Derba and Barbara
by George MacDonald · from The Princess and Curdie
Adapted Version
Curdie and his dog Lina lived here. It was a cozy house. Kind Grandma Derba lived there. Little Barbara lived there too. Curdie told fun stories. Everyone was happy.
Night came. Curdie slept. Lina pulled at him. He woke up. He heard sounds. Someone closed the door. They put wood on windows. Curdie did not know why. Lina was a good friend.
Morning came. Grandma Derba was worried. The door was shut tight. All windows were shut too. They were stuck inside. Curdie stayed calm. He looked at the door.
Soon, many people came. An Important Man was there. Soldiers came too. They made loud sounds. They wanted Curdie. They wanted Lina to leave. They said Lina made trouble. Curdie listened to them. He was not afraid.
Curdie said, 'No!' He would not give Lina. Lina was his good friend. The Important Man was angry. He said, 'We will break your house!' Curdie was still brave. He would help Lina.
Curdie told Grandma Derba, 'Do not worry.' He took his mattock. He went to the back wall. He made a small hole. It was for Lina to go out. He was very clever.
The soldiers broke the front door. Lina ran out fast. She made a big sound. It was a very loud roar! The soldiers dropped their swords. They ran away. All the people ran away. They ran very fast. Lina was very strong.
Lina was gone. No one saw her. Curdie walked out. He gave himself up. The soldiers who stayed were quiet. Curdie was very brave. He was not afraid.
Soldiers tied Curdie's hands. They tied them behind his back. They took him away. They walked up a steep street. They went to a big building. It looked very dark.
The Soldier Leader pushed Curdie inside. It was very dark. Curdie fell down. He rolled on the ground. He felt his hands. The ropes were loose. This was good.
Curdie moved his hands. He got one hand free. Then he got the other hand free. He stood up. He had his mattock. He was free in the dark room. Curdie was clever and brave.
Original Story
Derba and Barbara
Meantime the wanderers were hospitably entertained by the old woman and her grandchild and they were all very comfortable and happy together. Little Barbara sat upon Curdie's knee, and he told her stories about the mines and his adventures in them. But he never mentioned the king or the princess, for all that story was hard to believe. And he told her about his mother and father, and how good they were. And Derba sat and listened. At last little Barbara fell asleep in Curdie's arms, and her grandmother carried her to bed.
It was a poor little house, and Derba gave up her own room to Curdie because he was honest and talked wisely. Curdie saw how it was, and begged her to allow him to lie on the floor, but she would not hear of it.
In the night he was waked by Lina pulling at him. As soon as he spoke to her she ceased, and Curdie, listening, thought he heard someone trying to get in. He rose, took his mattock, and went about the house, listening and watching; but although he heard noises now at one place now at another, he could not think what they meant for no one appeared. Certainly, considering how she had frightened them all in the day, it was not likely any one would attack Lina at night. By and by the noises ceased, and Curdie went back to his bed, and slept undisturbed.
In the morning, however, Derba came to him in great agitation, and said they had fastened up the door, so that she could not get out. Curdie rose immediately and went with her: they found that not only the door, but every window in the house was so secured on the outside that it was impossible to open one of them without using great force. Poor Derba looked anxiously in Curdie's face. He broke out laughing.
'They are much mistaken,' he said, 'if they fancy they could keep Lina and a miner in any house in Gwyntystorm—even if they built up doors and windows.'
With that he shouldered his mattock. But Derba begged him not to make a hole in her house just yet. She had plenty for breakfast, she said, and before it was time for dinner they would know what the people meant by it.
And indeed they did. For within an hour appeared one of the chief magistrates of the city, accompanied by a score of soldiers with drawn swords, and followed by a great multitude of people, requiring the miner and his brute to yield themselves, the one that he might be tried for the disturbance he had occasioned and the injury he had committed, the other that she might be roasted alive for her part in killing two valuable and harmless animals belonging to worthy citizens. The summons was preceded and followed by flourish of trumpet, and was read with every formality by the city marshal himself.
The moment he ended, Lina ran into the little passage, and stood opposite the door.
'I surrender,' cried Curdie.
'Then tie up your brute, and give her here.'
'No, no,' cried Curdie through the door. 'I surrender; but I'm not going to do your hangman's work. If you want MY dog, you must take her.'
