As he uttered the last words, Curdie let go his hold of his companion, and rushed at the thing in the road, as if he would trample it under his feet. It gave a great spring, and ran straight up one of the rocks like a huge spider. Curdie turned back laughing, and took Irene's hand again. She grasped his very tight, but said nothing till they had passed the rocks. A few yards more and she found herself on a part of the road she knew, and was able to speak again. [Illustration: "Never mind, Princess Irene," he said. "You mustn't kiss me to-night. But you sha'n't break your word. I will come another time."] "Do you know, Curdie, I don't quite like your song; it sounds to me rather rude," she said. "Well, perhaps it is," answered Curdie. "I never thought of that; it's a way we have. We do it because they don't like it." "Who don't like it?" "The cobs, as we call them." "Don't!" said the nurse. "Why not?" said Curdie. "I beg you won't. Please don't." "Oh, if you ask me that way, of course I won't; though I don't a bit know why. Look! there are the lights of your great house down below. You'll be at home in five minutes now." Nothing more happened. They reached home in safety. Nobody had missed them, or even known they had gone out; and they arrived at the door belonging to their part of the house without anyone seeing them. The nurse was rushing in with a hurried and not over-gracious good-night to Curdie; but the princess pulled her hand from hers, and was just throwing her arms around Curdie's neck, when she caught her again and dragged her away. "Lootie, Lootie, I promised Curdie a kiss," cried Irene. "A princess mustn't give kisses. It's not at all proper," said Lootie. "But I promised," said the princess. "There's no occasion; he's only a miner-boy." "He is a good boy, and a brave boy, and he has been very kind to us. Lootie! Lootie! I promised." "Then you shouldn't have promised." "Lootie, I promised him a kiss." "Your royal Highness," said Lootie, suddenly growing very respectful, "must come in directly." "Nurse, a princess must _not_ break her word," said Irene, drawing herself up and standing stockstill. Lootie did not know which the king might count the worst--to let the princess be out after sunset, or to let her kiss a miner-boy. She did not know that, being a gentleman, as many kings have been, he would have counted neither of them the worse. However much he might have disliked his daughter to kiss the miner-boy, he would not have had her break her word for all the goblins in creation. But, as I say, the nurse was not lady enough to understand this, and so she was in a great difficulty, for, if she insisted, some one might hear the princess cry and run to see, and then all would come out. But here Curdie came again to the rescue. "Never mind, Princess Irene," he said. "You mustn't kiss me to-night. But you sha'n't break your word. I will come another time. You may be sure I will."