You may wonder at what she does, but she will always be good.

I know her better than you know me.

She will not hurt you,--or if she does,----" "Ah, you are not sure about it, king dear! You think she MAY hurt us!" "I am sure she will never be unkind to you, even if she do hurt you!" They were silent for a while.
"I'm not afraid of being hurt--a little!--a good deal!" cried Odu.

"But I should not like scratches in the dark! The giants say the cat-woman has claw-feet all over her house!" "I am taking the princess to her," I said.
"Why ?" "Because she is her friend." "How can she be good then ?" "Little Tumbledown is a friend of the princess," I answered; "so is Luva: I saw them both, more than once, trying to feed her with grapes!" "Little Tumbledown is good! Luva is very good!" "That is why they are her friends." "Will the cat-woman--I mean the woman that isn't the cat-woman, and has no claws to her toes--give her grapes ?" "She is more likely to give her scratches!" "Why ?--You say she is her friend!" "That is just why .-- A friend is one who gives us what we need, and the princess is sorely in need of a terrible scratching." They were silent again.
"If any of you are afraid," I said, "you may go home; I shall not prevent you.

But I cannot take one with me who believes the giants rather than me, or one who will call a good lady the cat-woman!" "Please, king," said one, "I'm so afraid of being afraid!" "My boy," I answered, "there is no harm in being afraid.