the princess Irene was about eight years old when my story begins, and this is how it begins. One very wet day, when the mountain was covered with mist, which was constantly gathering itself together into raindrops, and pouring down on the roofs of the great old house, whence it fell in a fringe of water from the eaves all around it, the princess could not, of course, go out. She got very tired, so tired that even her toys could no longer amuse her. You would wonder at that, if I had time to describe to you one half of the toy she had. But then you wouldn't have the toys themselves, and that makes all the difference. You can't get tired of a thing before you have it. It was a picture, though, worth seeing. The princess, sitting in the nursery with the sky ceiling over her head, at a great table covered with her toys. If the artist would like to draw this, I should advise him not to meddle with the toys. I am afraid of attempting to describe them. But I think he had better not to try to draw them. He had better not. He can do a thousand things I can't, but I don't think he could draw those toys. No man could better make the princess herself than he could, though. Leaning with her back bowed into the back of the chair, her head hanging down, and her hands in a lap, very miserable, as she would say herself, not even knowing what she would like. It were to go out and get thoroughly wet, and catch a particularly nice cold, and have to go to bed and take gruel. The next moment after you see her sitting there, her nurse goes out of the room. Even that is a change, and the princess wakes up a little and looks about her. Then she tumbles off her chair and runs out of the door. Not the same door the nurse went out of, but one which opened at the foot of a curious old stair, of worm-eaten oak, which looked as if never anyone had set foot upon it. She had, once before, been up six steps, and that was a sufficient reason, in such a day, for trying to find out what was at the top of it. Up and up she ran, such a long way it seemed to her, until she came to the top of the third flight. There she found the landing was the end of a long passage. After this she ran. It was full on doors on each side. There were so many that she did not care to open any, but ran on to the end where she turned into another passage, also full of doors. When she had turned twice more, and still saw doors and only doors about her, she began to get frightened. It was so silent, and all those doors must hide rooms with nobody in them. That was dreadful. So the rain made a great trampling noise on the roof. She turned, and started at full speed, her little footsteps echoing through the sounds of the rain, back for the stairs and her safe nursery, so she thought, but she had lost herself long ago. It doesn't follow that she was lost, because she had lost herself, though. She ran for some distance, turned several times, and then began to be afraid. Very soon she was sure that she had lost her way back, rooms everywhere and no stair. Her little heart beat as fast as her little feet ran, and a lump of tears was growing in her throat. But she was too eager, and perhaps too frightened, to cry for some time. At last her hope failed her. Nothing but passages and doors everywhere. She threw herself on the floor, and burst into a wailing cry, broken by sobs. She did not cry long, however, for she was as brave as could be expected of a princess of her age. After a good cry she got up, and brushed the dust from her frock. Oh, what old dust it was! Then she wiped her eyes with her hands, for princesses don't always have their handkerchiefs in their pockets, any more than some other little girls I know of. Next like a true princess, she resolved on going wisely to work to find her way back. She would walk through the passages, and look in every direction for the stair. This she did, but without success. She went over the same ground again and again without knowing it, for the passages and doors were all alike. At last, in a corner, through a half-open door, she did see a stair. But alas! It went the wrong way. Instead of going down it went up, frightened as she was, however. She could not help wishing to see where yet further the stair could lead. It was very narrow, and so steep, that she went on like a four-legged creature, on her hands and feet. After three, the princess and, we shall see who. When she came to the top, she found herself in a little square place, with three doors, two opposite each other, and one opposite the top of the stair. She stood for a moment, without an idea in her little head what to do next. But as she stood, she began to hear a curious humming sound. Could it be the rain? No. It was much more gentle, and even monotonous than the sound 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 in anything else I can think of her to this moment. Where could it come from? She laid her ear first to one of the doors, to harken if it was there, then to another. When she laid her ear against the third door, there could be no doubt where it came from. It must be from something in that room. What could it be? She was rather afraid, but her curiosity was stronger than her fear, and she opened the door very gently and peeped in. What do you think she saw? A very old lady who sat spinning. Perhaps you will wonder how the princess could tell, that the old lady was an old lady. When I informed me that not only was she beautiful, but her skin was smooth and white. I will tell you more. Her hair was combed back 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 she could not have helped seeing she must be old. The princess, though she could not have told you why, did think her very old indeed. Quite fifty, she said to herself. But she was rather old than that, as you shall hear. While the princess stared bewildered, with her head just inside the door, the old lady lifted hers, and said, in a sweet but old and rather shaky voice, which mingled very pleasantly with the continued hum of her wheel, Come in, my dear, come in, I am glad to see you. That the princess was a real princess, you might see now quite plainly. Well, she did not hang on to the handle of the door, and stare without moving, as I have known some do, who ought to have been princesses, but were only rather vulgar little girls. She did as she was told, stepped inside the door at once, and shut it gently behind her. Come to me, my dear, said the old lady, and again the princess did as she was told. She approached the old lady, rather slowly I confess, but did not stop until she stood by her side, and looked up in her face, with her blue eyes, and the two melted stars in them. Why, what have you been doing with your eyes, child? asked the old lady. Crying, answered the princess. Why child? Because I couldn't find my way down again, but you could find your way up? Not at first, not for a long time. But your face is streaked like the black of a zebra, hadn't you a handkerchief to wipe your eyes with? No. Then why didn't you come to me to wipe them for you? Please, I didn't know you were here, I will next time. That's a good child, said the old lady. Then she stopped her wheel, and rose, and going out of the room returned, with a little silver basin and a soft white towel, with which she washed and wiped the bright little face. And the princess sought her hands was so smooth and nice. When she carried away the basin and towel, the little princess wondered to see how straight and tall she was, for, although she was so old, she didn't stoop a bit. She was dressed in black velvet, with thick, white, heavy-looking lace about it, and on the black dress a hair 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 a bread by her spinning. There was no carpet on the floor, no table anywhere, nothing but the spinning wheel and the chair beside it. When she came back she sat down, and without a word began her spinning once more, while Irene, who had never seen a spinning wheel, stood by her side and looked on. When the old lady had got her thread fairly going again, she said to the princess, but without looking at her, Do you know my name, child? No, I don't know it, answered the princess. My name is Irene. That's my name, cried the princess. I know that. I let you have mine. I haven't got your name. You've got mine. How can that be, asked the princess bewildered. I've always had my name. Your papa, the king, asked me if I had any objection to your having it, and of course I hadn't. I let you have it with pleasure. It was very kind of you to give me your name, and such a pretty one, said the princess. Oh, not so very kind, said the old lady. Your name is one of those things one can give away and keep at the same time. I have a good many such things. Wouldn't you like to know who I am, child? Yes, that I should, very much. I'm your great-great-grandmother, said the lady. What's that? Asked the princess. I'm your father's mother's father's mother. Oh dear, I can't understand