'Then we shall set the house on fire, and burn witch and all.'
'It will go hard with us but we shall kill a few dozen of you first,' cried Curdie. 'We're not the least afraid of you.' With that Curdie turned to Derba, and said:
'Don't be frightened. I have a strong feeling that all will be well. Surely no trouble will come to you for being good to strangers.'
'But the poor dog!' said Derba.
Now Curdie and Lina understood each other more than a little by this time, and not only had he seen that she understood the proclamation, but when she looked up at him after it was read, it was with such a grin, and such a yellow flash, that he saw also she was determined to take care of herself.
'The dog will probably give you reason to think a little more of her ere long,' he answered. 'But now,' he went on, 'I fear I must hurt your house a little. I have great confidence, however, that I shall be able to make up to you for it one day.'
'Never mind the house, if only you can get safe off,' she answered. 'I don't think they will hurt this precious lamb,' she added, clasping little Barbara to her bosom. 'For myself, it is all one; I am ready for anything.'
'It is but a little hole for Lina I want to make,' said Curdie. 'She can creep through a much smaller one than you would think.'
Again he took his mattock, and went to the back wall.
'They won't burn the house,' he said to himself. 'There is too good a one on each side of it.'
The tumult had kept increasing every moment, and the city marshal had been shouting, but Curdie had not listened to him. When now they heard the blows of his mattock, there went up a great cry, and the people taunted the soldiers that they were afraid of a dog and his miner. The soldiers therefore made a rush at the door, and cut its fastenings.
The moment they opened it, out leaped Lina, with a roar so unnaturally horrible that the sword arms of the soldiers dropped by their sides, paralysed with the terror of that cry; the crowd fled in every direction, shrieking and yelling with mortal dismay; and without even knocking down with her tail, not to say biting a man of them with her pulverizing jaws, Lina vanished—no one knew whither, for not one of the crowd had had courage to look upon her.
The moment she was gone, Curdie advanced and gave himself up. The soldiers were so filled with fear, shame, and chagrin, that they were ready to kill him on the spot. But he stood quietly facing them, with his mattock on his shoulder; and the magistrate wishing to examine him, and the people to see him made an example of, the soldiers had to content themselves with taking him. Partly for derision, partly to hurt him, they laid his mattock against his back, and tied his arms to it.
They led him up a very steep street, and up another still, all the crowd following. The king's palace-castle rose towering above them; but they stopped before they reached it, at a low-browed door in a great, dull, heavy-looking building.
The city marshal opened it with a key which hung at his girdle, and ordered Curdie to enter. The place within was dark as night, and while he was feeling his way with his feet, the marshal gave him a rough push. He fell, and rolled once or twice over, unable to help himself because his hands were tied behind him.
It was the hour of the magistrate's second and more important breakfast, and until that was over he never found himself capable of attending to a case with concentration sufficient to the distinguishing of the side upon which his own advantage lay; and hence was this respite for Curdie, with time to collect his thoughts. But indeed he had very few to collect, for all he had to do, so far as he could see, was to wait for what would come next. Neither had he much power to collect them, for he was a good deal shaken.
In a few minutes he discovered, to his great relief, that, from the projection of the pick end of his mattock beyond his body, the fall had loosened the ropes tied round it. He got one hand disengaged, and then the other; and presently stood free, with his good mattock once more in right serviceable relation to his arms and legs.
Story DNA
Moral
Prejudice and fear can lead people to act unjustly, while courage and loyalty can overcome adversity.
Plot Summary
After finding refuge with Derba and Barbara, Curdie and his dog Lina are trapped when the townspeople barricade their house. A magistrate demands Curdie's surrender and Lina's execution for past disturbances. Curdie refuses to hand over Lina, who then makes a dramatic escape by terrifying the entire crowd with an unnatural roar. Curdie surrenders and is imprisoned, but he cleverly frees himself from his bonds, ready to face his next challenge.
Themes
Emotional Arc
peril to temporary safety
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story is a continuation of George MacDonald's 'Princess and Curdie' series, set in the fictional kingdom of Gwyntystorm, reflecting Victorian-era moralizing and adventure narratives.
Plot Beats (11)
- Curdie, Lina, Derba, and Barbara are happily settled in Derba's home, with Curdie telling stories.
- During the night, Curdie is awakened by Lina and hears noises, discovering the house is being secured from the outside.
