'Yes, a good deal like you, but not just like you; for you've come again; and Lootie wouldn't have come again.She would have said, No, no - she had had enough of such nonsense.'
'Is it naughty of Lootie, then?'
'It would be naughty of you.I've never done anything for Lootie.'
'And you did wash my face and hands for me,' said Irene, beginning to cry.
The old lady smiled a sweet smile and said:
'I'm not vexed with you, my child - nor with Lootie either.But Idon't want you to say anything more to Lootie about me.If she should ask you, you must just be silent.But I do not think she will ask you.'
All the time they talked the old lady kept on spinning.
'You haven't told me yet what I am spinning,' she said.
'Because I don't know.It's very pretty stuff.'
It was indeed very pretty stuff.There was a good bunch of it on the distaff attached to the spinning-wheel, and in the moonlight it shone like - what shall i say it was like? It was not white enough for silver - yes, it was like silver, but shone grey rather than white, and glittered only a little.And the thread the old lady drew out from it was so fine that Irene could hardly see it.
'I am spinning this for you, my child.'
'For me! What am I to do with it, please?'
'I will tell you by and by.But first I will tell you what it is.
It is spider-web - of a particular kind.My pigeons bring it me from over the great sea.There is only one forest where the spiders live who make this particular kind - the finest and strongest of any.I have nearly finished my present job.What is on the rock now will be enough.I have a week's work there yet, though,' she added, looking at the bunch.
'Do you work all day and all night, too, great-great-great-great-grandmother?' said the princess, thinking to be very polite with so many greats.
'I am not quite so great as all that,' she answered, smiling almost merrily.'If you call me grandmother, that will do.No, I don't work every night - only moonlit nights, and then no longer than the moon shines upon my wheel.I shan't work much longer tonight.'
'And what will you do next, grandmother?'
'Go to bed.Would you like to see my bedroom?'
'Yes, that I should.'
'Then I think I won't work any longer tonight.I shall be in good time.'
The old lady rose, and left her wheel standing just as it was.You see there was no good in putting it away, for where there was not any furniture there was no danger of being untidy.
Then she took Irene by the hand, but it was her bad hand and Irene gave a little cry of pain.'My child!' said her grandmother, 'what is the matter?'
Irene held her hand into the moonlight, that the old lady might see it, and told her all about it, at which she looked grave.But she only said: 'Give me your other hand'; and, having led her out upon the little dark landing, opened the door on the opposite side of it.What was Irene's surprise to see the loveliest room she had ever seen in her life! It was large and lofty, and dome-shaped.
From the centre hung a lamp as round as a ball, shining as if with the brightest moonlight, which made everything visible in the room, though not so clearly that the princess could tell what many of the things were.A large oval bed stood in the middle, with a coverlid of rose colour, and velvet curtains all round it of a lovely pale blue.The walls were also blue - spangled all over with what looked like stars of silver.