that, said the princess. I dare say not, I didn't expect you would, but there's no reason why I shouldn't say it. Oh no, answered the princess. I would explain it all to you when you were older, the lady went on, but you will be able to understand this much now. I came here to take care of you. Is it long since you came? Was it yesterday, or was it today, because it was so wet that I couldn't get out? I've been here ever since you came yourself. What a long time, said the princess. I don't remember it at all. No, I suppose not, but I never saw you before. No, but you shall see me again. Do you live in this room always? I don't sleep in it. I sleep on the opposite side of the landing. I sit here most of the day. I shouldn't like it. My nursery is much prettier. You must be a queen too, if you're my great-big grandmother. Yes, I am a queen. Where is your crown then? In my bedroom. I should like to see it. You shall some day, not to-day. I wonder why Nersi never told me. Nersi doesn't know, she never saw me. But somebody knows that you're in the house. No, nobody. How do you get your dinner then? I keep poultry of a sort. Where do you keep them? I will show you. And who makes the chicken broth for you? I never kill any of my chickens. Then I can't understand. What did you have for breakfast this morning? Asked the lady. Oh, I had bread and milk and an egg. I guess that you eat their eggs. Yes, that's it. I eat their eggs. Is that what makes your hair so white? No, my dear. It's old age. I am very old. I thought so. Are you fifty? Yes, more than that. Are you a hundred? Yes, more than that. I am too old for you to guess. Come and see my chickens. Again, she stopped her spinning. She rose, took the princess by the hand, led it out of the room, and opened the door opposite the stair. The princess expected to see a lot of hens and 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 colors walking about, making bows to each other, and talking in a language she could not understand. She clapped her hands with delight, and up rose such a flapping of wings that she, in her term, was startled. You frightened my paltry, said the old lady, smiling. And they frightened me, said the princess, smiling too. But what very nice paltry! Are the eggs nice? Yes, very nice. What a small egg-spoon you must have! Wouldn't it be better to keep hens and get bigger eggs? How should I feed them, though? I see, said the princess. The pigeons feed themselves. They've got wings. Just so, if they couldn't fly, I couldn't eat their eggs. But how do you get at the eggs? Where are their nests? The lady took hold of a little lube of string in the wall at the side of the door, and, lifting a shutter, showed a great many pigeon-holes with nests, some with young ones, and some with eggs in them. The birds came in at the other side, and she took out the eggs on this side. She closed it again quickly, lest the young one should be frightened. Oh, what a nice way! cried the princess. Will you give me an egg to eat? I'm rather hungry. I will some day, but now you must go back, or mercy will be miserable about you. I dare say she's looking for you everywhere. Except here, answered the princess. Oh, how surprised she will be when I tell her about my great-big-grand-grandmother. Yes, that she will. Said the old lady with a curious smile. Mind you tell her all about it exactly. That I will. Please, will you take me back to her? I can't go all the way, but I will take you to the top of the stair, and then you must run down quite fast into your own room. The little princess put a hand in the old ladies, who, looking this way and that, brought her to the top of the first stair, and thenced to the bottom of the second, and did not leave her till she saw her halfway down the third. When she heard the cry of her nurse's pleasure at finding her, she turned and walked up the stairs again. Very fast indeed, for such a very great-grandmother, and sat down to her spinning, with another strange smile and a sweet old face. About the spinning of hers I will tell you more another time. Guess what she was spinning? End of section one. Section two of The Princess and the Goblin. This is a LibriVox recording, all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Lizzie Driver. The Princess and the Goblin, by George MacDonald. Chapters four to five. Chapter four, what the nurse thought of it. Why, where can you have been, princess? Asked the nurse, taken her in her arms. It's very unkind of you to hide away so long. I began to be afraid. Here she checked herself. What were you afraid of, nursey? Asked the princess. Never mind, she answered. Perhaps I will tell you another day. Now tell me where you have been. I've been up a long way to see my great, huge, old grandmother, said the princess. What do you mean by that? Asked the nurse, who thought she was making fun. I mean that I've been a long way up and up to see my great grandmother. Ah, nursey, you don't know what a beautiful mother of grandmothers I've got upstairs. She is such an old lady, with such lovely white hair, as white as my silver cup. Now, when I think of it, I think her hair must be silver. What nonsense you are talking, princess, said the nurse. I'm not talking nonsense, returned Irene, rather offended. I will tell you all about her. She's much taller than you, and much prettier. Oh, I dare say, remarked the nurse. And she lives upon pigeon's eggs. Most likely, said the nurse. And she sits in an empty room, spin spinning all day long. Not a doubt of it, said the nurse. And she keeps her crown in her bedroom. Of course, quite the proper place to keep her crown in. She wears it in bed, I'll be bound. She didn't say that, and I don't think she does. That wouldn't be comfortable, would it? I don't think my papa wears his crown for a nightcap. Does he, nursey? I've never asked him. I dare say he does. And she's been there ever since I came here, ever so many years. Anybody could have told you that, said the nurse, who did not believe a word Irene was saying. Why, didn't you tell me then? There was no necessity. You could make it all up for yourself. You don't believe me, then, exclaimed the princess, astonished and angry, as she well might be. Did you expect me to believe you, princess? Asked the nurse coldly. I know princesses are in the habit of telling make-believes, but you are the first I've ever heard of who expected to have them believed. She added, seeing that the child was strangely in earnest. The princess burst into tears. Well, I must say, remarked to the nurse, now thoroughly vexed with her for crying. It is not at all becoming inner princess to tell stories and expect to be believed just because she is a princess. But it's quite true, I tell you. You've dreamt it, then, child. No, I didn't dream it. I went upstairs and I lost myself. And if I hadn't found the beautiful lady, I should never have found myself. Oh, I dare say. Well, you just come up with me and see if I'm not telling the truth. Indeed, I have other work to do. It's your dinner time, and I won't have any more such nonsense. The princess wiped her eyes, and her face grew so hot that they were soon quite dry. She sat down to her dinner, but ate next to nothing. Not to be believed does not at all agree with princesses, for a real princess cannot tell a lie. So all the afternoon she did not speak a word. Only when the nurse spoke to her, she answered her, for a real princess is never rude, even when she does well to be offended. Of course, the nurse was not comfortable in her mind. Not that she suspected the least truth in Irene's story, but that she loved her dearly, and was vexed with herself for having been cross to her. She thought her crossness was the cause of the princess's unhappiness, and had no idea that she was really and deeply hurt at not being believed. But, as it became more and more plain during the evening, in her every motion and look, that, although she tried to amuse herself with her toys, her heart was too vexed and troubled to enjoy them. Her nurse's discomfort grew and grew. When bedtime came, she undressed and laid her down. But the child, instead of holding up her little mouth to be kissed, turned away from her and lay still. The nurse's heart gave way altogether, and she began to cry. At the sound of her first sob, the princess turned again, and held her face to kiss her as usual. But the nurse had her hand achieved to her eyes, and did not see the movement. ——Nurse, said the princess. Why won't you believe me? ——Because I can't believe you, said the nurse, getting angry again. ——Ah, then you can't help it, said Irene, and I will not be vexed with you any more. I will give you a kiss and go to sleep. ——You little angel! cried the nurse, and caught her out of bed and walked about the room with her in her arms, kissing and hugging her. ——You will let me take you to see my dear old, great big grandmother, won't you? —— said the princess, as she laid her down again. ——And you won't say I'm