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a score of feet beneath the very grass on which the updwellers of that country walk。 it will be very soon now that those uplanders fate will e upon them。 she herself is at the diggings tonight； and i expect a message to go to her。 then the thin roof of earth which still keeps me from my kingdom will be broken through； and with her to guide me and a thousand earthmen at my back； i shall ride forth in arms； fall suddenly on our enemies； slay their chief men； cast down their strong places； and doubtless be their crowned king within four and twenty hours。”
〃its a bit rough luck on them； isnt it？〃 said scrubb。
〃thou art a lad of a wondrous； quick…working wit！〃 exclaimed the knight。 〃for； on my honour； i had never thought of it so before。 i see your meaning。〃 he looked slightly； very slightly troubled for a moment or two； but his face soon cleared and he broke out； with another of his loud laughs； 〃but fie on gravity！ is it not the most ical and ridiculous thing in the world to think of them all going about their business and never dreaming that under their peaceful fields and floors； only a fathom down； there is a great army ready to break out upon them like a fountain！ and they never to have suspected！ why； they themselves； when once the first smart of their defeat is over； can hardly choose but laugh at the thought！”
〃i dont think its funny at all；〃 said jill。 〃i think youll be a wicked tyrant。”
〃what？〃 said the knight； still laughing and patting her head in a quite infuriating fashion。
〃is our little maid a deep politician？ but never fear； sweetheart。 in ruling that land； i shall do all by the counsel of my lady； who will then be my queen too。 her word shall be my law； even as my word will be law to the people we have conquered。”
〃where i e from；〃 said jill； who was disliking him more every minute； 〃they dont think much of men who are bossed about by their wives。”
〃shalt think otherwise when thou hast a man of thine own； i warrant you；〃 said the knight； apparently thinking this very funny。 〃but with my lady； it is another matter。 i am well content to live by her word； who has already saved me from a thousand dangers。 no
mother has taken pains more tenderly for her child； than the queens grace has for me。
why； look you； amid all her cares and business； she rideth out with me in the overworld many a time and oft to accustom my eyes to the sunlight。 and then i must go fully armed and with visor down； so that no man may see my face； and i must speak to no one。 for she has found out by art magical that this would hinder my deliverance from the grievous enchantment i lie under。 is not that a lady worthy of a mans whole worship？”
〃sounds a very nice lady indeed；〃 said puddleglum in a voice which meant exactly the opposite。
they were thoroughly tired of the knights talk before they had finished supper。
puddleglum was thinking； 〃i wonder what game that witch is really playing with this young fool。〃 scrubb was thinking； 〃hes a great baby； really： tied to that womans apron strings； hes a sap。〃 and jill was thinking； 〃hes the silliest； most conceited； selfish pig ive met for a long time。〃 but when the meal was over； the knights mood had changed。
there was no more laughter about him。
〃friends；〃 he said； 〃my hour is now very near。 i am ashamed that you should see me yet i dread being left alone。 they will e in presently and bind me hand and foot to yonder chair。 alas； so it must be： for in my fury； they tell me； i would destroy all that i could reach。”
〃i say；〃 said scrubb； 〃im awfully sorry about your enchantment of course； but what will those fellows do to us when they e to bind you？ they talked of putting us in prison。
and we dont like all those dark places very much。 wed much rather stay here till youre 。 。 。 better 。 。 。 if we may。”
〃it is well thought of；〃 said the knight。 〃by custom none but the queen herself remains with me in my evil hour。 such is her tender care for my honour that she would not willingly suffer any ears but her own to hear the words i utter in that frenzy。 but i could not easily persuade my attendant gnomes that you should be left with me。 and i think i hear their soft feet even now upon the stairs。 go through yonder door： it leads into my other apartments。 and there； either await my ing when they have unbound me； or； if you will； return and sit with me in my ravings。”
they followed his directions and passed out of the room by a door which they had not yet seen opened。 it brought them； they were pleased to see； not into darkness but into a lighted corridor。 they tried various doors and found （what they very badly needed） water for washing and even a looking glass。 〃he never offered us a wash before supper；〃 said jill； drying her face。 〃selfish； selfcentred pig。”
〃are we going back to watch the enchantment； or shall we stay here？〃 said scrubb。
〃stay here； i vote；〃 said jill。 〃id much rather not see it。〃 but she felt a little inquisitive all the same。
〃no； go back；〃 said puddleglum。 〃we may pick up some information； and we need all we can get。 i am sure that queen is a witch and an enemy。 and those earthmen would knock us on the head as soon as look at us。 theres a stronger smell of danger and lies and magic and treason about this land than ive ever smelled before。 we need to keep our eyes and ears open。”
they went back down the corridor and gently pushed the door open。 〃its all right；〃 said scrubb； meaning that there were no earthmen about。 then they all came back into the room where they had supped。
the main door was now shut； concealing the curtain between which they had first entered。 the knight was seated in a curious silver chair； to which he was bound by his ankles； his knees； his elbows； his wrists； and his waist。 there was sweat on his forehead and his face was filled with anguish。
〃e in； friends；〃 he said； glancing quickly up。 〃the fit is not yet upon me。 make no noise； for i told that prying chamberlain that you were in bed。 now 。 。 。 i can feel it ing。 quick！ listen while i am master of myself。 when the fit is upon me； it well may be that i shall beg and implo