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Of course, if you come to that, it was my head that ought to have looked after my feet. But it is the king's part to look after us all, and have his streets smooth. 'Well, I don't see, said Curdie, 'why the king should take care of the baker, when the baker's head won't take care of the baker's feet. 'Who are you to make game of the king's baker? cried the man in a rage.
He had been listening to another sound, which his practised ear had caught long ago, and which also had been growing louder. It was the noise the goblin-miners made at their work, and they seemed to be at no great distance now. Irene heard it the moment she stopped. 'What is that noise? she asked. 'Do you know, Curdie? 'Yes. It is the goblins digging and burrowing, he answered.
He said the officers were mostly honest men, he believed, but how they might be doing without him, or what they might resolve, in ignorance of the real state of affairs, and exposed to every misrepresentation, who could tell? Curdie proposed that he should send for the major, offering to be the messenger. The colonel agreed, and Curdie went not without his mattock, because of the dogs.
And with that the darkness of its complexion melted away, and down from the face dawned out the form that belonged to it, until at last Curdie and his father beheld a lady, beautiful exceedingly, dressed in something pale green, like velvet, over which her hair fell in cataracts of a rich golden colour.
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.
And you must be just as careful with yourself, Princess, Curdie went on, 'for you don't know when they may begin to poison you, too. 'There's no fear of me; don't talk about me, said Irene. 'The good food! How are we to get it, Curdie? That is the whole question. 'I am thinking hard, answered Curdie. 'The good food? Let me see let me see!
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. 'Insolent fellow! exclaimed the housekeeper. 'Don't you see by my dress that I am in the king's service? 'And am I not one of his miners? 'Ah! that goes for nothing. I am one of his household.
But the maid had left the room, and they let the page pass, for he looked dangerous to stop. Curdie had just put him betwixt him and the wall, behind the door, when in rushed the butler with the huge kitchen poker, the point of which he had blown red-hot in the fire, followed by the cook with his longest spit.
'And how has my beloved king slept tonight? he asked. 'No better, answered Irene, with a mournful shake of her head. 'Ah, that is very well! returned the doctor, his fall seeming to have muddled either his words or his meaning. 'When we give him his wine, he will be better still. Curdie darted at the flagon, and lifted it high, as if he had expected to find it full, but had found it empty.
As soon as she found this, she said in a right joyous whisper: 'Now, Curdie, I think if you were to give a great push, the slab would tumble over. 'Stand quite clear of it, then, said Curdie, 'and let me know when you are ready. Irene got off the heap, and stood on one side of it. 'Now, Curdie! she cried. Curdie gave a great rush with his shoulder against it.
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