ugly any more, will you, princess? ——Nurse, I never said you were ugly. What can you mean? ——Well, if you didn't say it, you meant it. ——Indeed, I never did. ——You said I wasn't so pretty as that, as my beautiful grandmother. ——Yes, I did say that, and I say it again, for it's quite true. ——Then I do think you are unkind, said the nurse, and put her hand achieved to her eyes again. ——Nursey dear, everybody can't be as beautiful as every other body you know. ——You are very nice-looking, but if you had been as beautiful as my grandmother, ——Bother your grandmother, said the nurse. ——Nursey, that's very rude. You're not fit to be spoken to, till you can behave better. ——The princess turned away once more, and again the nurse was ashamed of herself. ——I'm sure I beg your pardon, princess, she said, though still in an offended tone. ——But the princess let the tone pass, and he did only the words. ——You won't say it again, I am sure, she answered, once more turning towards her nurse. ——I was only going to say that if you had been twice as nice-looking as you are, ——Some king or other would have married you, and then what would have become of me? ——You are an angel, repeated the nurse, again embracing her. ——Now, insisted Irene, you will come and see my grandmother, won't you? ——I will go with you anywhere you like, my cherub," she answered, ——And in two minutes the weary little princess was fast asleep. ——Chapter Five, the princess lets well alone. ——When she woke the next morning, the first thing she heard was the rain still falling. ——Indeed, this day was so like the last, that it would have been difficult to tell where the use was of it. ——The first thing she thought of, however, was not the rain, but the lady in the tower. ——And the first question that occupied her thoughts was whether she should not ask the nurse to fulfil her promise this very morning, ——And go with her to find her grandmother as soon as she had had her breakfast. ——But she came to the conclusion that perhaps the lady would not be pleased if she took anyone to see her, without first asking leave. ——Especially as it was pretty evident, seeing she lived on pigeons' eggs and cooked them herself, that she did not want the household to know she was there. ——So the princess resolved to take the first opportunity of running up alone and asking whether she might bring her nurse. ——She believed the fact that she could not otherwise convince her she was telling the truth, would have much weight with her grandmother. ——The princess and her nurse were the best of friends all dressing time. ——And the princess, in consequence, ate an enormous little breakfast. ——I wonder, Lutie. That was her pet name for a nurse. ——What pigeons' eggs taste like, she said, as she was eating her egg. Not quite a common one, for they always picked out the pinky ones for her. ——We'll get you a pigeon's egg, and you shall judge for yourself, said the nurse. ——Oh, no, no! returned Irene, suddenly reflecting they might disturb the old lady in getting it, and that, even if they did not, she would have won less in consequence. ——What a strange creature you are, said the nurse, first to utter thing, and then to refuse it. ——But she did not say it crossly, and the princess never minded any remarks that were not unfriendly. ——Well, you see, Lutie, there are reasons. ——She returned, and said no more, for she did not want to bring up the subject of their former strife, lest her nurse should offer to go, before she had had her grandmother's permission to bring her. ——Of course she could refuse to take her, but then she would believe her less than ever. ——Now the nurse, as she said herself afterwards, could not be every moment in the room. ——And, as never before yesterday had the princess given her the smallest reason for anxiety, it had not yet come into her head to watch her more closely. ——So she soon gave her a chance, and, the very first that offered, Irene was off and up the stairs again. ——This day's adventure, however, did not turn out like yesterday's, although it began like it. ——And, indeed, today is very seldom like yesterday, if people would note the differences, even when it rains. ——The princess ran through passage after passage, and could not find the stair of the tower. ——My own suspicion is that she had not gone up high enough, and was searching on the second instead of the third floor. ——When she turned to go back, she failed equally in her search after the stair. ——She was lost once more, something made it even worse to bear this time, and it was no wonder that she cried again. ——Suddenly it occurred to her that it was after having cried before that she had found her grandmother's stair. ——She got up at once, wiped her eyes, and started upon a fresh quest. ——This time, although she did not find what she had hoped, she found what was next best. ——She did not come on a stair that went up, but she came upon one that went down. ——It was evidently not the stair she had come up, yet it was a good deal better than none. ——So down she went, and was singing merrily before she reached the bottom. ——There, to her surprise, she found herself in the kitchen. ——Although she was not allowed to go there alone, her nurse had often taken her, and she was a great favourite with the servants. ——So there was a general rush at her the moment she appeared, for everyone wanted to have her, and the report of where she was soon reached the nurse's ears. ——She came at once to fetch her, but she never suspected how she had got there, and the princess kept her own counsel. ——Her failure to find the old lady not only disappointed her, but made her very thoughtful. ——Sometimes she came almost to the nurse's opinion, that she had dreamed all about her, but that fancy never lasted very long. ——She wondered much whether she should ever see her again, and thought it very sad not to have been able to find her, when she particularly wanted her. ——She resolved to say nothing more to a nurse on the subject, seeing it was so little in her power to prove her words. CHAPTER VI. THE LITTLE MINOR The next day the great cloud still hung over the mountain, and the rain poured like water from a full sponge. The princess was very fond of being out of doors, and 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 grew brighter and brighter, until it was almost too brilliant to look at. ——And, late in the afternoon, the sun broke out so gloriously, the tyranny clapped her hands, crying, ——See, see, Lutie! The sun has had its face washed! Look how bright he is! Do get my hat, and let us go out for a walk! Oh, dear! Oh, dear! How happy I am! ——Lutie was very glad to please the princess. She got her hat and cloak, and they set out together for a walk up the mountain. For the road was so hard and steep that the water could not rest upon it, and it was always dry enough for walking a few minutes after the rain ceased. The clouds were rolling away in broken pieces, like great over-willy sheep, whose 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 changed from the clearness of crystal to a muddy brown. But what they lost in colour they gained in sound, or at least in noise, for a brook when it is swollen is not so musical as before. But Irene was in raptures with the great brown streams tumbling down everywhere, and Lutie shared in her delight, for she too had been confined to the house for three days. At length she observed that the sun was getting low, and she said it was time to be going back. She made the remark again and again, but every time the princess begged her to go on just a little farther and a little farther. Reminding her that it was much easier 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 the stream was pouring in a watery arch, now to pick a shining stone from a rock by the wayside, now to watch the flight of some bird. Suddenly the shadow of a great mountain peak came up from behind, and shot in front of them. When the nurse saw it she started and shook, and catching hold of the princess's hand turned and began to run down the hill. What's all the haste, Nersi? asked Irene, running alongside her. We must not be out a moment longer. But we can't help being out a good many moments longer. It was too true. The nurse almost cried. They were marched too far from home. It was against express orders to be out with the princess one moment after the sun was down, and they were nearly a mile up the mountain. If His Majesty, Irene's papa, were to hear of it, Lutie would certainly be dismissed, and to leave the princess would break her heart. It was no wonder she ran. But Irene was not in the least frightened. Not knowing anything to be frightened at. She kept on chattering as well as she could, but it was not easy. Lutie, Lutie, why do you run so fast? It checks my teeth when I talk. Then don't talk, said Lutie. But the princess went on talking. She was always saying, Look, look, Lutie. But Lutie paid no more heed to anything she said. Only ran on. Look, look, Lutie, don't