 CHAPTER XXIII KERDI went up the mountain neither whistling nor singing, for he was vexed with Irene, for taking him in, as he called it, and he was vexed with himself for having spoken so angrily to her. His mother gave a cry of joy when she saw him and at once set about getting him something to eat, asking him questions all the time, which he did not answer so cheerfully as usual. When his meal was ready she left him to eat it, and hurried to the mine to let his father know he was safe. When she came back, she found him fast asleep upon her bed, nor did he wake until his father came home in the evening. Now, KERDI, his mother said, as they sat at supper, tell us the whole story from beginning to end, just as it all happened. KERDI obeyed and told everything to the point where they came out upon the lawn in the garden of the king's house, and what happened after that? Asked his mother, you haven't told us all. You ought to be very happy at having got away from those demons, and instead of that I never saw you so gloomy. There must be something more. Besides, you do not speak of that lovely child as I should like to hear you. She saved your life at the risk of her own, and yet somehow you don't seem to think much of it. She talked such nonsense, answered KERDI, and told me a pack of things that weren't a bit true, and I can't get over it. What were they? Asked his father. Your mother may be able to throw some light upon them. Then KERDI made a clean breast of it and told them everything. They all sat silent for some time, pondering the strange tale. At last, KERDI's mother spoke. You confess, my boy, she said. There is something about the whole affair you do not understand. Yes, of course, mother. He answered. I cannot understand how a child, knowing nothing about the mountain, or even that I was shut up in, should come all that way alone, straight to where I was, and then, after getting me out of the hole, led me out of the mountain, too, where I should not have known a step of the way if it had been as light as in the open air. Then you have no right to say what she told you was not true. She did take you out, and she must have had something to guide her. Why not a thread as well as a rope or anything else? There is something you cannot explain, and her explanation may be the right one. That's no explanation at all, mother, and I can't believe it. That may be only because you do not understand it. If you did, you would probably find it was an explanation and believe it thoroughly. I don't blame you for not being able to believe it, but I do blame you for fancying such a child would try to deceive you. Why should she? Depend upon it, she told you all she knew. Until you had found a better way of accounting for it all, you might at least have been more sparing of your judgment. That is what something inside me has been saying all the time. But what do you make of the grandmother? This is what I can't get over. To take me up to an old garret and try to persuade me against the sight of my own eyes that it was the beautiful room, with blue walls and silver stars, and no end of things in it when there was nothing but an old tub and a withered apple and a heap of straw and a sunbeam. It was too bad. She might have some old woman there, at least, to pass for her precious grandmother. Didn't she speak as if she saw those other things herself, Curdie? Yes. That's what bothers me. You would have thought she really meant and believed that she saw every one of those things she talked about, and not one of them there. It was too bad, I say. Perhaps some people can see things other people can't see, Curdie. Said his mother very gravely. I think I will tell you something I saw myself once. Only perhaps you won't believe me either. Oh, mother, mother! Cried Curdie bursting into tears. I don't deserve that, Shirley. But what I am going to tell you is very strange. Persisted, his mother. And if, having heard it, you were to say I must have been dreaming, I don't know that I should have any right to be vexed with you. Though I know at least that I was not asleep. Do tell me, mother. Perhaps it will help me to think better of the princess. That's why I am tempted to tell you. Reply to his mother. But first, I may as well mention that, according to old whispers, there is something more than common about the king's family. And the queen was of the same blood, for they were cousins of some degree. There were strange stories told concerning them, all good stories, but strange, very strange. What they were, I cannot tell, for I only remember the faces of my grandmother and my mother as they talked together about them. There was wonder and awe, not fear in their eyes, and they whispered and never spoke aloud. But what I saw myself was this. Your father was going to work in the mines one night, and I had been down with his supper. It was soon after we were married and not very long before you were born. He came with me to the mouth of the mine, and left me to go home alone, for I knew the way almost as well as the floor of our own cottage. It was pretty dark, and in some parts of the road where the rocks overhung nearly quite dark. But I got along perfectly well, never thinking of being afraid, until I reached a spot you know well enough, Curdie, where the path has to make a sharp turn out of the way of a great rock on the left-hand side. When I got there I was suddenly surrounded by about half a dozen of the cobs, the first I had ever seen, although I had fell of them often enough. One of them blocked up the path, and they all began tormenting and teasing me in a way it makes me shudder to think of even now. If only I had been with you! Cried father and son in a breath. The mother gave a funny little smile and went on. They had some of their horrible creatures with them too, and I must confess I was dreadfully frightened. They had torn my clothes very much, and I was afraid they were going to tear myself to pieces, when suddenly a great white soft light shone upon me. I looked up. A broad ray like a shining road came down from a large globe of silvery light, not very high up, indeed not quite so high as the horizon, so it could not have been a new star or another moon or anything of that sort. The cobs dropped persecuting me and looked dazed, and I thought they were going to run away. But presently they began again. The same moment, however, down the path from the globe of light came a bird, shining like silver in the sun. It gave a few rapid flaps first, and then, with its wings straight out, shot sliding down the slope of the light. It looked to me just like a white pigeon. But whatever it was, when the cobs caught sight of it coming straight down upon them, they took to their heels and scampered away across the mountain, leaving me safe, only much frightened. As soon as it had sent them off, the bird went gliding again up the light, and the moment it reached the globe, the light disappeared, just as if a shutter had been closed over a window, and I saw it no more. But I had no more trouble with the cobs that night or ever after. How strange! exclaimed Curdie. Yes, it was strange, but I can't help believing it, whether you do or not, said his mother. It's exactly as your mother told it to me the very next morning, said his father. You don't think I'm doubting my own mother? cried Curdie. There are other people in the world quite as well worth believing as your own mother, said his mother. I don't know that she's so much the fitter to be believed that she happens to be your mother, Mr. Curdie. There are mothers far more likely to tell lies than the little girl I saw talking to the primrose a few weeks ago. If she were to lie, I should begin to doubt my own word. But princesses have told lies as well as other people, Curdie. Yes, but not princesses like that child. She's a good girl, I'm certain, and that's more than being a princess. Depend upon it, you will have to be sorry for behaving so to her, Curdie. You ought at least to have held your tongue. I am sorry now. Answered Curdie. You ought to go and tell her so then. I don't see how I could manage that. They wouldn't let a minor boy like me have a word with her alone. And I couldn't tell her before that nurse of hers. She'd be asking ever so many questions, and I don't know how many the little princess would like me to answer. She told me that Lutie didn't know anything