- In the morning, Derba finds all doors and windows fastened, trapping them inside.
- A city magistrate, soldiers, and a crowd arrive, demanding Curdie's surrender for past actions and Lina's surrender to be executed for killing animals.
- Curdie refuses to hand over Lina, leading to threats of burning the house down.
- Curdie reassures Derba and begins to make a small hole in the back wall for Lina to escape.
- The soldiers break down the front door, and Lina leaps out with a terrifying roar, causing the entire crowd and soldiers to flee in panic.
- Lina vanishes, and Curdie calmly surrenders to the remaining, humiliated soldiers.
- Curdie is tied to his mattock and led through the city streets to a dark, heavy-looking building.
- He is roughly pushed into the dark building and falls, but discovers his bonds have loosened during the fall.
- Curdie successfully frees himself from his ropes, regaining his mattock and his freedom within the dark room.
Characters
Derba ◆ supporting
A small, perhaps slightly stooped, elderly woman with the weathered hands of someone accustomed to hard work. Her build is likely slight, but she possesses an inner strength.
Attire: Simple, practical peasant clothing suitable for a humble home in a mountainous region. Likely a long, dark, homespun wool or linen skirt, a plain blouse, and a practical apron, possibly in muted earth tones. Her clothes are clean but well-worn.
Wants: To protect her grandchild, Barbara, and to maintain the peace and safety of her humble home. She is driven by a deep sense of compassion and duty.
Flaw: Her anxiety and fear for her grandchild and her home make her vulnerable to intimidation.
She begins as a hospitable but anxious figure. By the end of the excerpt, she shows resilience and trust in Curdie, willing to sacrifice her house for his safety.
Hospitable, kind, anxious, protective, resilient. She readily offers her home and her own room to strangers, but is easily frightened by threats to her loved ones or her home.
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly woman with a slightly stooped posture, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a kind, worried expression on her lined face, with soft grey hair pulled back simply. She wears a dark, homespun linen skirt, a plain cream-colored blouse, and a practical dark apron. Her hands are clasped gently in front of her. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Barbara ○ minor
A very young, small child, likely with a soft, innocent appearance.
Attire: Simple, comfortable child's clothing, likely a plain dress made of linen or wool in a light color, suitable for a humble home.
Wants: To be safe and loved, like any young child.
Flaw: Her complete dependence on her grandmother and others for protection.
Remains a constant, innocent presence, representing what Derba and Curdie are trying to protect.
Innocent, trusting, easily comforted. She enjoys stories and readily falls asleep in Curdie's arms.
Image Prompt & Upload
A small young child, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a round, innocent face with soft features and light brown hair. She wears a simple, light-colored linen dress. She has a gentle, sleepy expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Curdie ★ protagonist
A sturdy, capable young man with the build of a miner—strong, agile, and accustomed to physical labor. He is resourceful and resilient.
Attire: Practical, durable miner's clothing: sturdy trousers, a thick tunic or shirt, and heavy boots. His clothes are likely worn and utilitarian, in dark, earthy tones. He carries a mattock.
Wants: To protect Lina, to escape unjust persecution, and to ensure the safety of those who have helped him. He is driven by a strong sense of justice and loyalty.
Flaw: His loyalty to Lina can put him in dangerous situations, and his directness can sometimes escalate conflicts.
He begins as a wanderer seeking refuge and becomes a defiant protector, demonstrating his courage and resourcefulness in the face of overwhelming odds. He maintains his integrity throughout.
Brave, resourceful, protective, honest, calm under pressure, compassionate. He is quick-witted and loyal to Lina and those who show him kindness.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young adult male, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a determined and honest face, with dark, practical hair. He wears sturdy dark trousers, a thick, worn tunic, and heavy boots. He holds a heavy miner's mattock over his shoulder. He has a calm, defiant expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Lina ◆ supporting
A large, powerful dog, described as a 'brute' and capable of a 'pulverizing jaws'. She is formidable and intimidating, with a 'yellow flash' in her eyes.
Attire: None, as she is an animal.
Wants: To protect Curdie and herself, and to escape harm. She is driven by instinct and loyalty.
Flaw: Her intimidating appearance and past actions make her a target for persecution.
She begins as a hunted animal and demonstrates her ability to protect herself and escape, proving her intelligence and formidable nature.
