Your grandmother takes care of you.' 'Ah! you do believe in my grandmother, then?
I'm so glad! She made me think you would some day.' All at once Curdie remembered his dream, and was silent, thinking.
'But how did you come to be in my house, and me not know it ?' asked the princess.
Then Curdie had to explain everything--how he had watched for her sake, how he had been wounded and shut up by the soldiers, how he heard the noises and could not rise, and how the beautiful old lady had come to him, and all that followed.
'Poor Curdie! to lie there hurt and ill, and me never to know it!' exclaimed the princess, stroking his rough hand.

'I would have come and nursed you, if they had told me.' 'I didn't see you were lame,' said his mother.
'Am I, mother?
Oh--yes--I suppose I ought to be! I declare I've never thought of it since I got up to go down amongst the cobs!' 'Let me see the wound,' said his mother.
He pulled down his stocking--when behold, except a great scar, his leg was perfectly sound! Curdie and his mother gazed in each other's eyes, full of wonder, but Irene called out: 'I thought so, Curdie! I was sure it wasn't a dream.

I was sure my grandmother had been to see you.

Don't you smell the roses?
It was my grandmother healed your leg, and sent you to help me.' 'No, Princess Irene,' said Curdie; 'I wasn't good enough to be allowed to help you: I didn't believe you.

Your grandmother took care of you without me.' 'She sent you to help my people, anyhow.