about her coming to get me out of the mountain. I'm certain she would have prevented her somehow if she had known it. But I may have a chance before long, and meantime I must try to do something for her. I think, Father, I've got on the track at last. Have you indeed, my boy? Said Peter. I am sure you deserve some success. You have worked very hard for it. What have you found out? It's difficult, you know, Father, inside the mountain, especially in the dark, and not knowing what turns you have taken to tell the lie of things outside. Impossible, my boy, without a chart, or at least a compass. Returned his father. Well, I think I've nearly discovered in what direction the cobs are mining. If I am right, I know something else that I can put to it, and then one and one will make three. They very often do, Curtie, as we miners ought to be very well aware. Now tell us, my boy, what the two things are, and see whether we can guess at the same third as you. I don't see what that has to do with the princess. And opposed his mother. I will soon let you see that, mother. Perhaps you may think me foolish, but until I am sure there is nothing in my present fancy, I am more determined than ever to go on with my observations. Just as we came to the channel by which we got out, I heard the miners at work somewhere near, I think down below us. Now, since they began to watch them, they have mined a good half mile in a straight line, and so far, as I am aware, they are working in no other part of the mountain. But I never could tell in what direction they were going. When we came out in the king's garden, however, I thought at once whether it was possible they were working towards the king's house, and what I want to do tonight is to make sure whether they are or not. I will take a light with me. Oh, Curdie cried his mother. Then they will see you. I'm no more afraid of them now than I was before. Rejoined Curdie. Now that I've got this precious shoe. They can't make another such and a hurry, and one barefoot will do for my purpose. Woman, as she may be, I won't spare her next time. But I shall be careful with my light, for I don't want them to see me. I won't stick it in my hat. Go on, then, and tell us what you mean to do. I mean to take a bit of paper with me in a pencil, and go in at the mouth of the stream by which we came out. I shall mark on the paper as near as I can the angle of every turning I take until I find the cobs at work, and so get a good idea in what direction they are going. If it should prove to be nearly parallel with the stream, I shall know it is towards the king's house where they are working. And what if you should? How much wiser will you be then? Wait a minute, mother dear. I told you that when I came upon the royal family in the cave they were talking of their prince, Herlip, they called him, marrying a son-woman. That means one of us, one with toes to her feet. Now in the speech one of them made that knight at their great gathering, of which I heard only a part. He said that peace would be, secured for a generation at least, by the pledge the prince would hold for the good behavior of her relatives. That's what he said. And he must have meant the son-woman the prince was to marry. I'm quite sure the king is much too proud to wish his son to marry any but a princess, and much too knowing to fancy that his having a peasant woman for a wife would be of any great advantage to them. I see what you are driving at now. Said his mother. But... Said his father. Our king would dig the mountain to the plain before he would have his princess the wife of a cob, if he were ten times a prince. Yes, but they think so much of themselves. Said his mother. Small creatures always do. The Bentham is the proudest cock in my little yard. And I fancy. Said Kurtie. If they got her, they would tell the king they would kill her, except he consented to the marriage. They might say so. Said his father. But they wouldn't kill her. They would keep her alive for the sake of the holdage gave them over our king. Whatever he did to them, they would threaten to do the same to the princess. And they are bad enough to torment her just for their own amusement. I know that, said his mother. Anyhow, I will keep a watch on them and see what they are up to. Said Kurtie. It's too horrible to think of. I daren't let myself do it. But they shan't half her, at least if I can help it. So, mother dear, my clue is all right. Will you get me a bit of paper and a pencil and a lump of peas putting? And I will set out at once. I saw a place where I can climb over the wall of the garden quite easily. You must mind and keep out of the way of the men on the watch. Said his mother. That I will. I don't want them to know anything about it. They would spoil it all. The cobs would only try some other plan. They are such obstinate creatures. I shall take good care, mother. They won't kill and eat me either if they should come upon me. I mean, didn't find them. His mother got him what he had asked for and Kurtie set out. Closed beside the door, by which the princess left the garden for the mountain, stood a great rock and by climbing it, Kurtie got over the wall. He tied his clue to a stone just inside the channel of the stream and took his pickaxe with him. He had not gone far before he encountered a horrid creature coming towards the mouth. The spot was too narrow for two of almost any size or shape and besides, Kurtie had no wish to pass. Not being able to use his pickaxe, however, he had a severe struggle with him and he was only after receiving many bites, some of them bad, that he succeeded in killing him with his pocket knife. Having dragged him out, he made haste to get in again before another should stop up the way. I need not follow him farther in this night's adventures. He returned to his breakfast, satisfied that the goblins were mining in the direction of the palace and the intention must, he thought, be to borrow under the walls of the king's house and rise up inside it. In order, he fully believed to lay hands on the little princess and carry her off for a wife to their horrid hair-lip. When the princess awoke from the sweetest of sleeps, she found her nurse bending over her, the housekeeper looking over the nurse's shoulder and the laundry maid looking over the housekeepers. The room was full of women servants and the gentlemen at arms, but the long column of servants behind them were peeping or trying to peep in at the door of the nursery. Oh, this horrid creature's gone, as the princess, remembering her long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long has gone, as the princess, remembering first what had terrified her in the morning. You naughty, naughty little princess! cried Lutie. Her face was very pale with the red streaks in it and she looked as if she were going to shake her but Irene said nothing, only waited to hear what should come next. How could you get under the clothes like that and make us all fancy you were lost and keep it up all day, too? You're the most obstinate child. It's anything but fun to us, I can tell you. It was the only way the nurse could account for her disappearance. I didn't do that, Lutie, said Irene very quietly. Don't tell stories! cried her nurse quite rudely. I shall tell you nothing at all, said Irene. That's just as bad, said the nurse. Just as bad to say nothing at all as to tell stories, exclaimed the princess. I will ask my papa about that. He won't say so and I don't think he will like you to say so. Tell me directly what you mean by it. Scream the nurse. Half-billed with anger at the princess and tried at the possible consequences to herself. When I tell you the truth, Lutie, said the princess, who somehow did not feel at all angry. You say to me, don't tell stories. It seems I must tell stories before you will believe me. You are very rude, princess, said the nurse. You are so rude, Lutie, that I will not speak to you again till you are sorry. Why should I when I know you will not believe me? Returned the princess, for she did know perfectly well that if she were to tell Lutie what she had been about, the more she went on to tell her, the less would she believe her. You were the most provoking child, cried her nurse. You deserve to be well punished for your wicked behavior. Please, Mrs. Housekeeper, said the princess. Will you take me to your room and keep me till my king