THE SILVER CHAIR-第5章

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me　to　at　all。

at　that　moment　aslan　and　the　signs　rushed　back　into　her　mind。　she　had　　forgotten　all　about　them　for　the　last　half…hour。

〃scrubb！〃　she　whispered；　grabbing　his　arm。　〃scrubb；　quick！　do　you　see　　anyone　you　know？”

〃so　youve　turned　up　again；　have　you？〃　said　scrubb　disagreeably　（for　which　　he　had　some　reason）。　〃well；　keep　quiet；　cant　you？　i　want　to　listen。”

〃dont　be　a　fool；〃　said　jill。　〃there　isnt　a　moment　to　lose。　dont　you　see　　some　old　friend　here？　because　youve　got　to　go　and　speak　to　him　at　once。”

〃what　are　you　talking　about？〃　said　scrubb。

〃its　aslan　…　the　lion　…　says　youve　got　to；〃　said　jill　despairingly。　〃ive　　seen　him。”

〃oh；　you　have；　have　you？　what　did　he　say？”

〃he　said　the　very　first　person　you　saw　in　narnia　would　be　an　old　friend；　　and　youd　got　to　speak　to　him　at　once。”

〃well；　theres　nobody　here　ive　ever　seen　in　my　life　before；　and　anyway；　i　　dont　know　whether　this　is　narnia。”

〃thought　you　said　youd　been　here　before；〃　said　jill。

〃well；　you　thought　wrong　then。”

〃well；　i　like　that！　you　told　me　…”

〃for　heavens　sake　dry　up　and　lets　hear　what　theyre　saying。”

the　king　was　speaking　to　the　dwarf；　but　jill　couldnt　hear　what　he　said。　　and；　as　far　as　she　could　make　out；　the　dwarf　made　no　answer；　though　he　nodded　and　wagged　　his　head　a　great　deal。　then　the　king　raised　his　voice　and　addressed　the　whole　court：　　but　his　voice　was　so　old　and　cracked　that　she　could　understand　very　little　of　his　speech　　…　especially　since　it　was　all　about　people　and　places　she　had　never　heard　of。　when　the　　speech　was　over；　the　king　stooped　down　and　kissed　the　dwarf　on　both　cheeks；　　straightened　himself；　raised　his　right　hand　as　if　in　blessing；　and　went；　slowly　and　with　feeble　　steps；　up　the　gangway　and　on　board　the　ship。　the　courtiers　appeared　to　be　greatly　moved　　by　his　departure。　handkerchiefs　were　got　out；　sounds　of　sobbing　were　heard　in　　every　direction。

the　gangway　was　cast　off；　trumpets　sounded　from　the　poop；　and　the　ship　　moved　away　from　the　quay。　（it　was　being　towed　by　a　rowing…boat；　but　jill　didnt　see　　that。）

〃now　…〃　said　scrubb；　but　he　didnt　get　any　farther；　because　at　that　moment　　a　large　white　object　…　jill　thought　for　a　second　that　it　was　a　kite　…　came　gliding　　through　the　air　and　alighted　at　his　feet。　it　was　a　white　owl；　but　so　big　that　it　stood　as　high　　as　a　good…sized　dwarf。

it　blinked　and　peered　as　if　it　were　short…sighted；　and　put　its　head　a　　little　on　one　side；　and　said　in　a　soft；　hooting　kind　of　voice：　　〃tu…whoo；　tu…whoo！　who　are　you　two？”

〃my　names　scrubb；　and　this　is　pole；〃　said　eustace。　〃would　you　mind　telling　　us　where　we　are？”

〃in　the　land　of　narnia；　at　the　kings　castle　of　cair　paravel。”

〃is　that　the　king　whos　just　taken　ship？”

〃too　true；　too　true；〃　said　the　owl　sadly；　shaking　its　big　head。　〃but　who　　are　you？　theres　something　magic　about　you　two。　i　saw　you　arrive：　you　flew。　everyone　else　　was　so　busy　seeing　the　king　off　that　nobody　knew。　except　me。　i　happened　to　notice　you；　　you　flew。”

