Would you like to know why I made You put your hands in the fire ?' Curdie looked at them again--then said: 'To take the marks of the work off them and make them fit for the king's court, I suppose.' 'No, Curdie,' answered the princess, shaking her head, for she was not pleased with the answer.

'It would be a poor way of making your hands fit for the king's court to take off them signs of his service.

There is a far greater difference on them than that.

Do you feel none ?' 'No, ma'am.' 'You will, though, by and by, when the time comes.

But perhaps even then you might not know what had been given you, therefore I will tell you.