you see that funny man peeping over the rock? Lutie only ran the faster. They had to pass the rock, and when they came nearer, the princess saw that it was only a lump of the rock itself that she had taken for a man. Look, look, Lutie, there's such a creature at the foot of that old tree. Look at it, Lutie. It's making faces at us, I do think. Lutie gave a stifled cry, and ran faster still. So fast that Irene's little legs could not keep up with her, and she fell 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 put the nurse nearly beside herself. But all she could do was to run on, the moment she got the princess on her feet again. Who's that laughing at me? said the princess, trying to keep in her sobs, and running too fast for a grazed knees. Nobody child. Said the nurse almost angrily. But that instant they came a burst of course tittering from somewhere near, and a hoarse, indistinct voice that seemed to say, lies, lies, lies. Oh! cried the nurse with a sigh that was almost a scream, and ran on faster than ever. Nurse, Lutie, I can't run any more. Do let us walk a bit. What am I to do? said the nurse. Here, I will carry you. She caught her up, but found her much too heavy to run with, and had to set her down again. Then she looked wildly about her, gave a great cry, and said, We've taken a wrong turn somewhere, and I don't know where we are. We are lost. Lost! The terror she was in quite bewildered her. It was true enough they'd lost their way. They'd been running down into a little valley in which there was no house to be seen. Now Irene did not know what good reason there was, for a nurse's terror. For the servants had all strict orders never to mention the goblins to her. But it was very discomposing to see a 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 saw a boy coming up the road from the valley to meet them. He was the whistler. But before they met, his whistling changed to singing. And this is something like what he sang. Ring, dod, bang, go the hammers clang, hit and turn and bore, Whizz and puff and roar. Thus we rive the rocks, force the goblin locks, See the shining oar. One, two, three, bright as gold can be, Four, five, six, shovels Mattox picks, seven, eight, nine, Light your lamp at mine, ten, eleven, twelve, Loosely hold the helm, where the merry miners boys make the goblins hold their noise. I wish you would hold your noise. Said the nurse rudely, for the very word goblin, at such a time and in such a place, Made her tremble. It would bring the goblins upon them to a certainty, she thought, To defy them in that way. But whether the boy heard her or not, he did not stop his singing. Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, this is worth the sifting. Sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, there's the match and lay it in. Nineteen, twenty, goblins in a plenty. Do, be quiet, cried the nurse, in a whispered shriek. But the boy, who was now close at hand, still went on. Hush, scush, scurry, there you go in a hurry, Gobble, gobble, goblin, there you go a wobbling. Hobble, hobble, hoblin, cobble, cobble, goblin, hob-bob, goblin, ha! There, said the boy, as he stood opposite them. There, that'll do for them, they can't bear singing, and they can't stand that song. They can't sing themselves, for they have no more voice than a crow, And they don't like other people to sing. The boy was dressed in a miner's dress, with a curious cap on his head. He was a very nice-looking boy, with eyes as dark as the mines in which he worked, And as sparkling as the crystals 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 the dark are white. But he looked happy, merry indeed, perhaps at the thought of having routed the goblins. And his bearing, as he stood before them, had nothing clownish or rude about it. I saw them, he went on, as I came up, and I'm very glad I did. I knew they were after somebody, but I couldn't see who it was. They won't touch you so long as I'm with you. Why, who are you? Asked the nurse, offended at the freedom with which he spoke to them. I'm Peter's son. Who's Peter? Peter the minor. I don't know him. I'm his son though. And why should the goblins mind you pray? Because I don't mind them, I'm used to them. What difference does that make? If you're not afraid of them, they're afraid of you. I'm not afraid of them, that's all. But it's all that's wanted, up here that is. It's a different thing down there. They won't always mind that song even, down there. And if anyone sings it, they stand grinning at him awfully. And if he gets frightened and misses a word, all sings a wrong one, they—oh, don't they give it him? What do they do to him? Asked Irene with a trembling voice. Don't go fighting the princess, said the nurse. The princess, repeated the little minor, taking off his curious cap. I beg your pardon, but you oughtn't to be out so late. Everybody knows that's against the law. Yes, indeed it is, said the nurse, beginning to cry again. And I shall have to suffer for it. What does that matter, said the boy? It must be your fault. It is the princess who will suffer for it. I hope they didn't hear you call her the princess. If they did, they're sure to know her again. They're awfully sharp. Lootie, lootie, cried the princess, take me home. Don't go on like that, said the nurse to the boy, almost fiercely. How could I help it? I lost my way. You shouldn't have been out so late. You wouldn't have lost your way if you hadn't been frightened, said the boy. Come along, I'll soon set you right again. Shall I carry your little highness? Impurtenance. murmured the nurse. But she did not say it aloud. For she thought, if she made him angry, he might take his revenge by telling someone belonging to the house. And then it would be sure to come to the king's ear. No, thank you, said Irene. I can walk very well, though I can't run so fast as nursey. If you will give me one hand, Lootie will give me another, and then I shall get on famously. They soon had her between them, holding a hand of each. Now let's run, said the nurse. No, no, says the little miner. That's the worst thing you can do. If you hadn't run before, you would not have lost your way. And if you run now, they will be after you in a moment. I don't want to run, said Irene. You don't think of me, said the nurse. Yes, I do, Lootie. The boy says they won't touch us if we don't run. Yes, but if they know at the house that I've kept you out so late, I shall be turned away, and that would break my heart. Turned away, Lootie? Who would turn you away? Your papa, child. But I'll tell him it was all my fault, and you know it was, Lootie. You won't mind that, I'm sure he won't. Then I'll cry and go down on my knees to him. And beg him not to take away my own dear Lootie. The nurse was comforted at hearing this, and said no more. They went on, walking pretty fast, but taken care not to run a step. I want to talk to you, said Irene, to the little miner. But it's so awkward. I don't know your name. My name's Curdie, little princess. What a funny name, Curdie. What more? Curdie Peterson. What's your name, please? Irene. What more? I don't know what more. What more is my name, Lootie? Princesses haven't got more than one name. They don't want it. Oh, then Curdie, you must just call me Irene, and no more. No, indeed. Said the nurse indignantly. He shall do no such thing. What shall he call me, then, Lootie? Your Royal Highness. My Royal Highness? What's that? No, no, Lootie. I won't be called names. I don't like them. You taught me once yourself it's only rude children that call names. And I'm sure Curdie wouldn't be rude. Curdie, my name's Irene. Well, Irene, said Curdie, with a glance at the nurse which showed he enjoyed teasing her. It is very kind of you to let me call you anything. I like your name very much. He expected the nurse to interfere again, but he soon saw that she was too frightened to speak. She was staring at something a few yards before them in the middle of the path, where it narrowed between rocks so that only one could pass at a time. It is very much kind of you to go out of your way to take us home. Said Irene, I'm not going out of my way yet, said Curdie. It's on the other side of those rocks the path turns off to my father's. You wouldn't think of leaving us to a safe home, I'm sure, gasped the nurse. Of course not, said Curdie. You dear good kind, Curdie. I'll give you a kiss when we get home. Said the Princess. The nurse gave her a great pull by the hand she held. But at that instant the something in the middle of the way, which had looked like a great lump 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 too dark to tell what they were. The nurse began to tremble from head to foot. Irene clasped Curdie's hands yet faster, and Curdie began to sing again. One, two, hit and hue. Three, four, blast and bore. Five, six, there's a fix. Seven, eight, hold it straight. Nine, ten, hit again. Hurry, scurry, bother smother. There's a toad in the road. Smash