Curdie, my name's Irene.' 'Well, Irene,' said Curdie, with a glance at the nurse which showed he enjoyed teasing her; 'it is very kind of you to let me call you anything.

I like your name very much.' He expected the nurse to interfere again; but he soon saw that she was too frightened to speak.

She was staring at something a few yards before them in the middle of the path, where it narrowed between rocks so that only one could pass at a time.
'It is very much kinder of you to go out of your way to take us home,' said Irene.
'I'm not going out of my way yet,' said Curdie.

'It's on the other side of those rocks the path turns off to my father's.' 'You wouldn't think of leaving us till we're safe home, I'm sure,' gasped the nurse.
'Of course not,' said Curdie.
'You dear, good, kind Curdie! I'll give you a kiss when we get home,' said the princess.
The nurse gave her a great pull by the hand she held.

But at that instant the something in the middle of the way, which had looked like a great lump of earth brought down by the rain, began to move.