papa comes? I will ask him to come as soon as he can. Everyone stared at these words. Up to this moment they had all regarded her as a little more than a baby. But the housekeeper was afraid of the nurse and sought to patch matters up, saying, I am sure, princess, nurse did not mean to be rude to you. I do not think my papa would wish me to have a nurse who spoke to me as Lutie does. If she thinks I tell lies, she had better either say so to my papa or go away. So, Walter, will you take charge of me? Greatest of pleasure, princess. Answered the captain of the gentlemen at arms, walking with great stride into the room. The crowd's servants made eager way for him and he bowed low before the little princess's bed. I shall send my servant once, on the fastest horse in the stable, to tell your king papa that your royal highness desires his presence. When you have chosen one of these underservants to wait upon you, I shall order the room to be cleared. Thank you very much, Sir Walter," said the princess and her eye glanced towards a rosy cheeked girl who had lately come to the house's scullery-maid. But when Lutie saw the eyes of her dear princess going in search of another instead of her, she fell upon her knees by the bedside and burst into great cry of distress. I think, Sir Walter," said the princess. I will keep Lutie, but I put myself under your care and you need not trouble my king papa until I speak to you again. Were you all pleased to go away? I am quite safe and well and I did not hide myself for the sake either of amusing myself or of troubling my people. Lutie, were you pleased to dress me? The king was still away in a distant part of his dominions. The men at arms kept watching about the house. They had been considerably astonished by finding at the foot of the rock in the garden the hideous body of the goblin creature killed by Kurtie, but they came to the conclusion that it had been slain in the mines and had crept out there to die. And, as the prince said, he had not yet come to the house and he had not yet come to the house and he had not yet come to the house and he had not yet come to the house and he had crept out there to die. And, except an occasional glimpse of a live one, they saw nothing to cause alarm. Kurtie kept watching in the mountain and the goblins kept burrowing deeper into the earth. As long as they went deeper, there was, Kurtie judged, no immediate danger. To Irene the summer was as full of pleasure as ever and for a long time although she often thought of her grandmother during the day and often dreamed about her at night she did not see her. The kids and the flowers were as much her delight as ever and she made as much friendship with the miners' children she met on the mountain as Ludie would permit but Ludie had very foolish notions concerning the dignity of a princess not understanding that the truest princess is just the one who loves all her brothers and sisters best and who is most able to do them good by being humble towards them. At the same time, she was considerably altered for the better in her behavior to the princess. She could not help seeing that she was no longer a mere child but wiser than her age would account for. She kept foolishly whispering to the servants however sometimes that the princess was not right in her mind sometimes that she was too good to live and other nonsense of the same sort. All this time, Kurtie had to be sorry without a chance of confessing that he had behaved so unkindly to the princess. This perhaps made him the more diligent in his endeavors to serve her. The prince he often talked on the subject and she comforted him and told him she was sure he would someday have the opportunity he so much desired. Here I should like to remark for the sake of princess and princesses in general that it is a low and contemptible thing to refuse to confess a fault or even an error. If a true princess has done wrong she is always uneasy until she has had an opportunity of throwing the wrongness away from her by saying I did it and I wish I had not been sorry for having done it. So you see, there is some ground for supposing that Kurtie was not a minor only but a prince as well. Many such instances have been known in world's history. At length however he began to see each signs of a change in the proceedings of the goblin excavators. They were going no deeper but had commenced running on a level and he washed them therefore more closely than ever. All at once one night coming to a slope of very hard rock they began to ascend along the inclined plane of its surface. They went again on a level for a night or two after which they had begun to ascend once more and kept on at a pretty steep angle. At length Kurtie judged a time to transfer his observation to another quarter and the next night he did not go to the mine at all but leaving his pickaxe and clue at home and taking only his usual lumps of bread and peas putting went down the mountain to the king's house. He went over the wall and remained in the garden the whole night creeping on his hands and knees from one spot to the other and lying at full length with his ear to the ground listening. But he heard nothing except the tread of the man at arms as they marched about whose observation as the night was cloudy and there was no moon he had little difficulty in avoiding. For several following nights he continued to haunt the garden and listen but with no success. At length early one evening whether it was that he had got careless of his own safety or that the growing moon had become strong enough to expose him his watching came to a sudden end. He was creeping from behind the rock where the stream ran out. For he had been listening all around it and hope it might convey to his ear some indication of the whereabouts of the goblin miners when just as he came into the moonlight of the lawn of viz in his ear and a blow upon his legs startled him. He instantly squatted in the hope of eluding further notice but when he heard the sound of running feet he jumped up to take the chance of escape by flight. He fell however with a keen shoot of pain for the bolt of a crossbow had wounded his leg and the blood was now streaming from it. He was instantly laid hold of by two or three of the men at arms. It was useless to struggle and he submitted in silence. Cried several of them together in a tone of amazement. I thought it was one of those demons who knew you about here. Going to have a little rough usage apparently. Said Curdie laughing as the men shook him. Impurtenance will do you no good. You have no business here in the king's grounds and if you don't give a true account of yourself you shall fare as a thief. Why? What else could he be? Said one. He might have been after a lost kid you know. Suggested another. I see no good in trying to excuse no business here anyhow. Let me go away then, if you please. Said Curdie. But we don't, please. Not accept you give a good account of yourself. I don't feel quite sure whether I can trust you. Said Curdie. We are the king's own men at arms. Said the captain courteously for he was taken with Curdie's appearance and courage. Well, I will tell you all about it. If you will promise to listen to me I will not do anything rash. I called that cool. Said one of the party laughing. He will tell us what mischief he was about if we promise to do as please as him. I was about no mischief. Said Curdie. But here he could say more, he turned faint and felt senseless in the grass. Then first they discovered that the bolt they had shot taking him for one of the goblin creatures had wounded him. They carried him into the house and found a robber and his servants crowded in to see the villain. Amongst the rest came the nurse. The moment she saw him she exclaimed with indignation. I declare it's the same young rascal of a minor that was rude to me in the princess on the mountain. He actually wanted to kiss the princess. I took good care of that, the wretch and he was prowling about, was he? Just like his impudence. The princess being fast asleep she could misrepresent at her when he heard this the captain although he had considerable doubt of its truth resolved to keep Curdie a prisoner until they could search into the affair. So after they had brought him round a little and attended to his wound which was rather a bad one they laid him still exhausted from the loss of blood