it, squash it, fry it, dry it, you're another. Up and off, there's enough. Ha! As he uttered the last words, Curdie let go his hold of his companion, and rushed at the thing in the road as if he would trample it under his feet. It gave 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 tight, but said nothing till they had passed the rocks. A few yards more, and she found herself on a part of the road she knew, and was able to speak again. Do you know, Curdie, I don't quite like your song. It sounds to me rather rude, she said. Well, perhaps it is, answered Curdie. I never thought of that. It's a way we have. We do it because they don't like it. Who don't like it? The cobs, as we call them. Don't, said the nurse. Why not, said Curdie. I beg you won't, please don't. Oh, if you ask me that way of course I won't, though I don't a bit know why. Look, there are the lights of your great house down below. You'll be at home in five minutes now. Nothing more happened. They reached home in safety. Nobody had missed them, or even known they had gone out. And they arrived at the door belonging to their part of the house, without anyone seeing them. The nurse was rushing in with a hurried and not overgracious good night to Curdie. But the princess pulled her hand from hers, and was just throwing her arms round Curdie's neck, when she caught her again and dragged her away. Lootie, Lootie, I promised a kiss. cried Irene. A princess mustn't give kisses, it's not at all proper. said Lootie. But I promised, said the princess. There's no occasion, he's only a minor's boy. He's a good boy and a brave boy, and he has been very kind to us. Lootie, Lootie, I promised. Then you shouldn't have promised. Lootie, I promised him a kiss. Your Royal Highness, said Lootie, suddenly grown very respectful, must come in directly. Nurse, a princess must not break her word, said Irene, drawing herself up and standing stock still. Lootie did not know which the king might count the worst, to let the princess be out after sunset, or to let her kiss a minor boy. She did not know that, being a gentleman, as many kings have been, he would have counted neither of them the worst. However much he might have disliked his daughter to kiss the minor boy, who would not have had her break her word for all the goblins and creation. But, as I say, the nurse was not lady enough to understand this, and so she was in great difficulty. For, if she insisted, someone might hear the princess cry and run to sea, and then all would come out. But here Curdie came again to the rescue. Never mind, Princess Irene, he said, you must not kiss me tonight, but you shall not break your word, I will come another time, you may be sure I will. Oh, thank you, Curdie, said the princess, and stopped crying. Good night, Irene, good night, Lootie, said Curdie, and turned and was out of sight in a moment. I should like to see him, as she carried the princess to the nursery. You will see him, said Irene, you may be sure Curdie will keep his word, he's sure to come again. I should like to see him, repeated the nurse, and said no more. She did not want to open a new cause of strife with the princess by saying more plainly what she meant. Clared enough that she had succeeded both in getting home unseen and in keeping the princess from kissing the minus-boy. She resolved to watch her far better in future. Her carelessness had already doubled the danger she was in. Formerly the goblins were her only fear. Now she had to protect her charge from Curdie as well. End of Section 3 Section 4 of The Princess and the Goblin This is a LibriVox recording, or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Lizzie Driver The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald Chapter 7 to 8 Chapter 7 The Mines Curdie went home whistling. He resolved to say nothing about the princess for fear of getting the nurse into trouble. For while he enjoyed teasing her because of her absurdity he was careful not to do her any harm. He saw no more of the goblins and was soon fast asleep in his bed. He woke in the middle of the night and thought he heard curious noises outside. He sat up and listened. Then got up and opening the door very quietly went out. When he peeped round the corner he saw under his own window a group of stumpy creatures whom he at once recognized by their shape. Hardly however had he begun his one two three when they broke asunder scurried away and were out of sight. He returned laughing got into bed again and was fast asleep in a moment. Reflecting a little over the matter in the morning he came to the conclusion that as nothing of the kind had ever happened before they must be annoyed with him for interfering to protect the princess. By the time he was dressed however he was thinking of something quite different for he did not value the enmity of the goblins in the least. As soon as they had had breakfast he set off with his father for the mine. They entered the hill by a natural opening under a huge rock where a little stream rushed out. They followed its course for a few yards when the passage took a turn and sloped steeply into the heart of the hill. With many angles and windings and branchings off and sometimes with steps where it came upon a natural gulf it led them deep into the hill before they arrived at the place where they were at present digging out the precious ore. This was of various kinds for the mountain was very rich in the better sorts of metals like paint and steel and tinder box they lighted their lamps then fixed them on their heads and were soon hard at work with their pickaxes and shovels and hammers. Father and son were at work near each other but not in the same gang the passages out of which the ore was dug they called gangs for when the load or vein of ore was small one miner would have to dig away alone in a passage no bigger than gave him just room to work sometimes in uncomfortable cramped positions if they stopped for a moment they could hear everywhere around them some nearer some farther off the sounds of their companions burrowing away in all directions in the inside of the great mountain some boring holes in the rock in order to blow it up with gunpowder others shoveling the broken ore into baskets to be carried to the mouth of the mine others hitting away with their pickaxes sometimes if the miner was in a very lonely part he would hear only a tap tapping no louder than of a woodpecker for the sound would come from a great distance off through the solid mountain rock the work was hard at best for it is very warm underground but it was not particularly unpleasant and some of the miners when they wanted to earn a little more money for a particular purpose would stop behind the rest but you could not tell night from day down there except from feeling tired and sleepy for no light of the sun ever came into those gloomy regions some who had thus remained behind during the night although certain there were none of their companions at work would declare the next morning that they heard every time they halted for a moment to take breath a tap tapping all about them as if the mountain were then more full of miners than ever it was during the day and some in consequence would never stay overnight for all knew those were the sounds of the goblins they worked only at night for the miner's night was the goblins day indeed the greater number of the miners were afraid of the goblins for there were strange stories well known amongst them of the treatment some had received whom the goblins had surprised at their work during the night the more courageous of them however amongst them Peter Peterson and Curdie who in this took after his father had stayed in the mine all night again and again and although they had several times encountered a few stray goblins had never yet failed in driving them away as I have indicated already the chief defence against them was verse for they hated verse of every kind and some kinds they could not endure at all I suspect they could not make any themselves and that was why they disliked it so much at all events those who were most afraid of them were those who could neither make verses themselves nor remember the verses that other people made for them while those who were never afraid were those who could make verses for themselves for although there were certain old rhymes which were very effectual yet it was well known that a new rhyme if of the right sort was even more distasteful to them and therefore more effectual in putting them to flight perhaps my readers may be wondering what the goblins could be about working all night long seeing they never carried up the ore and sold it but when I have informed them concerning what Curdie learned the very next night they will be able to understand for Curdie had determined if his father would permit him to remain there alone this night and that for two reasons first he wanted to get extra wages that he might buy a very warm red petticoat for his mother who had