anxious to know what the princess says to you- that is, if she will
allow you to tell us.'

'I think she will, for she knows there is nobody more to be trusted
than my father and mother,' said Curdie, with

pride.

And away he shot, and ran, and jumped, and seemed almost to fly
down the long, winding, steep path, until he came to the gate of
the king's house.

There he met an unexpected obstruction: in the open door stood the
housekeeper, and she seemed to broaden herself out until she almost
filled the doorway.

'So!' she said, 'it's you, is it, young man? You are the person
that comes in and goes out when he pleases, and keeps running up
and down my stairs without ever saying by your leave, or even
wiping his shoes, and always leaves the door open! Don't you know
this is my house?'

'No, I do not,' returned Curdie respectfully. 'You forget, ma'am,
that it is the king's house.'

'That is all the same. The king left it to me to take care of -
and that you shall know!'

'Is the king dead, ma'am, that he has left it to you?' asked
Curdie, half in doubt from the self-assertion of the woman.