upon a mattress in a disused room. One of those already so often mentioned and locked the door and left him. He passed a troubled night and in the morning they found him talking wildly. In the evening he came to himself but felt very weak and his leg was exceedingly painful. Wondering where he was and seeing one of the men at arms in the room he began to question him and soon recall the events of the preceding night. As he was himself unable to watch anymore he told the soldier all he knew about the goblins and begged him to tell his companions and stir them up to watch with tenfold vigilance but whether it was that he did not talk quite coherently or that the whole thing appeared incredible certainly the men concluded that Kurti was only raving still and tried to coax him into holding his tongue. This of course annoyed Kurti dreadfully who now felt in his turn what it was not to be believed and the consequence was that his fever returned and by the time when at his persistent entreaties the captain was called there could be no doubt that he was raving. They did for him what they could and promised everything he wanted but with no intention of fulfillment. At last he went to sleep and then at length his sleep group profound and peaceful they left him locked the door again and withdrew intending to revisit him early in the morning. End of Chapter 25 Chapter 26 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 The Princess and the Goblin by George Donald Chapter 26 The Goblin Miners That same night several of the servants were having a chat together before going to bed. What can that noise be? Said one of the housemaids who had been listening for a moment or two. I've heard it the last two nights. Said the cook. If there were any about the place I should have taken it for rats but my Tom keeps them far enough. I've heard though. Said his caller he made. The rats move about in great company sometimes. There may be an army of them invading us. I've heard the noises yesterday and today too. It'll be grand fun then for my Tom and Mrs. Housekeepers Bob. Said the cook. There'll be friends for once in their lives and fight on the same side. I'll engage Tom and Bob together. We'll put to flight any number of rats. It seems to me. Said the nurse. But the noises are much too loud for that. I hear them all day and my princess has asked me several times what they could be. Sometimes they sound like distant thunder and sometimes like the noises you hear in the mountain from those horrid miners underneath. I shouldn't wonder. Said the cook. If it was the miners after all they may have come on some hole in the mountain through which the noises reach us. They are always boring and blasting and breaking, you know. As he spoke there came a great trolling rumble beneath them and the house quivered. They all started up in fright and rushing to the hall found the gentlemen at arms and consternation also. They had sent away their captain who said from their description that it must have been an earthquake, an occurrence which although very rare in that country had taken place almost within a century and then went to bed again, strange to say, and fell fast asleep without ones thinking of Curdie or associating the noises they had heard with what he had told them. He had not believed Curdie. If he had he would at once have thought of what he had said and he would have taken precautions. As they heard nothing more they concluded that Sir Walter was right and that the danger was over for perhaps another hundred years. The fact, as he discovered afterwards was that the coblins had in working up a second, sloping face of his stone arrived at a huge block visually under the cellars of the house within the line of the foundations. It was so round that when they succeeded after hard work in dislodging it without blasting it rolled thundering down the slope with a founting, jarring roll which shook the foundations of the house. The coblins with themselves just made a noise for they knew by careful spying and measuring that they must now be very near, if not under the king's house and they feared giving an alarm. They therefore remained quiet for a while and when they began to work again they no doubt thought themselves very fortunate in coming upon a veiny sand which filled a winding fissure in the rock on which the house was built. By scoping this way they came out in the king's wine cellar. No sooner did they find where there were then they scurried back again like rats into their holes and running at full speed to the goblin palace announced their success with the king and queen with shots of triumph. In the moment the goblin royal family and the whole goblin people were on their way in hot haste to the king's house each eager to have a share in the glory of caring of that same night the princes irate. The queen went stomping along in one shoe a stone in one of skin. This could not have been pleasant and my readers may wonder that with such skillful workmen about her she had not yet replaced the shoe carried off by Curly. As the king however had more than one ground of objection to her stone shoes he no doubt took advantage of the discovery of her toes and threatened to expose her deformity if she had another maid. I presume he insisted on her being content with skin shoes and allowed her to wear the remaining granite one on the present occasion only because she was going out to war. They soon arrived in the king's wine cellar and regardless of its huge vessels of which they did not know the use receded at once but as quietly as they could to force the door that laid out words. End of Chapter 26 Chapter 27 of The Princess in the Goblin. This is the LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. The Princess in the Goblin by George McDonald, Chapter 27 The Goblins in the King's House When Curly fell asleep he began at once to dream. He thought he was ascending the mountain site from the mouth of the mine, whistling and singing Ring the Bane When he came upon a woman and child who had lost their way and from that point he went on dreaming everything that had happened to him since he thus met the princess in Lutie how he had how he had washed the goblins how he had been taken by them how he had been rescued by the princess everything indeed until he was wounded captured and imprisoned by the men at arms and now he thought he was lying wide awake where they had laid him when suddenly he heard a great thundering sound The cobs are coming he said they didn't believe a word I told them the cobs will be carrying off the princess from their stupid noses but they shan't that they shan't he jumped up as he thought and began to dress but to his dismay found that he was still lying in bed now then I will he said but yet again he found himself snug in bed 20 times he tried and 20 times he failed for in fact he was not awake only dreaming that he was at length in an agony of despair fancying he had heard the goblins all over the house he gave a great crime then there came as he thought a hand upon the lock of his door it opened and looking up he saw a lady with white hair carrying a silver box in her hand enter the room she came to his bed he thought stroked his head and face with cool soft hands took the dressing from his leg rubbed it with something that smelt like roses and then waved her hands over him 3 times at the last wave over hands everything vanished he felt himself sinking into the profoundest slumber with nothing more until he awoke in earnest the setting moon was throwing a feeble light through the casement and the house was full of a pror there was soft heavy multitude in his stamping a clashing and clanging of weapons the voices of men and the cries of women mixed with a hideous bellowing which sounded victorious the cops were in the house he sprang from his bed hurried on some of his clothes not forgetting his shoes with a knelt hunting knife or short sword hanging on the wall he cut it and rushed down the stairs guided by the sounds of the strife which grew louder and louder when he reached the ground floor he found the whole place swarming all the goblins at the mountains seemed gathered there he rushed amongst them shouting one two hit and heal three four blast and bore and with every rhyme he came down a great stamp upon a foot cutting at the same time their faces executing indeed a swore dance at the wildest