INTHEDARKCASTLEWHENthemeal(whichigeonpie,coldham,salad,andcakes)hadbeenbrought,andallhaddrawntheirchairsuptothetableandbegun,theKnighttinued:"Youmustuand,friends,thatIknownothingofwhoIwasandwhenceIcameintothisDarkWorld.IremembernotimewhenIwasnotdwelling,asnow,atthecourtofthisallbutheavenlyQueen;butmythoughtisthatshesavedmefromsomeevilentmentandbroughtmehitherofherexceedingbounty.(HoFrogfoot,yourcupisempty.Suffermetorefillit.)AndthisseemstomethelikelierbecauseevennowIam

    boundbyaspell,fromwhichmyLadyalonefreeme.Everynightthereesanhourwhenmymindismosthorriblyged,and,aftermymind,mybody.ForfirstIbeefuriousandwildandwouldrushuponmydearestfriendstokillthem,ifIwerenotbound.Andsoohat,Iturnintothelikenessofagreatserpent,hungry,fierddeadly.(Sir,bepleasedtotakeanotherbreastofpigeoreatyou.)Sotheytellme,andtheycertainlyspeaktruth,formyLadysaysthesame.Imyselfknownothingofit,forwhenmyhourispastIawakefetfulofallthatvilefitandinmypropershapeandsoundmind-savingthatIamsomewhatwearied.(Littlelady,eatohesehoneycakes,whicharebroughtformefromsomebarbarouslandinthefarsouthoftheworld.)

    NowtheQueensmajestyknowsbyherartthatIshallbefreedfromthisentmentwhenonceshehasmademekingofalandintheOverworldasupohelandisalreadychosenandtheveryplaceofourbreakingout.HerEarthmenhaveworkeddayandnightdiggingawaybehit,andhavenowgonesofarandsohighthattheytuascoreoffeetbeheverygrassonwhichtheUpdwellersofthattrywalk.ItwillbeverysoonnowthatthoseUplandersfatewilleuponthem.Sheherselfisatthediggingstonight