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, someone 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 tonight.
But you shan't break your word.