〃we　were　sent　here　by　aslan；〃　said　eustace　in　a　low　voice。

〃tu…whoo；　tu…whoo！〃　said　the　owl；　ruffling　out　its　feathers。　〃this　is　　almost　too　much　for　me；　so　early　in　the　evening。　im　not　quite　myself　till　the　suns　down。”

〃and　weve　been　sent　to　find　the　lost　prince；〃　said　jill；　who　had　been　　anxiously　waiting　to　get　into　the　conversation。

〃its　the　first　ive　heard　about　it；〃　said　eustace。　〃what　prince？”

〃you　had　better　e　and　speak　to　the　lord　regent　at　once；〃　it　said。　　〃thats　him；　over　there　in　the　donkey　carriage；　trumpkin　the　dwarf。〃　the　bird　turned　and　　began　leading　the　way；　muttering　to　itself；　〃whoo！　tu…whoo！　what　a　to…do！　i　cant　think　　clearly　yet。　its　too　early。”

〃what　is　the　kings　name？〃　asked　eustace。

〃caspian　the　tenth；〃　said　the　owl。　and　jill　wondered　why　scrubb　had　　suddenly　pulled　up　short　in　his　walk　and　turned　an　extraordinary　colour。　she　thought　she　　had　never　seen　him　look　so　sick　about　anything。　but　before　she　had　time　to　ask　any　　questions　they　had　reached　the　dwarf；　who　was　just　gathering　up　the　reins　of　his　donkey　and　　preparing　to　drive　back　to　the　castle。　the　crowd　of　courtiers　had　broken　up　and　were　　going　in　the　same　direction；　by　ones　and　twos　and　little　knots；　like　people　ing　away　　from　watching　a　game　or　a　race。

〃tu…whoo！　ahem！　lord　regent；〃　said　the　owl；　stooping　down　a　little　and　　holding　its　beak　near　the　dwarfs　ear。

〃heh？　whats　that？〃　said　the　dwarf。

〃two　strangers；　my　lord；〃　said　the　owl。

〃rangers！　what　dye　mean？〃　said　the　dwarf。　〃i　see　two　unmonly　grubby　　man…cubs。

what　do　they　want？”

〃my　names　jill；〃　said　jill；　pressing　forward。　she　was　very　eager　to　　explain　the　important　business　on　which　they　had　e。

〃the　girls　called　jill；〃　said　the　owl；　as　loud　as　it　could。

〃whats　that？〃　said　the　dwarf。　〃the　girls　are　all　killed！　i　dont　believe　a　　word　of　it。　what　girls？　who　killed　em？”

〃only　one　girl；　my　lord；〃　said　the　owl。　〃her　name　is　jill。”

〃speak　up；　speak　up；〃　said　the　dwarf。　〃dont　stand　there　buzzing　and　　twittering　in　my　ear。　whos　been　killed？”

〃nobodys　been　killed；〃　hooted　the　owl。

〃who？”

〃nobody。”

〃all　right；　all　right。　you　neednt　shout。　im　not　so　deaf　as　all　that。　what　　do　you　mean　by　ing　here　to　tell　me　that　nobodys　been　killed？　why　should　anyone　have　　been　killed？”

〃better　tell　him　im　eustace；〃　said　scrubb。

〃the　boys　eustace；　my　lord；〃　hooted　the　owl　as　loud　as　it　could。

〃useless？〃　said　the　dwarf　irritably。　〃i　dare　say　he　is。　is　that　any　reason　　for　bringing　him　to　court？　hey？”

〃not　useless；〃　said　the　owl。　〃eustace。”

〃used　to　it；　is　he？　i　dont　know　what　youre　talking　about；　im　sure。　i　　tell　you　what　it　is；　master　glimfeather；　when　i　was　a　young　dwarf　there　used　to　be　talking　　beasts　and　birds　in　this　country　who　really　could　talk。　there　wasnt　all　this　mumbling　and　　muttering　and　whispering。　it　wouldnt　have　been　tolerated　for　a　moment。　not　for　a　moment；　　sir。　urnus；　my　trumpet　please　…”

a　little　faun　who　had　been　standing　quietly　beside　the　dwarfs　elbow　all　　this　time　now　handed　him　a　silver　eartrumpet。　it　was　made　like　the　musical　instrument　　called　a　serpent；　so　that　the　tube　curled　right　round　the　dwarfs　neck。　while　he　was　getting　　it　settled　the　owl；　glimfeather；　suddenly　said　to　the　children　in　a　whisper：　　〃my　brains　a　bit　clearer　now。　dont　say　anything　about　the　lost　prince。　　ill　explain　later。　it　wouldnt　do；　wouldnt　do；　tu…whoo！　oh　what　a　to…do！”