description a way is scattered the goblins in every direction into closets upstairs into chimneys upon rafters and down to the cellars Kurdy went on stamping and slashing and singing but saw nothing of the people of the house until he came to the great hall in which the moment he entered it arose a great goblin shout the last of the men at arms the captain himself was on the floor buried beneath the valuing crowd of goblins for while each night was busy defending himself as well as he could by steps in the thick bodies of the goblins for he had soon found their heads all but invulnerable the queen had attacked his legs and feet with her horrible granite shoe and he was soon down but the captain had got his back to the wall and stood out longer the goblins would have torn them all to pieces but the king had given orders to carry them away alive and over each of them into all groups there standing a knot of goblins while as many as could find room for sitting upon their prostrate bodies Kurdy burst in dancing and gyrating and stamping and singing like a small incarnate whirlwind where tis all a hole sir never can be holes why should their shoes have no soles sir when they've got no soles but she upon her foot sir has a granite shoe the strongest leather boots sir six would soon be through the queen gave a howl of rage in dismay and before she recovered her presence of mine Kurdy having begun with the group nearest him had eleven of the knights on their legs again stamp on their feet he cried as each man rose and in a few minutes the hall was nearly empty the goblins running from it as fast as they could howling and shrieking and limping and covering every now and then as they ran to cuddle their wounded feet in their hard hands or to protect them from the frightful stamp stamp of the armed men and now Kurdy approached the group which trusting in the queen and her shoe kept their guard over the prostrate captain the king sat on the captain's head but the queen stood in front like an infuriated cat with a perpendicular eyes gleaming green and her hair standing half up from her horrid head her heart was quaking however and she kept moving about her skin short foot with nervous apprehension when Kurdy was within a few paces she rushed at him made one tremendous stamp at his opposing foot during time and caught him round the waist to dash him on the marble floor but just as she caught him he came down with all the weight of his iron short shoe upon her skin short foot and with the hideous howl she dropped him squatted on the floor and took her foot in both her hands meanwhile the rest rushed on the king in the bodyguard sent him flying and lifted the prostrate captain who was all but pressed to death they were some moments before he recovered breath and consciousness cried Kurdy again and again no one knew and off they all rushed in search of her through every room in the house they went but no where was she to be found neither was one of the servants to be seen but Kurdy who had kept to the lower part of the house which was now quiet enough began to hear a confused sound as if a distant hubbub and set out to find where it came from the noise grew as his sharp ears guided him to his stair and so to the wine cellar he was full of goblins and was supplying the wine as fast as he could draw it while the queen and her party had encountered the men at arms hair lived with another company had gone off to search the house they captured everyone they met and when they could find no more they hurried away to carry them safe to the carins below but when the butler who was amongst them found that their path lay through the wine cellar he betawed himself for persuading them to taste the wine and as he hoped they no sooner tasted than they wanted more the routed goblins on their way below were burying them and when Kurdy entered they were all with outstretched hands in which were vessels of every description from saucepan to slobal cup pressing around the butler who sat at the top of a huge cask filling and filling Kurdy cast one glass around the place before commencing his attack and so in the fourthest corner a terrified group of the domestics unwashed but covering without courage to attempt their escape amongst them was a terror-stricken face of Luti but nowhere could he see the princess seized with a horrible conviction that Herala had already carried her off he rushed amongst them unable for Wrath to sing any more but stamping and cutting greater fury than ever stamp on their feet stamp on their feet he shouted and in a moment the goblins were disappearing through the hole in the floor like rats and mice they could not vanish so fast however but that many more goblin feet had to go limping back over the underground ways of the mountain that morning presently however they were reinforced from above by the king in his party the redoubtable queen at their head finding Kurdy again busy amongst her unfortunate subjects she rushed at him once more with a rage of despair and this time gave him a bad bruise on the foot an irregular stamping fight got up between them Kurdy with the point of his hunting knife keeping her from clasping her mighty arms about him as he watched his opportunity of getting once more a good stamp at her skin shot foot but the queen was more wary while then hither too the rest meantime finding the adversary does match for the moment passed in their head long hurry and turned to the shearing group of women in the corner as of determined to emulate his father and have a son woman as some sort to share his future town, Herala brushed at them caught up Lutie and sped with her to the hole she gave a great shriek and Kurdy heard her and saw the plight she was in gathering all his strength he gave the queen a sudden cut across the face came down as she started back at Hala's weight on the proper foot and sprung to Lutie's rescue the prince had two defenseless feet and on both of them Kurdy stamped just as he reached the hole he dropped his burden and rolled shrieking into the earth Kurdy made one stab at him as he disappeared caught Hala the senseless beauty and having dragged her back to the corner their mounted guard over her preparing once more to encounter the queen her face streaming with blood and her eyes flashing green through it she came on with her mouth open and her teeth grinning like tigers followed by the king and her bodyguard of the thickest goblins with the same moment and rushed the captain and his men and ran at them stamping furiously they dare not encounter such an onset away they scurried the queen for most of course the right thing would have been to take the king and queen prisoners and hold them hostages with the princess but they were so anxious to find her that no one thought of detaining them until it was too late having thus rescued the servants they set about searching the house once more none of them could give the least information concerning the princess Luti was almost silly with terror and all the scarcity able to walk would not leave Kurdy's sight for a single moment again he allowed the others to search the rest of the house where except a dismayed goblin lurking here and there they found no one while he requested Luti to take him to the princess's room she was as submissive and obedient as if he had been the king he found the bed closed tossed about and most of them on the floor while the princess's garments were scattered all over the room which was in the greatest confusion it was only too evident that the goblins had been there and Kurdy had no longer any doubt that she had been carried off at the very first of the inn road with a pang of despair he saw how wrong they had been in not securing the king and queen prince but he didn't mind to find and rescue the princess as she had found and rescued him or meet the worst fate to which the goblins could doom him Chapter 28 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 The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald Chapter 28 Kurdy's Guide just as the consolation of this resolve dawned upon his mind and he was turning away for the seller to follow the goblins into their hole something touched his hand it was a slightest touch and when he looked he could see nothing feeling and peering about in the gray of the dawn his fingers came upon a tight thread he looked again and narrowly but still could see