, shebeganmakingatourofthewholecastleandaskingquestions, butallinsuchaninnocent, , youcouldhardlysayshetalked: —thegrooms, theporters, thehousemaids, theladies-in-waiting, , manyofwhomseemedsorryforherandcalledher “apoorlittlething” -importantfacttherewasascullerydoorwhichletyououtthroughtheouterwall, , , andhowlongshewouldbeallowedtositup, andwhethershewoulddancewithsomevery, (itmadeherhotalloverwhensheremembereditafterward) shewouldputherheadononesideinanidioticfashionwhichgrown-ups, giantandotherwise, thoughtveryfetching, andshakehercurls, andfidget, andsay, “Oh, Idowishitwastomorrownight, don'tyou? Doyouthinkthetimewillgoquicklytillthen? ” Andallthegiantessessaidshewasaperfectlittledarling; andsomeofthemdabbedtheireyeswithenormoushandkerchiefsasiftheyweregoingtocry.
“They'redearlittlethingsatthatage, ” saidonegiantesstoanother.“Itseemsalmostapity...”
ScrubbandPuddleglumbothdidtheirbest, -wiggles.
, , abouttwentyyardsaway, , andsohighupintheair, , akindoffoodwhichJillhadnevertastedbefore, andshewaslikingit.
SuddenlyPuddleglumturnedtothem, :
“Don'teatanotherbite.”
“What'swrong? ” askedtheothertwoinawhisper.
“Didn'tyouhearwhatthosegiantsweresaying? ‘That'sanicetenderhaunchofvenison, ' saidoneofthem.‘Thenthatstagwasaliar, ' saidanother.‘Why? ' saidthefirstone.‘Oh, ' saidtheother.‘Theysaythatwhenhewascaughthesaid, Don'tkillme, I''tlikeme.'” 'seyesopenedwidewithhorrorandhesaid:
“Sowe'vebeeneatingaTalkingstag.”