〃now；〃　said　the　dwarf；　〃if　you　have　anything　sensible　to　say；　master　　glimfeather；　try　and　say　it。　take　a　deep　breath　and　dont　attempt　to　speak　too　quickly。”

with　help　from　the　children；　and　in　spite　of　a　fit　of　coughing　on　the　part　　of　the　dwarf；　glimfeather　explained　that　the　strangers　had　been　sent　by　aslan　to　visit　　the　court　of　narnia。　the　dwarf　glanced　quickly　up　at　them　with　a　new　expression　in　his　　eyes。

〃sent　by　the　lion　himself；　hey？〃　he　said。　〃and　from　mm　…　from　that　other　　place　…　beyond　the　worlds　end；　hey？”

〃yes；　my　lord；〃　bawled　eustace　into　the　trumpet。

〃son　of　adam　and　daughter　of　eve；　hey？〃　said　the　dwarf。　but　people　at　　experiment　house　havent　heard　of　adam　and　eve；　so　jill　and　eustace　couldnt　answer　　this。　but　the　dwarf　didnt　seem　to　notice。

〃well；　my　dears；〃　he　said；　taking　first　one　and　then　the　other　by　the　hand　　and　bowing　his　head　a　little。　〃you　are　very　heartily　wele。　if　the　good　king；　my　poor　　master；　had　not　this　very　hour　set　sail　for　seven　isles；　he　would　have　been　glad　of　your　　ing。　it　would　have　brought　back　his　youth　to　him　for　a　moment　…　for　a　moment。　and　now；　it　　is　high　time　for　supper。　you　shall　tell　me　your　business　in　full　council　tomorrow　　morning。

master　glimfeather；　see　that　bedchambers　and　suitable　clothes　and　all　else　　are　provided　for　these　guests　in　the　most　honourable　fashion。　and　…　glimfeather　…　in　　your　ear　…”

here　the　dwarf　put　his　mouth　close　to　the　owls　head　and；　no　doubt；　　intended　to　whisper：　but；　like　other　deaf　people；　he　wasnt　a　very　good　judge　of　his　own　voice；　　and　both　children　heard　him　say；　〃see　that　theyre　properly　washed。”

after　that；　the　dwarf　touched　up　his　donkey　and　it　set　off　towards　the　　castle　at　something　between　a　trot　and　a　waddle　（it　was　a　very　fat　little　beast）；　while　the　　faun；　the　owl；　and　the　children　followed　at　a　rather　slower　pace。　the　sun　had　set　and　the　air　　was　growing　cool。

they　went　across　the　lawn　and　then　through　an　orchard　and　so　to　the　north　　gate　of　cair　paravel；　which　stood　wide　open。　inside；　they　found　a　grassy　courtyard。　　lights　were　already　showing　from　the　windows　of　the　great　hall　on　their　right　and　from　　a　more　plicated　mass　of　buildings　straight　ahead。　into　these　the　owl　led　them；　　and　there　a　most　delightful　person　was　called　to　look　after　jill。　she　was　not　much　　taller　than　jill　herself；　and　a　good　deal　slenderer；　but　obviously　full　grown；　graceful　as　a　　willow；　and　her　hair　was　willowy　too；　and　there　seemed　to　be　moss　in　it。　she　brought　jill　　to　a　round　room　in　one　of　the　turrets；　where　there　was　a　little　bath　sunk　in　the　floor　and　　a　fire　of　sweet…smelling　woods　burning　on　the　flat　hearth　and　a　lamp　hanging　by　a　silver　　chain　from　the　vaulted　roof。　the　window　looked　west　into　the　strange　land　of　narnia；　and　　jill　saw　the　red　remains　of　the　sunset　still　glowing　behi