They now left the hall by another door, and entered a short passage, which led them to the huge kitchen, vaulted and black with smoke.

There, too, the fire was still burning, so that he was able to see a little of the state of things in this quarter also.
The place was dirty and disorderly.

In a recess, on a heap of brushwood, lay a kitchen-maid, with a table cover around her, and a skillet in her hand: evidently she too had been drinking.

In another corner lay a page, and Curdie noted how like his dress was to his own.
In the cinders before the hearth were huddled three dogs and five cats, all fast asleep, while the rats were running about the floor.

Curdie's heart ached to think of the lovely child-princess living over such a sty.