“It is well thought of,” said the Knight. “By custom none ut the Queen herself remains with me in my evil hour. uch is her tender care for my honour that she would not illingly suffer any ears but her own to hear the words utter in that frenzy. But I could not easily persuade my ttendant gnomes that you should be left with me. And I hink I hear their soft feet even now upon the stairs. Go hrough yonder door: it leads into my other apartments. And here, either await my coming when they have unbound me; r, 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, self.centred pig.”
“Are we going back to watch the enchantment, or shall westay here?” said Scrubb.
“Stay here, I vote,” said Jill. “I‘d much rather not see it.” But she felt a little inquisitive all the same.