He saw neither his daughter nor his crown: it was the voice of the one and the touch of the other that comforted him.

He kept murmuring what seemed words, but was unintelligible to Curdie, although, to judge from the look of Irene's face, she learned and concluded from it.
By degrees his voice sank away and the murmuring ceased, although still his lips moved.

Thus lay the old king on his bed, slumbering with his crown between his hands; on one side of him stood a lovely little maiden, with blue eyes, and brown hair going a little back from her temples, as if blown by a wind that no one felt but herself; and on the other a stalwart young miner, with his mattock over his shoulder.
Stranger sight still was Lina lying along the threshold--only nobody saw her just then.
A moment more and the king's lips ceased to move.

His breathing had grown regular and quiet.

The princess gave a sigh of relief, and came round to Curdie.
'We can talk a little now,' she said, leading him toward the middle of the room.