begun to complain of the cold of the mountain air sooner than usual this autumn and second he had just a faint hope of finding out what the goblins were about under his window the night before when he told his father he made no objections for he had great confidence in his boy's courage and resources I'm sorry I can't stay with you said Peter but I want to go and pay the pass and a visit this evening and besides I've had a bit of a headache all day I'm sorry for that father said Curdie oh it's not much you'll be sure to take care of yourself won't you yes father I will I'll keep a sharp lookout I promise you Curdie was the only one who remained in the mine about six o'clock the rest went away everyone bidding him good night and telling him to take care of himself for he was a great favourite with them all don't forget your rhymes said one no answered Curdie it's no matter if he does said another for he'll only have to make a new one yes but he mightn't be able to make it fast enough said another and while it was cooking in his head they might take a mean advantage and set upon him I'll do my best said Curdie I'm not afraid we all know that Chapter 8 the goblins for some time Curdie worked away briskly throwing all the ore he had disengaged on one side behind him to be ready for carrying out in the morning he heard a good deal of goblin tapping but it all sounded far away in the hill and he paid it little heed towards midnight he began to feel rather hungry so he dropped his pickaxe got out a lump of bread which in the morning he'd laid in a damp hole in the rock sat down on a heap of ore and ate his supper then he laid back for five minutes rest before beginning his work again and laid his head against the rock he had not kept the position for one minute before he heard something which made him sharpen his ears it sounded like a voice inside the rock after a while he heard it again it was a goblin voice there could be no doubt about that and this time he could make out the words hadn't we better be moving? it said a rougher and deeper voice replied there's no hurry that wretched little mole won't be through tonight if you work ever so hard he's not by any means a thinnest place but you still think the load does come through into our house said the first voice yes but a good bit further on than he has got to yet if he had struck a stroke more to the side just here said the goblin tapping the very stone as it seemed to Curdie against which his head lay he would have been through but he's a couple of yards past it now and if he followed to the load it would be a week before it leads him in you see it back there a long way still it is well to be getting out of this helper you'll take the great chest that's your business you know yes dad said a third voice but you must help me to get it on my back it's awfully heavy you know well it isn't just a bag of smoke I admit but you're as strong as a mountain helper you say so dad I think myself I'm alright but I could carry ten times as much if it wasn't for my feet that is your weak point ain't it yours too father well to be honest it's a goblin weakness why they come so soft I declare I haven't an idea especially when your head's so hard you know father yes my boy the goblin's glory is his head to think how the fellows up above there have to put on helmets and things when they go fighting but why don't we wear shoes like them father I should like it especially when I've got a chest like that on my head well you see it's not the fashion the king never wears shoes the queen does yes but that's for distinction the first queen you see I mean the king's first wife wore shoes of course because she came from upstairs and so when she died the next queen would not be inferior to her as she called it and would wear shoes too it was all pride she is the hardest in forbidding them to the rest of the women I'm sure I wouldn't wear them no not for that I wouldn't said the first voice which was evidently that of the mother of the family I couldn't think why either of them should didn't I tell you the first was from upstairs said the other that was the only silly thing I ever knew his majesty guilty of why should you marry an outslash woman like that one of our natural enemies too I suppose he fell in love with her poo poo who's just as happy now with one of his own people did she die very soon they didn't tease her to death did they oh dear no the king worshipped her very foot marks what made her die then didn't the heir agree with her she died when the young prince was born how silly of her we never do that it must have been because she wore shoes I don't know that why do they wear shoes up there ah now that's a sensible question and I will answer it but in order to do so I must first tell you a secret I once saw the queen's feet without her shoes yes without her shoes no did you how was it never you mind how it was she didn't know I saw them and what do you think they're toes you may well ask I should never have known if I had not seen the queen's feet just imagine the ends of her feet were split up into five or six thin pieces oh horrid how could the king have fallen in love with her you forget that she wore shoes that is just why she wore them that is why all the men and women too upstairs wear shoes they cannot bear the sight of their own feet without them ah now I understand if you ever wish for shoes again Helfer I'll hit your feet I will no no mother pray don't then don't you but with such a big box on my head a horrid scream followed which Curdie interpreted as an reply to a blow from his mother upon the feet of her eldest goblin well I never knew so much before remarked a fourth voice your knowledge is not universal quite yet said the father he was only fifty last month mind you see to the bed and bedding as soon as we finished our supper we'll be up and going ha ha ha what are you laughing at husband I'm laughing to think what a mess the miners will find themselves in somewhere before this day ten years why what do you mean oh nothing oh yes you do mean something you always mean something it's more than you do then wife that may be when I find out you know ha ha you're a sharp one what a mother you've got Helfer yes father well I suppose I must tell you they're all at the palace consulting about it tonight and as soon as we've got away from this thin place I'm going there to hear what night they fix upon I should like to see that young ruffian there on the other side struggling in the agonies of he dropped his voice so low that Curdie could hear only a growl the growl went on in the low base for a good while as inarticulate as if the goblins tongue had been a sausage and it was not until his wife spoke again that it rose to his former pitch but what shall we do when you are at the palace she asked I will see you safe in the new house I've been digging for you for the last two months podge, you mind the tables and chairs I commit them to your care the table has seven legs each chair three I shall require them all at your hands after this arose a confused conversation about the various household goods and their transport and Curdie had nothing more that was of any importance he now knew at least one of the reasons for the constant sound of the goblin hammers and pickaxes at night they were making new houses for themselves to which they might retreat when the miners should threaten to break into their dwellings but he had learned two things of far greater importance the first was that some grievous calamity was preparing and almost ready to fall upon the heads of the miners the second was the one weak point of a goblin's body he had not known that their feet were so tender as he had now reason to suspect he had heard it said that they had no toes he had never had opportunity of inspecting them closely enough in the dusk in which they always appeared to satisfy himself whether it was a correct report indeed he had not been able even to satisfy himself as to whether they had no fingers although that also was commonly said to be the fact one of the miners indeed who had had more schooling than the rest was one to argue that such must have been the primordial condition of humanity and that education and handicraft had developed both toes and fingers with which proposition Curdie had once heard his father sarcastically agree alleging in support of it the probability that baby's gloves were a traditional remnant of the old state of things while the stockings of all ages no regard being paid in them to the toes pointed in the same direction but what was of importance was the fact concerning the softness of the goblin feet which he foresaw might be useful to all miners what he had to do in the meantime however was to discover if possible the special evil design the goblins had now in their heads although he knew now all the gangs and all the natural galleries with which they communicated in the mind part of the mountain he had not the least idea where the