nothing he flashed upon him that this must be the princess's thread without saying a word for he knew no one would believe him any more than he had believed the princess he followed the thread with his finger contrived to give Luty the slip and but soon out of the house and on the mountain side surprised that if the thread were indeed the grandmother's messenger it should have let the princess as he supposed it must into the mountain where she would be certain to meet the goblins rushing back enraged from their defeat but he hurried on in the hope of overtaking her first when he arrived however at the place where the path turned off for the mine he could not turn with it but went straight up the mountain could it be that the thread was leading him home to his mother's cottage could the princess be there he bounded up the mountain like one of its own goats and before the sun was up the thread had brought him indeed to his mother's door there it vanished from his fingers and he could not find it search as he might the door was on the latch and he entered there sat his mother by the fire and in her arms lay the princess Hush, Curdie! said his mother Do not wake her I'm so glad you're come I thought the cobs must have got you again with a heartful of delight Curdie sat down at the corner of the hearth on a stool opposite his mother's chair engaged at the princess who slept as peacefully as if she had been in her own bed all at once she opened her eyes and fixed them on him Oh, Curdie! You're come! she said quietly I thought she would Curdie Rosen stood before her with downcast eyes Irene he said I am very sorry I did not believe you Oh, never mind, Curdie answered the princess You couldn't, you know You do believe me now, don't you? I can't help it now I ought to have helped it before Why can't you help it now? Because just as I was going into the mountain to look for you I got hold of your thread and it brought me here and you've come from my house, have you? Yes, I have I didn't know you were there I've been there two or three days, I believe and I never knew it Then perhaps you can tell me why my grandmother has brought me here I can't think, something woke me I didn't know what, but I was frightened and I fought for the thread and there it was I was more frightened still when it brought me out in the mountain, for I thought it was going to take me into it again and I liked the outside of it best I suppose you were in trouble again and I had to get you out but it brought me here instead and oh, Curdie, your mother has been so kind to me just like my own grandmother Here, Curdie's mother gave the princess a hug and the princess turned and gave her a sweet smile and held up her mouth to kiss her Then you didn't see the cobs? Asked Curdie No, I haven't been into the mountain I told you, Curdie The cobs have been into your house all over it and into your bedroom making such a row What did they want there? It was very rude of them They wanted you to carry you off into the mountain with them for a wife to their prince's hairlip Oh, how dreadful cried the princess, shattering But you needn't be afraid, you know Your grandmother takes care of you Oh, you do believe in my grandmother then I'm so glad she made me think you were some day All at once Curdie remembered his dream and was silent, thinking But how did you come to be in my house and me not know it? Asked the princess Then Curdie had to explain everything how he had watched for her sake how he had been wounded and shut up by the soldiers how he heard the noises and could not rise and how the beautiful old lady had come to him all that followed Poor Curdie to lie there heart and earl and we never to know it exclaimed the princess, choking his rough hand I would have come and nursed you if they had told me I didn't see you were lame said his mother Am I mother? Oh, yes I suppose I ought to be I declare I've never thought of it since I got to go down amongst the cobs Let me see the wound said his mother he pulled down his stocking when, behold, except a great scar his leg was perfectly sound Curdie and his mother gazed in each other's eyes full of wonder but Irene called out I thought so, Curdie I was sure it wasn't a dream I was sure my grandmother had been to see you can't you smell the roses it was my grandmother who healed your leg and sent you to help me No, Princess Irene said Curdie I wasn't good enough to be allowed to help you I didn't believe you your grandmother took care of you without me She sent you to help my people anyhow I wish my king papa would come I do want so to tell him how good you have been but said the mother we are forgetting how frightened your people must be you must take the princess home at once, Curdie or at least go and tell them where she is yes, mother only I'm dreadfully hungry do let me have some breakfast first they ought to have listened to me and then they wouldn't have been taken by surprise as they were that is true, Curdie but it is not for you to blame them much you remember yes, mother I do only I must really have something to eat you shall, my boy as fast as I can get it said his mother rising and setting the princess on her chair but before his breakfast was ready Curdie jumped up so suddenly as to startle both his companions mother, mother he cried I was forgetting you must take the princess home yourself I must go and wake my father without a word of explanation he rushed to the place where his father was sleeping having thoroughly roused him with what he told him he doubted out of the cottage End of Chapter 28 Chapter 29 of The Princess and the Goblin this is the LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald Chapter 29 Mason work he had all at once remembered the resolution of the goblins to carry out their second plan upon the failure of the first no doubt they were already busy and the mine was therefore in the greatest danger of being flooded and rendered useless not to speak of the lives of the miners when he reached the mouth of the mine after rousing all the miners within reach he found his father and a good many more just entering they all hurried to the gang by which he had found a way into the goblin country there the foresight of Peter had already collected a great many blocks of stern with cement ready for building up the weak place well enough known to the goblins although there was not room for more than two to be actually building at once they managed by setting all the rest to work in preparing the cement and passing the stones to finish in the course of the day a huge buttress filling the whole gang and supported everywhere by the live rock before they are when they usually dropped work they were satisfied the mine was secure they had heard goblin hammers and pickaxes busy all the time and at length fancy they heard sounds of water they had never heard before but that was otherwise accounted for when they left the mine for they stepped out into a tremendous storm which was raging all over the mountain the thunder was bellowing and the lightning lancing out a huge black cloud which lay about and hung down its edges a thick mist over its sides the lightning was breaking out of the mountain too and flashing up into the cloud from the state of the brooks now swollen into raging torrents it was evident that the storm had been storming all day the wind was blowing as if it would blow him off the mountain but anxious about his mother and the princess could he darted up through the thick of the tempest even if they had not set out before the storm came on he did not judge them safe for in such a storm even their poor little house was in danger indeed he soon found that but for a huge rock against which it was built and which protected it both from the blasts and the waters it must have been swept if it was not blown away for the two torrents into which this rock parted the rush of water behind it united again from to the cottage two roaring and dangerous streams which his mother and the princess could not possibly have passed it was with great difficulty that he forced his way through one of them and up to the door the moment his hand fell on a latch through all the uproar of winds and waters came the joyous cry of the princess that's Cardi! Cardi! Cardi! she was sitting wrapped in blankets on the bed his mother trying for the hundred time to light the fire which had been drowned by the