when you get to the bottom of all the stairs, and in that way you will
arrive safely at the hall where the great door is."
"Oh! I don't doubt I can find my way--without you, princess, or your
old
grannie's thread either," said Curdie, quite rudely.
"Oh, Curdie! Curdie!"
"I wish I had gone home at once. I'm very much obliged to you, Irene,
for getting me out of that hole, but I wish you hadn't made a fool of me
afterward."
He said this as he opened the door, which he left open, and, without
another word, went down the stairs. Irene listened with dismay to his
departing footsteps. Then turning again to the lady--
"What does it all mean, grandmother?" she sobbed, and burst into
fresh
tears.
"It means, my love, that I did not mean to show myself. Curdie is not
yet able to believe some things. Seeing is not believing--it is only
Madhuri Noah
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