CHAPTER 8, part 2

'Did she die very soon? They didn't tease her to death, did they?' 'Oh, dear, no! The king worshipped her very footmarks.' 'What made her die, then? Didn't the air agree with her?' 'She died when the young prince was born.' 'How silly of her! We never do that. It must have been because she wore shoes.' 'I don't know that.' 'Why do they wear shoes up there?' 'Ah, now that's a sensible question, and I will answer it. But in order to do so, I must first tell you a secret. I once saw the queen's feet.' 'Without her shoes?' 'Yes--without her shoes.' 'No! Did you? How was it?' 'Never you mind how it was. She didn't know I saw them. And what do you think!--they had toes!' И что вы думаете! У них были пальцы на ногах! 'Toes! What's that?' 'You may well ask! I should never have known if I had not seen the queen's feet. Just imagine! the ends of her feet were split up into five or six thin pieces!' 'Oh, horrid! How could the king have fallen in love with her?' 'You forget that she wore shoes. That is just why she wore them. That is why all the men, and women too, upstairs wear shoes. They can't bear the sight of their own feet without them.' Без них они не выносят вида собственных ног. 'Ah! now I understand. If ever you wish for shoes again, Helfer, I'll hit your feet--I will.' 'No, no, mother; pray don't.' 'Then don't you.' 'But with such a big box on my head--' A horrid scream followed, which Curdie interpreted as in reply to a blow from his mother upon the feet of her eldest goblin.

'Well, I never knew so much before!' remarked a fourth voice.

'Your knowledge is not universal quite yet,' said the father. 'You were only fifty last month. Mind you see to the bed and bedding. Обратите внимание на кровать и постельное белье. As soon as we've finished our supper, we'll be up and going. Ha! ha! ha!' 'What are you laughing at, husband?' 'I'm laughing to think what a mess the miners will find themselves in--somewhere before this day ten years.' «Я смеюсь при мысли о том, в каком беспорядке окажутся горняки — где-то до сегодняшнего дня, через десять лет». 'Why, what do you mean?' 'Oh, nothing.' 'Oh, yes, you do mean something. You always do mean something.' 'It's more than you do, then, wife.' 'That may be; but it's not more than I find out, you know.' 'Ha! ha! You're a sharp one. Ты острый. What a mother you've got, Helfer!' 'Yes, father.' 'Well, I suppose I must tell you. They're all at the palace consulting about it tonight; and as soon as we've got away from this thin place I'm going there to hear what night they fix upon. Они все во дворце обсуждают это сегодня вечером; и как только мы выберемся из этого узкого места, я пойду туда, чтобы узнать, на какую ночь они собираются. I should like to see that young ruffian there on the other side, struggling in the agonies of--' Хотел бы я увидеть того молодого разбойника там, на другой стороне, борющегося в агонии... He dropped his voice so low that Curdie could hear only a growl. The growl went on in the low bass for a good while, as inarticulate as if the goblin's tongue had been a sausage; and it was not until his wife spoke again that it rose to its former pitch. 'But what shall we do when you are at the palace?' — Но что мы будем делать, когда ты будешь во дворце? she asked.

'I will see you safe in the new house I've been digging for you for the last two months. — Я увижу тебя в безопасности в новом доме, который я копал для тебя последние два месяца. Podge, you mind the table and chairs. I commit them to your care. The table has seven legs--each chair three. I shall require them all at your hands.' Я потребую, чтобы все они были в ваших руках.