rain that came down the chimney the clay floor was one mass of mud and the whole place looked wretched but the faces of the mother and the princess shown as if their troubles only made them the merrier Cardi burst out laughing at the sight of them I never had such fun said the princess her eyes twinkling in her pretty teeth shining how nice it must be to live in a cottage on the mountain it all depends on what kind your inside house is said the mother I know what you mean said Irene that's the kind of thing my grandmother says by the time Peter returned the storm was nearly over but the streams were so fierce and so swollen that it was not only out of the question for the princess to go down the mountain but most dangerous for Peter even or Cardi to make the attempt in the gathering darkness they will be dreadfully frightened about you said Peter to the princess but we cannot help it we must wait till the morning with Cardi's help the fire was lighted at last and the mother set about making their supper and after supper they all told the princess story still she grew sleepy then Cardi's mother laid her in Cardi's bed which was in a tiny little garage room as soon as she was in bed through a little window low down in the roof she caught sight of her grandmother's lamp shining far away beneath and she gazed at the beautiful silvery globe until she fell asleep end of chapter 29 chapter number 30 of the princess and the goblin this is the LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the princess and the goblin on George MacDonald chapter 30 the king and the kiss the next morning the sun rose so bright that Irene said the rain had washed his face and let the light out clean the torrents were still roaring down the side of the mountain but they were so much smaller as not to be dangerous in the daylight after an early breakfast Peter went to his work and Cardi and his mother set out to take the princess home they had difficulty in getting her dry across the streams and Cardi had again and again to carry her but at last they got safe on the broader part of the road and walked gently down towards the king's house and watched as they turned the last corner by the last of the king's troop riding through the gate oh Cardi cried Irene clapping her hands right joyfully my king papa has come the moment Cardi heard that he caught her up in his arms come on mother dear the king may break his heart before he knows that she is safe Irene clung round his neck and he ran with her like a deer when he entered the gate into the court there sat the king on his horse with all the people of the house about him weeping and hanging their heads the king was not weeping but his face was white as a dead man's and he looked as if the life had gone out of him the men at RMC had brought with him sat with horror-stricken faces but eyes flashing with rage waiting only for the word of the king to do something they did not know what and nobody knew what the day before the men at RMC belong into the house as soon as they were satisfied the princess had been carried away rushed after the goblins into the hole but found that they had already so skillfully blockaded the narrow as part not many feet below the cellar that without miners and their tools they could do nothing not one of them knew where the mouth of the mine lay and some of those who had set out to find it had been overtaken by the storm and had not even yet returned poor sir Walter was especially filled with shame and almost hope the king would order his head to be cut off for to think of that sweet little face down amongst the goblins was unendurable when Kurti ran in at the gate with the princess in his arms they were also absorbed in their own misery and awe by the king's presence in grief but no one observed his arrival he went straight up to the king where he sat on his horse papa papa the princess cried stretching out her arms to him the king started the color rushed to his face he gave an inarticulate cry Kurti held up the princess and the king bent down and took her from his arms as he clasped her to his bosom the big tears when dropping down his cheeks and his beard and such a shout arose from all the bystanders that the startled horses pranced and caped and the armor rang and clattered and the rocks of the mountain echoed back the noises the princess greeted them all as she nestled in her father's bosom and the king did not set her down until she had told them all the story but she had more to tell about Kurti than about herself and what she did tell about herself none of them could understand except the king who stood by the king's knee stroking the neck of the great white horse and still as she told what Kurti had done so Walter and others added to what she told even Ludi joining in the presence of his courage and energy Kurti held his peace looking quietly up in the king's space and his mother stood on the outskirts of the crowd listening with delight for his son's deeds were pleasant in years until the princess got sight of her and there is his mother king papa she said see there she is such a nice mother and has been so kind to me they all parted as thunder as the king made a sign to her to come forward she obeyed and he gave her his hand but could not speak and now king papa the princess meant harm I must tell you another thing one night long ago Kurti drove the goblins away and brought Ludi and me safe from the mountain and I promised him a kiss when we got home but Ludi wouldn't let me give it to him I don't want you to scold Ludi but I want you to tell her that a princess must do as she promises indeed she must my child except it be wrong said the king there give Kurti a kiss and as he spoke he held her towards him the princess reached down threw her arms around Kurti's neck and kissed him on the mouth saying there Kurti as I promised you then they all went into the house and the cook rushed to the kitchen and the servants to their work Ludi dressed Irene in her shining guest clothes and the king put off his armor and put on purple and gold and a messenger was sent for Peter and all the miners and there was a great and a grand feast which continued long after the princess was put to bed End of Chapter 30 Chapter 31 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 The Princess and the Goblin by George McDonald Chapter 31 The Subterranean Waters The King's Harper who always formed a part of his escort was chanting a ballad which he made as he went on playing on his instrument about the princess and the goblins and the province of Kurti He seized with his eyes on one of the doors of the hall Thereupon the eyes of the king and his guest turned to their word also The next moment through the open doorway came the princess Irene She bent straight up to her father with her right hand stretched out of the side base and a forefinger as her father and Kurti understood feeling its real ugly invisible thread The king took her on his knee and she sat in his ear King Papa, do you hear that noise? I hear nothing said the king Listen She said holding up her forefinger The king listened and agreed stillness fill upon a company Each man, seeing that the king listened listened also and the Harper sat with his heart between his arms and his finger solid upon the strings I do hear a noise said the king at length A noise is of distant thunder It is coming nearer and nearer What can it be? They all heard it now and each seemed ready to start his feet as he listened Yet all sat perfectly still The noise came rapidly nearer What can it be? said the king again I think it must be another storm coming over the mountain said Sir Walter Then Kurti, who had the first word of the king, had slipped from his feet and laid his ear to the ground Rosa quickly and approaching the king said speaking very fast Please Your Majesty, I think I know what it is I have no time to explain for that might make it too late for some of us Will Your Majesty give orders that everybody leave the house as quickly as possible and get up to the mountain? The king, who was the wisest man in the kingdom knew well there was a time when things must be done and questions left till afterwards He had faith in Kurti and rose instantly with Irene in his arms Every man and woman follow me He said and showed out into the darkness Before he reached the gate the noise had grown to a great thundering roar and the