pallet of the king of the gnomes was otherwise he would have set out at once in the enterprise of discovering what the said design was he judged and rightly that it must lie in the farther part of the mountains between which and the mind there was as yet no communication there must be one nearly completed however for it could be but a thin partition which now separated them if only he could get through in time to follow the goblins as they retreated a few blows would doubtless be sufficient just where his ear now lay but if he attempted to strike there with his pickaxe he would only hasten the departure of the family put them on their guard and perhaps lose their involuntary guidance he therefore began to feel the wall with his hands and soon found that some of the stones were loose enough to be drawn out with little noise laying hold of a large one with both hands he drew it gently out and let it down softly what was that noise? said the goblin father Curdie blew out his light lest it should shine through it must be that one miner that stayed behind the rest said the mother no, he's been gone a good while I haven't heard a blow for an hour besides it wasn't like that then I suppose it must have been a stone carried down the broken side perhaps it will have more room by and by Curdie kept quiet still after a little while hearing nothing but the sounds of their preparations for departure mingled with an occasional word of direction and anxious to know whether the removal of the stone had made an opening into the goblin's house he put in his hand to feel it went in a good way and then came in contact with something soft he had but a moment to feel it over it was so quickly withdrawn it was one of the tallest goblin feet the owner of it gave a cry of fright what's the matter Helfer? asked his mother a beast came out of the wall and licked my foot nonsense, there are no wild beasts in our country said his father but it was father, I felt it nonsense I say will you malign your native realms and reduce them to a level with the country upstairs? that is swarming with wild beasts of every description but I did feel it father I tell you to hold your tongue, you are no patriot Curdie suppressed his laughter and lay still as a mouse but no stiller for every moment he kept nibbling away with his fingers at the edges of the hole he was slowly making it bigger for here the rock had been very much shattered with the blasting there seemed to be a good many in the family to judge from the mass of confused talk which now and then came through the hole but when all was speaking together and just as if they had bottle brushes each at least one in their throats it was not easy to make out much that was said at length he heard once more what the father goblin was saying now then he said here helper I'll help you with your chest I wish it were my chest father your term will come in good time enough make haste I must go to the meeting at the palace tonight when that's over we can come back and clear it to the last of the things before our enemies return in the morning now light your torches and come along what a distinction it is to provide our own light instead of being dependent on a thing hung up in the air a most disagreeable contrivance intended no doubt to blind us when we venture out under its baleful influence quite glaring and vulgar I call it though no doubt useful to poor creatures haven't the wit to make light of themselves curd he could hardly keep himself from calling through to know whether they made the fire to light their torches by but a moment's reflection showed him that they would have said they did and so much as they struck two stones together and the fire came end of section four section five the princess and the goblin this is a LibriVox recording or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Lizzie Driver The Princess and the Goblin by George Macdonald Chapter nine The Hall of the Goblin Palace a sound of many soft feet followed but soon ceased then curd he flew at the hole like a tiger and tore and pulled the sides gave way and it was soon large enough for him to call through he would not betray himself by rekindling his lamp but the torches of the retreating company which he found departing in a straight line up a long avenue from the door of their cave threw back light enough to afford him a glance round the deserted home of the goblins to his surprise he could discover nothing to distinguish it from an ordinary natural cave in the rock upon many of which he had come with the rest of the miners in the progress of their excavations the goblins had talked of coming back for the rest of their household gear he saw nothing that would have made him suspect a family had taken shelter there for a single night the floor was rough and stony the walls full of projecting corners the roof in one place twenty feet high in another endangering his forehead while on one side a stream no thicker than a needle it is true but still sufficient to spread a wide dampness over the wall flow down the face of the rock but the troop in front of him was toiling under heavy burdens he could distinguish helfer now and then in the flickering light and shade with his heavy chest on his bending shoulders while the second brother was almost buried in what looked like a great feather bed where did they get the feathers? thought Curdie but in a moment the troop disappeared at a turn of the way and it was now both safe and necessary for Curdie to follow them lest they should be round the next turning before he saw them again for so he might lose them all together he darted after them like a grey hound when he reached the corner and looked cautiously round he saw them again at some distance down another long passage none of the galleries he saw that night bore signs of the work of man or of goblin either stalactites far older than the mines hung from their roofs and their floors were rough with boulders and large round stones showing that their water must have once run he waited again at this corner till they had disappeared round the next and so followed them a long way through one passage after another the passages were more and more lofty and were more and more covered in the roof with shining stalactites it was a strange enough procession which he followed but the strangest part of it was the household animals which crowded amongst the feet of the goblins it was true they had no wild animals down there at least they did not know of any but they had a wonderful number of tame ones they must, however, reserve any contributions towards the natural history of these for a later position in my story at length, turning a corner too abruptly he had almost rushed into the middle of the goblin family for there they had already set down all their burdens on the floor of a cave considerably larger than that which they had left they were, as yet, too breathless to speak else he would have had warning of their arrest he started back, however, before anyone saw him and retreating a good way stood watching till the father should come out to go to the palace before very long both he and his son, Helfer appeared and kept on in the same direction as before while Curdie followed them again with renewed precaution for a long time he heard no sound except something like the rush of a river inside the rock but at length what seemed the far-off noise of a great shouting reached his ears which, however, presently ceased after advancing a good way farther he thought he heard a single voice it sounded clearer and clearer as he went on until at last he could almost distinguish the words in a moment or two, keeping after the goblins round another corner he once more started back this time in amazement he was at the entrance of a magnificent cavern of an oval shape once probably of a huge natural reservoir of water now the great palace hall of the goblins it rose to a tremendous height but the roof was composed of such shining materials and the multitude of torches carried by the goblins who crowded the floor lighted up the place so brilliantly that Curdie could see to the top quite well but he had no idea how immense the place was until his eyes had got accustomed to it which was not for a good many minutes the rough projections on the walls and the shadows thrown upwards from them by the torches made the sides of the chamber look as if they were crowded with statues upon brackets and pedestals reaching in irregular tears from floor to roof the walls themselves were, in many parts, of gloriously shining substances some of them gorgeously coloured besides which powerfully contrasted with the shadows Curdie could not help wondering whether his rhymes would be of any use against such a multitude of goblins as filled the floor of the hall and indeed felt considerably tempted to begin his shout of one, two, three but as there was no reason for routing them and much for endeavouring to discover their designs he kept himself perfectly