She untied it with joy, and Lina stole away, silent as she had come.

Her joy was the greater that the king had waked up a little before, and expressed a desire for food--not that he felt exactly hungry, he said, and yet he wanted something.

If only he might have a piece of nice fresh bread! Irene had no knife, but with eager hands she broke a great piece from the loaf, and poured out a full glass of wine.

The king ate and drank, enjoyed the bread and the wine much, and instantly fell asleep again.
It was hours before the lazy people brought their breakfast.

When it came, Irene crumbled a little about, threw some into the fireplace, and managed to make the tray look just as usual.
In the meantime, down below in the cellar, Curdie was lying in the hollow between the upper sides of two of the great casks, the warmest place he could find.