At last it ceased altogether, and Curdie thought his hands must be burned to cinders if not ashes, for he did not feel them at all.

The princess told him to take them out and look at them.

He did so, and found that all that was gone of them was the rough, hard skin; they were white and smooth like the princess's.
'Come to me,' she said.
He obeyed and saw, to his surprise, that her face looked as if she had been weeping.
'Oh, Princess! What is the matter ?' he cried.

'Did I make a noise and vex you ?' 'No, Curdie, she answered; 'but it was very bad.' 'Did you feel it too then ?' 'Of course I did.

But now it is over, and all is well.