quiet and peering round the edge of the doorway listened with both his sharp ears as the other end of the hall, high above the heads of the multitude was a terrace-like ledge of considerable height caused by the rigidity of the hall was a terrace-like ledge of considerable height caused by the receding of the upper part of the cavern wall upon this sat the king and his court the king, on a throne hollowed out of a huge block of green copper ore and his court upon lower seats around it the king had to be making them a speech and the applause which followed it was what Curdie had heard one of the court was now addressing the multitude what he heard him say was to the following effect hence it appears that two plans have been for some time together working in the strong head of his majesty for the deliverance of his people regardless of the fact that we were the first possessors of the regions they now inhabit regardless equally of the fact that we abandoned that region from the loftiest motives regardless also of the self-evident fact that we excel them so far in mental ability as they excel us in stature they look upon us as a degraded race and make a mockery of all our finer feelings but the time has almost arrived when thanks to his majesty's inventive genius it will be an hour-power to take a thorough revenge upon them once and for all in respect of their unfriendly behaviour may it please your majesty cried a voice close by the door which Curdie recognised as that of the goblin he had followed who is it that interrupts the Chancellor cried another voice from near the throne glump answered several voices he is our trusty subject said the king himself in a slow and stately voice let him come forward and speak Elaine was parted through the crowd and glump having ascended the platform and bowed to the king spoke as follows Sire I would have held my peace had it not known that I only knew how near was the moment to which the Chancellor had just referred in all probability before another day has passed the enemy will have broken through into my house the partition between even now not more than a foot in thickness not quite so much thought Curdie to himself this very evening I have had to remove my household effects therefore the sooner we are ready to carry out the plan for the execution of which his majesty has been making such magnificent preparations the better I may just add that within the last few days I have perceived a small outbreak in my dining room which combined with observations upon the course of the river escaping where the evil men enter has convinced me that close to the spot must be a deep gulf in its channel this discovery will, I trust, add considerably to the otherwise immense forces at his majesty's disposal he ceased and the king graciously acknowledged his speech with a bow of his head where upon glump after about his majesty slid down among the rest of the undistinguished multitude then the Chancellor rose and resumed the information which the worthy glump has given us he said might have been of considerable import at the present moment but for that other design already referred to which naturally takes precedence his majesty unwilling to proceed to extremities and will aware that such measures sooner or later result in violent reactions her zigscodicated a more fundamental and comprehensive measure of which I need to say no more should his majesty be successful as who dares to doubt then a peace all to the advantage of the goblin kingdom will be established for a generation at least rendered absolutely secure by the pledge which his world highness the prince will have and hold for the good behaviour of her relatives should his majesty fail which who shall dare even to imagine in his most secret thoughts then will be the time for carrying out with rigor the designs to which glump referred and for which our preparations are even now all but complete the failure of the former will render the latter imperative Curdie perceiving that the assembly was drawing to a close and that there was little chance of either plan being more fully discovered now thought it prudent to make his escape before the goblins began to disperse and slipped quietly away there was not much danger of meeting any goblins for all the men at least were left behind him in the palace but there was considerable danger of his taking a wrong turning for he had now no light and had therefore to depend upon his memory and his hands after he'd left behind him the glow that issued from the door of glumps knew abode he was utterly without guide so far as his eyes were concerned he was most anxious to get back through the hole before the goblins should return to fetch the remains of their furniture it was not that he was in the least afraid of them but as it was of the utmost importance that he should thoroughly discover what the plans they were cherishing were he must not occasion the slightest suspicion that they were watched by a miner he hurried on feeling his way along the walls of rock had he not been very courageous he must have been very anxious for he could not but know that if he lost his way it would be the most difficult thing in the world to find it again morning would bring no light into these regions and towards him, least of all who was known as a special rhymester and prosecutor could goblins be expected to exercise courtesy well might he wish that he had brought his lamp and tinderbox with him of which he had not thought when he crept so eagerly after the goblins he wished it all the more when, after a little while he found his way blocked up and could get no farther it was of no use to turn back for he's not the least idea where he'd begun to go wrong mechanically, however, he kept feeling about the walls that hemmed him in his hand came upon a place where a tiny stream of water was running down the face of the rock what a stupid I am, he said to himself I'm actually at the end of my journey and there are the goblins coming back to fetch their things he added, as the red glimmer of their torches appeared at the end of the long avenue that led up to the cave in a moment he had thrown himself on the floor and wriggled backwards through the hole the floor on the other side was several feet lower which made it easier to get back it was all he could do to lift the largest stone he had taken out of the hole but he did manage to shove it in again he sat down on the orheave and thought he was pretty sure that the latter plan of the goblins was to inundate the mine by breaking outlets from the water accumulated in the natural reservoirs of the mountain as well as running through portions of it while the part hollowed by the miners remained shut off from that inhabited by the goblins they had no opportunity of injuring them thus but now that a passage was broken through and the goblins part proved the higher in the mountain it was clear to Curdie that the mine could be destroyed in an hour water was always the chief danger to which the miners were exposed they met with a little choke-damp sometimes but never with the explosive fire-damp so common in coal mines hence they were careful as soon as they saw any appearance of water as a result of his reflections while the goblins were busy in their old home it seemed to Curdie that it would be best to build up the whole of this gang filling it with stone and clay or lye so that there should be no smallest channel for the water to get into there was not however any immediate danger for the execution of the goblins plan was contingent upon the failure of their unknown design which was to take precedence of it and he was most anxious to keep the door of communication open that he might if possible discover what the former plan was at the same time they could not resume their intermitted labours for the inundation without his finding it out when by putting all hands to the work the one existing outlet might in a single night be rendered impenetrable to any weight of water for by filling the gang entirely up their embankment would be buttressed by the size of the mountain itself as soon as he found that the goblins had again retired he lighted his lamp and proceeded to fill the hole he had made with such stones as he could withdraw when he pleased he then thought it better as he might have occasion to be up a good many nights after this to go home and have some sleep how pleasant the night air felt upon the outside of the mountain after what he had gone through in the inside of it he hurried up the hill without meeting a single goblin on the way and called and tapped at the window until he woke his father who soon rose and let him in he told him the whole story and just as he had expected his father thought it best to work that load no father but at the same time to pretend occasionally to be at work there still in order that the goblins might have no suspicions both father and son then went to bed and slept soundly until the morning End of section 5