The Lady laughed： the richest， most musical laugh you can imagine. “Well， children，” she said， “you have a wise， solemn old guide with you. I think none the worse of him for keeping his own counsel， but I‘ll be free with mine. I have often heard the name of the giantish City Ruinous， but never met any who would tell me the way thither. This road leads to the burgh and castle of Harfang， where dwell the Gentle Giants. They are as mild， civil， prudent， and courteous as those of Ettinsmoor are foolish， fierce， savage， and given to all beastliness. And in Harfang you may or may not hear tidings of the City Ruinous， but certainly you shall find good lodgings and merry hosts. You would be wise to winter there or， at the least， to tarry certain days for your ease and refreshment. There you shall have steaming baths， soft beds，nd bright hearths； and the roast and the baked and the sweet nd the strong will be on the table four times in a day.”
“I say！” exclaimed Scrubb. “That’s something like！ Think f sleeping in a bed again.”
“Yes， and having a hot bath，” said Jill. “Do you think hey‘ll ask us to stay？ We don’t know them， you see.”
