Stories Oct, 2013 | Page 102

refreshment, and Irene bestowed herself on his right hand, and drank her milk out of a wooden bowl curiously carved. After the king had eaten and drunk, he turned to the princess and said, stroking her hair-- "Now, my child, what shall we do next?" This was the question he almost always put to her first after their meal together; and Irene had been waiting for it with some impatience, for now, she thought, she should be able to settle a question which constantly perplexed her. "I should like you to take me to see my great old grandmother." The king looked grave, and said-- "What does my little daughter mean?" "I mean the Queen Irene that lives up in the tower--the very old lady, you know, with the long hair of silver." Madhuri Noah C:\Users\MNoah\Documents\The Princess and the Goblin1.docx Page 101 of 634