Perhaps my readers may be wondering what the goblins could be
about,
working all night long, seeing they never carried up the ore and sold
it; but when I have informed them concerning what Curdie learned the
very next night, they will be able to understand.
For Curdie had determined, if his father would permit him, to remain
there alone this night--and that for two reasons: first, he wanted to
get extra wages in order that he might buy a very warm red petticoat
for
his mother, who had begun to complain of the cold of the mountain air
sooner than usual this autumn; and second, he had just a faint
glimmering of hope of finding out what the goblins were about under
his
window the night before.
When he told his father, he made no objection, for he had great
confidence in his boy's courage and resources.
"I'm sorry I can't stay with you," said Peter; "but I want to go and pay
the parson a visit this evening, and beside s I've had a bit of a
headache all day."
Madhuri Noah
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