# The Subterranean Waters explained — The Princess and the Goblin

> Chapter companion for The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald.

## What happens

During a feast at the king's house, Princess Irene enters guided by her invisible thread and alerts her father to a distant noise. Curdie recognizes the sound as water from the goblins' failed flood plot, which instead of flooding the mine bursts through the tunnel to the king's house. The king orders an immediate evacuation, and everyone escapes to higher ground as a torrent of water destroys the house. Curdie rescues the horses, and a great globe of light appears, from which a white bird descends and circles the group before vanishing. The king offers Curdie a place in his bodyguard, but Curdie declines to stay with his parents, asking only for a red petticoat for his mother. The king and princess promise to return in the summer, and the company rides away into the night.

## Themes in this chapter

### Courage vs. Fear

Curdie and the king act with courage and quick thinking in the face of the sudden flood, ensuring everyone's safety.

### Family and Loyalty

Curdie's refusal to leave his parents demonstrates his deep loyalty to family over personal advancement.

### Wisdom and Guidance

The king's trust in Curdie's judgment and Irene's reliance on the invisible thread highlight the value of wisdom and guidance in a crisis.

## Character check-ins

### Princess Irene

Guided by the invisible thread, she alerts the king to the noise and later reassures Curdie that her grandmother is safe.

### Curdie

Recognizes the danger of the approaching water, organizes the evacuation and horse rescue, and declines the king's offer to stay with his parents.

### The King

Trusts Curdie's judgment, leads the evacuation, and offers Curdie a place in his bodyguard, which Curdie declines.

### Peter Peterson

Helps carry his wife to safety when the flood overtakes them.

### Mrs. Peterson

Carried to safety by Curdie and Peter; later encourages Curdie to go with the king.

### Sir Walter

Suggests the noise might be a storm and later brings Curdie's parents before the king.

## Key lines

> The king, who was the wisest man in the kingdom, knew well there was a time when things must be done and questions left till afterwards. He had faith in Curdie, and rose instantly, with Irene in his arms.

The king understood that sometimes action must come before explanation, so he trusted Curdie and immediately stood up, holding Irene.

_Highlights the king's wisdom and trust in Curdie during the emergency._

> “That’s right, Curdie!” cried the princess. “ I wouldn’t if I was you.”

Princess Irene enthusiastically approved of Curdie's decision to stay with his parents.

_Shows Irene's support for Curdie's loyalty to his family._

> “But, Curdie,” said his mother, “why shouldn’t you go with the king? We can get on very well without you.” “But I can’t get on very well without you,” said Curdie.

Curdie's mother suggested he accept the king's offer, but Curdie insisted he needed his parents more than the king needed him.

_Emphasizes Curdie's deep attachment to his family._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/xxxi-the-subterranean-waters
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters