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, Curdie,' his mother said, as they sat at supper, 'tell us the
whole story from beginning to end, just as it all happened.'
Curdie 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 Curdie, '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.
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