floor, she saw a
strange sight. Lina lay at full length, fast asleep, her tail
stretched out straight behind her and her forelegs before her: between
the two paws meeting in front of it, her nose just touching it behind,
glowed and flashed the crown, like a nest of the humming birds of
heaven.

Irene gazed, and looked up with a smile.

'But what if the thief were to come, and she not to wake?' she said.
'Shall I try her?' And as she spoke she stooped toward the crown.

'No, no, no!' cried Curdie, terrified. 'She would frighten you out of
your wits. I would do it to show you, but she would wake your father.
You have no conception with what a roar she would spring at my throat.
But you shall see how lightly she wakes the moment I speak to her.
Lina!'

She was on her feet the same instant, with her great tail sticking out
straight behind her, just as it had been lying.

'Good dog!' said the princess, and patted her head. Lina wagged her
tail solemnly, like the boom of an anchored sloop. Irene took the
crown, and laid it where the king would see it when he woke.

'Now, Princess,' said Curdie, 'I must leave you for a few minutes. You
must bolt the door, please, and not open it to any one.'

Away to the cellar he went with Lina, taking care, as they passed
through the servants' hall, to get her a good breakfast. In about one
minute she had eaten what he gave her, and looked up in his face: it
was not more she wanted, but work. So out of the cellar they went
through the passage, and Curdie into the dungeon, where he pulled up
Lina, opened the door, let her out, and shut it again behind her. As
he reached the door of the king's chamber, Lina was flying out of the
gate of Gwyntystorm as fast as her mighty legs could carry her.

'What's come to the wench?' growled the menservants one to another,
when the chambermaid appeared among them the next morning. There was
something in her face which they could not understand, and did not like.

'Are we all dirt?' they said. 'What are you thinking about? Have you
seen yourself in the glass this morning, miss?'

She made no answer.

'Do you want to be treated as you deserve, or will you speak, you
hussy?' said the first woman-cook. 'I would fain know what right you
have to put on a face like that!'

'You won't believe me,' said the girl.

'Of course not. What is it?'

'I must tell you, whether you believe me or not,' she said.

'Of course you must.'

'It