Fiercely loyal, intelligent, protective, intimidating, and self-reliant. She understands human speech and is determined to take care of herself.
Image Prompt & Upload
A large, powerful dog, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. It has a formidable canine face with a terrifying grin and yellow-flashing eyes. Its fur is dark and coarse. It is in a dynamic leaping posture, conveying immense strength and speed. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
City Magistrate ⚔ antagonist
A figure of authority, likely well-fed and somewhat imposing, reflecting his position and comfortable lifestyle.
Attire: Formal, official attire befitting a chief magistrate, likely consisting of dark, heavy fabrics, possibly velvet or wool, with some embellishment or insignia of office. A long coat or robe over breeches and stockings. He might wear a tricorn hat or a wig.
Wants: To maintain public order, enforce the law (as he interprets it), and ensure his own position and comfort. He wants to make an example of Curdie and Lina.
Flaw: His self-importance and reliance on others to do his dirty work. He is easily swayed by public opinion and his own comfort.
Remains a static antagonist, representing the oppressive authority that Curdie defies.
Authoritarian, self-important, bureaucratic, focused on his own advantage, somewhat cowardly (relying on soldiers). He prioritizes order and his own comfort.
Image Prompt & Upload
An adult male, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a stern, self-important face, with a neatly trimmed beard. He wears a formal dark velvet coat over breeches, with a white cravat, and a tricorn hat. He stands with an authoritative posture. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
City Marshal ○ minor
A uniformed official, likely of average build, but with an air of officialdom.
Attire: A uniform appropriate for a city marshal of the period, likely a dark coat with some official trim or buttons, possibly a sash, and a key at his girdle. He would wear breeches and boots.
Wants: To carry out his duties as ordered by the chief magistrate.
Flaw: His adherence to rules and lack of independent thought make him a tool of the system.
Remains a static character, representing the bureaucratic arm of the city's authority.
Dutiful, formal, somewhat aggressive (pushing Curdie), but ultimately subservient to the magistrate.
Image Prompt & Upload
An adult male, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a serious, dutiful face. He wears a dark blue uniform coat with brass buttons, a white sash, breeches, and tall black boots. A large metal key hangs from his belt. He holds a rolled parchment in his hands. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Derba's Small House
A poor, small, humble house, likely a simple dwelling with basic furnishings, typical of a commoner's home in a medieval-inspired setting. It has a main door and windows that can be secured from the outside. The interior includes a passage and at least one private room.
Mood: Initially warm and hospitable, then tense and besieged, finally determined.
Curdie and Lina are hospitably sheltered here; they are then besieged by city officials and soldiers, leading to Lina's dramatic escape and Curdie's surrender.
Image Prompt & Upload
A humble, weathered stone and timber cottage, with a low thatched roof, nestled on a slight incline. The small, square windows are shuttered, and the sturdy wooden door is barred from the outside. A narrow, muddy path leads up to the entrance. The morning light is cool and diffused, casting soft shadows on the rough-hewn walls. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Steep City Streets of Gwyntystorm
Winding, very steep cobblestone streets, leading upwards towards a prominent palace-castle. The streets are wide enough to accommodate a large crowd and soldiers.
Mood: Tumultuous, public spectacle, oppressive.
Curdie is led through these streets as a prisoner, followed by a jeering crowd, towards the city's detention facility.
Image Prompt & Upload
A very steep, winding cobblestone street ascends sharply between tightly packed, multi-storied stone buildings with timber-framed upper floors. The morning sun casts long, sharp shadows down the incline. In the far distance, at the very top of the hill, a grand, fortified palace-castle with turrets and battlements rises majestically against a clear blue sky. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
City Detention Building
A great, dull, heavy-looking building with a low-browed, sturdy door. The interior is described as dark as night, suggesting minimal or no natural light, and likely a cold, damp, and unwelcoming space.
Mood: Dark, oppressive, disorienting, foreboding.
Curdie is imprisoned here after his surrender, where he manages to free himself from his bonds.
Image Prompt & Upload
A heavy, low-browed, iron-studded wooden door set into a massive, rough-hewn stone wall of a dull, imposing municipal building. The interior beyond the threshold is pitch black, suggesting a windowless, subterranean space. The air is still and cold, with a faint scent of damp earth and old stone. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
