The Princess and the Goblin · Chapter
III: The Princess and—We Shall See Who explained
Princess Irene, lost in the passages, discovers a hidden room where she meets her great-great-grandmother, a very old but beautiful lady who spins.
What happens
Princess Irene, lost in the passages, discovers a hidden room where she meets her great-great-grandmother, a very old but beautiful lady who spins. The old lady explains she gave Irene her name and has been there since Irene arrived. She shows Irene her pigeons, which she calls her poultry, and explains how she gets eggs from them. After washing Irene's face, she leads her partway back to the nursery, and Irene promises to tell her nurse everything.
Themes in this chapter
Trust and Belief
Irene trusts the old lady's words about being her great-great-grandmother and promises to tell her nurse exactly what happened, highlighting the theme of belief in the unseen.
Wisdom and Guidance
The old lady provides gentle guidance to Irene, washing her face and leading her partway back, embodying wisdom and care.
Characters to notice
- Princess Irene
Explores the attic, meets her great-great-grandmother, and learns about the old lady's spinning and pigeons.
- The Old Lady
Reveals herself as Irene's great-great-grandmother, spins thread, keeps pigeons, and cares for Irene.
- Lootie
Mentioned as the nurse who will be worried about Irene's absence.
Key passages
“My name is Irene." "That's my name!" cried the princess. "I know that. I let you have mine. I haven't got your name. You've got mine." "How can that be?" asked the princess, bewildered. "I've always had my name." "Your papa, the king, asked me if I had any objection to your having it; and, of course, I hadn't. I let you have it with pleasure."”
The old lady reveals that she gave Princess Irene her name, explaining that names can be given away and still kept.
Establishes the old lady's identity and her special connection to Irene.
“I'm your great-great-grandmother," said the lady. "What's that?" asked the princess. "I'm your father's mother's father's mother."”
The old lady declares she is Irene's great-great-grandmother, a relationship Irene cannot yet understand.
Introduces the familial bond and the mystery of the old lady's true nature.
“I keep poultry—of a sort." "Where do you keep them?" "I will show you." ... she saw the blue sky first, and then the roofs of the house, with a multitude of the loveliest pigeons...”
The old lady shows Irene her pigeons, which she calls her poultry, and explains how she collects their eggs.
Demonstrates the old lady's self-sufficiency and magical, simple lifestyle.