ground trembled beneath their feet and before the last of them had crossed the court out after them from the great hall there came a huge rush of turbid water and almost swept them away But they got safe out of the gate and up the mountain while the torrent went roaring down the road into the valley beneath Kurti had left the king and the princess to look after his mother whom he and his father one on each side caught up when the stream overtook them and carried safe and dry When the king had got out of the way of the water a little up the mountain he stood with the princess in his arms looking back with amazement on the issuing torrent which glimmered fierce and foamy through the night There Kurti rejoined them Now Kurti said the king What does it mean? Is this what you expected? It is your majesty Said Kurti and proceeded to tell him about the second scheme of the goblins who fancying the miners of more importance to the upper world than they were had resolved if they should fail in carrying up king's daughter to flood the mine and drown the miners Then he explained what the miners had done to prevent it The goblins had in pursuance of their design let loose all the underground reservoirs and streams expecting the water to run down into the mine which was lower than their part of the mountain For they had, as they supposed not knowing of the solid wall close behind broken a passage through into it But the readyest outlet the water could find had turned out to be the tunnel they had made to the king's house The possibility of wish catastrophe had not occurred to the young miner until he had laid his ear to the floor of the hall What was then to be done? The house appeared in danger of falling and every moment the tarn was increasing We must set out at once Said the king But how to get at the horses? Shall I see if we can manage that? Said Kurti Do Said the king Kurti gathered the men at arms and took them over the garden wall to the tables They found their horses in terror The water was rising fast around them and it was quite time they were got out But there was no way to get them out except by riding them through the stream which was now pouring from the lower windows as well as the door As one horse was quite enough for any man to manage through such a torrent Kurti got on the king's white charger and leading the way brought them all in safety to the rising ground Look look Cudi Cried Irene The moment that having dismounted he let the horse up to the king Kurti did look and saw high in the air Somewhere above the top of the king's house a great glow of light shining like the purest silver Oh He cried in some consternation That is your grandmother's land We must get her out I will go find her My grandmother is in no danger Said Irene Smiling Here Kurti Take the princess while I get on my horse Set the king Kurti took the princess again and both turned their eyes to the glow of light The same moment there shot from it a white bird which, descending without stretched wings made one circle round the king and Kurti and the princess and then glided up again and they managed together Now Kurti Said the princess as he lifted her to her father's arms You see my grandmother knows all about it and isn't frightened I believe she can walk through that water and it wouldn't wet her a bit But my child Said the king You will be cold if you haven't something more on Run Kurti my boy and fetch anything you can lay your hands on The princess warm We have a long ride before us Kurti was gone in a moment and soon returned with a great rich fur and the news that dead goblins were tossing about in the curtains through the house They had been caught in their own snare Instead of the mine they had flooded their own country whence they were now swept up drowned Irene shuddered but the king held her close to his bosom Then he turned so Walter and said Bring Kurti's father and mother here I wish Said the king when they stood before him To take your son with me He shall enter my bodyguard at once and wait further promotion Peter and his wife overcome only murmured almost inaudible things But Kurti spoke aloud Please Your Majesty He said I cannot leave my father and mother That's right Kurti Yes I wouldn't if I was you The king looked at the princess and then at Kurti with a glow of satisfaction on his countenance I too think you are right Kurti He said And I will not ask you again But I shall have a chance of doing something for you some time Your Majesty has already allowed me to serve you Said Kurti But Kurti Why shouldn't you go with the king? We can get on very well without you But I can't get on very well without you Said Kurti The king is very kind But I could not be half the use to him that I am to you Please Your Majesty If you wouldn't mind giving my mother a red petticoat I should have got her one long ago but for the goblins As soon as we get home Said the king Irene and I will search out the warmest one to be found and send it by one of the gentlemen Yes, that we will, Kurti Said the princess And next summer we'll come back and see you are it, Kurti's mother She added Shouldn't we, King Papa? Yes, my love, I hope so Said the king Then turning to the minors he said Will you do the best you can for my servants tonight I hope they will be able to return to the house tomorrow The minors with one voice promised their hospitality Then the king commanded his servants to mind whatever Kurti should say to them and after shaking his hands with him and his father and mother the king and the princess and all their company rode away down the side of the new stream which had already devoured half the road into the starry night End of chapter 31 Chapter 32 Of the Princess and the Kaplan This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org The Princess and the Kaplan by George McDonald Chapter 32 The last chapter All the rest went up the mountain and separated in groups to the homes of the minors Kurti and his father and mother took Luti with them and the whole way a light of which all but Luti understood the origin shown upon their path But when they looked around they could see nothing of the silvery globe For days and days the water continued to rush from the doors and windows of the king's house and a few goblin bodies were swept out into the road Kurti saw that something must be done He spoke to his father and the rest of the minors proceeded to make another outlet for the waters By setting all hands to the work tunneling here and building there they soon succeeded and having also made a little tunnel to drain the water away from under the king's house they were soon able to get into the wine cellar where they found a multitude of dead goblins Among the rest the queen with the skinned shoe gone and the stone one fast to her ankle For the water had swept away the barricade which prevented the men in arms following the goblins and had greatly widened the passage They built it securely up and then went back to their labours in the mine A good many of the goblins with their creatures escaped from the inundation upon the mountain But most of them soon left that part of the country and most of those who remained grew milder in character and indeed became very much like the scotch brownies Their skulls became softer as well as their hearts and their feet grew harder and more friendly with the inhabitants of the mountain and even with the miners But the latter were merciless to any of the corpse creatures that came their way until at length they all disappeared Still But, Mr. Author we would rather hear more about the princess and Kurdie We don't care about the goblins and their nasty creatures They frighten us rather If anyone gets rid of the goblins there is no fear of the princess or of Kurdie But we want to know more about them Someday, perhaps I may tell you the further history of both of them How Kurdie came to visit Irene's grandmother and what she did for him and how the princess and he met again after they were older and how, but there I don't mean to go any farther at present When you're leaving the story unfinished, Mr. Author Not more unfinished than a story ought to be, I hope If you ever knew a story finished all I can say is I never did Somehow, stories won't finish I think I know why But I won't say that either now The end End of Chapter 32 End of The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald