《The Lion, the Witch and the War》第19章

at。　he　was　so　big；　and　so　glad；　and　so　real；　that　they　all　became　quite　still。 they　felt　very　glad；　but　also　solemn。
〃ive　e　at　last；〃　said　he。　〃she　has　kept　me　out　for　a　long　time；　but　i have　got　in　at　last。
aslan　is　on　the　move。　the　witchs　magic　is　weakening。”
and　lucy　felt　running　through　her　that　deep　shiver　of　gladness　which　you only　get　if　you　are　being　solemn　and　still。
〃and　now；〃　said　father　christmas；　〃for　your　presents。　there　is　a　new　and better　sewing　machine　for　you；　mrs　beaver。　i　will　drop　it　in　your　house　as；　i　pass。”
〃if　you　please；　sir；〃　said　mrs　beaver；　making　a　curtsey。　〃its　locked　up。”
〃locks　and　bolts　make　no　difference　to　me；〃　said　father　christmas。　〃and　as for　you；　mr　beaver；　when　you　get　home　you　will　find　your　dam　finished　and　mended　and all　the　leaks　stopped　and　a　new　sluicegate　fitted。”
mr　beaver　was　so　pleased　that　he　opened　his　mouth　very　wide　and　then　found he　couldnt　say　anything　at　all。
〃peter；　adams　son；〃　said　father　christmas。
〃here；　sir；〃　said　peter。
〃these　are　your　presents；〃　was　the　answer；　〃and　they　are　tools　not　toys。 the　time　to　use　them　is　perhaps　near　at　hand。　bear　them　well。〃　with　these　words　he　handed to　peter　a　shield　and　a　sword。　the　shield　was　the　colour　of　silver　and　across　it　there ramped　a　red　lion；　as　bright　as　a　ripe　strawberry　at　the　moment　when　you　pick　it。　the hilt　of　the　sword
was　of　gold　and　it　had　a　sheath　and　a　sword　belt　and　everything　it　needed； and　it　was　just　the　right　size　and　weight　for　peter　to　use。　peter　was　silent　and　solemn　as he　received　these　gifts；　for　he　felt　they　were　a　very　serious　kind　of　present。
〃susan；　eves　daughter；〃　said　father　christmas。　〃these　are　for　you；〃　and　he handed　her　a　bow　and　a　quiver　full　of　arrows　and　a　little　ivory　horn。　〃you　must　use　the bow　only　in　great　need；〃　he　said；　〃for　i　do　not　mean　you　to　fight　in　the　battle。　it does　not　easily　miss。
and　when　you　put　this　horn　to　your　lips；　and　blow　it；　then；　wherever　you are；　i　think　help　of　some　kind　will　e　to　you。”
last　of　all　he　said；　〃lucy；　eves　daughter；〃　and　lucy　came　forward。　he　gave her　a　little　bottle　of　what　looked　like　glass　（but　people　said　afterwards　that　it　was made　of　diamond）　and　a　small　dagger。　〃in　this　bottle；〃　he　said；　〃there　is　cordial　made　of the　juice　of　one　of　the　fireflowers　that　grow　in　the　mountains　of　the　sun。　if　you　or　any　of your　friends　is　hurt；　a　few　drops　of　this　restore　them。　and　the　dagger　is　to　defend　yourse　at great　need。　for　you　also　are　not　to　be　in　battle。”
〃why；　sir？〃　said　lucy。　〃i　think　…　i　dont　know　but　i　think　i　could　be　brave enough。”
〃that　is　not　the　point；〃　he　said。　〃but　battles　are　ugly　when　women　fight。 and　now〃　…　here　he　suddenly　looked　less　grave　…　〃here　is　something　for　the　moment　for　you all！〃　and　he　brought　out　（i　suppose　from　the　big　bag　at　his　back；　but　nobody　quite　saw him　do　it）　a　large　tray　containing　five　cups　and　saucers；　a　bowl　of　lump　sugar；　a　jug　of cream；　and　a　great　big　teapot　all　sizzling　and　piping　hot。　then　he　cried　out　〃merry christmas！　long　live　the　true　king！〃　and　cracked　his　whip；　and　he　and　the　reindeer　and　the sledge　and　all　were　out　of　sight　before　anyone　realized　that　they　had　started。
peter　had　just　drawn　his　sword　out　of　its　sheath　and　was　showing　it　to　mr beaver；　when　mrs　beaver　said： 〃now　then；　now　then！　dont　stand　talking　there　till　the　teas　got　cold。 just　like　men。　e　and　help　to　carry　the　tray　down　and　well　have　breakfast。　what　a　mercy　i thought　of　bringing　the　bread…knife。”
so　down　the　steep　bank　they　went　and　back　to　the　cave；　and　mr　beaver　cut some　of　the　bread　and　ham　into　sandwiches　and　mrs　beaver　poured　out　the　tea　and everyone　enjoyed　themselves。　but　long　before　they　had　finished　enjoying　themselves　mr　beaver said；　〃time　to　be　moving　on　now。”
。。
CHAPTER　ELEVEN
！小＄说＾网＆
aslan　is　nearer
edmund　meanwhile　had　been　having　a　most　disappointing　time。　when　the　dwarf had　gone　to　get　the　sledge　ready　he　expected　that　the　witch　would　start　being nice　to　him；　as　she　had　been　at　their　last　meeting。　but　she　said　nothing　at　all。　and　when at　last　edmund　plucked　up　his　courage　to　say；　〃please；　your　majesty；　could　i　have　some turkish　delight？
you　…　you　…　said　…〃　she　answered；　〃silence；　fool！〃　then　she　appeared　to change　her　mind　and　said；　as　if　to　herself；　a　〃and　yet　it　will　not　do　to　have　the　brat fainting　on　the　way；”
and　once　more　clapped　her　hands。　another；　dwarf　appeared。
〃bring　the　human　creature　food　and　drink；〃　she　said。
the　dwarf　went　away　and　presently　returned　bringing　an　iron　bowl　with　some water　in　it　and　an　iron　plate　with　a　hunk　of　dry　bread　on　it。　he　grinned　in　a　repulsive manner　as　he　set　them　down　on　the　floor　beside　edmund　and　said： 〃turkish　delight　for　the　little　prince。　ha！　ha！　ha！〃 〃take　it　away；〃　said　edmund　sulkily。　〃i　dont　want　dry　bread。〃　but　the witch　suddenly　turned　on　him　with　such　a　terrible　expression　on　her　face　that　he； apologized　and　began　to　nibble　at　the　bread；　though；　it　was　so　stale　he　could　hardly　get　it　down。
〃you　may　be　glad　enough　of　it　before　you　taste　bread　again；〃　said　the witch。
while　he　was　still　chewing　away　the　first　dwarf　came　back　and　announced that　the　sledge　was　ready。　the　white　witch　rose　and　went　out；　ordering　edmund　to　go　with her。　the　snow　was　again　falling　as　they　came　into　the　courtyard；　but　she　took　no notice　of　that　and　made　edmund　sit　beside　her　on　the　sledge。　but　before　they　drove　off　she called　maugrim　and　he　came　bounding　like　an　enormous　dog　to　the　side　of　the　sledge。
〃take　with　you　the　swiftest　of　your　wolves　and　go　at　once　to　the　house　of the　beavers；”
said　the　witch；　〃and　kill　whatever　you　find　there。　if　they　are　already gone；　then　make　all　speed　to　the　stone　table；　but　do　not　be　seen。　wait　for　me　there　in　hiding。 i　meanwhile　must　go　many　miles　to　the　west　before　i　find　a　place　where　i　can　drive across　the　river。
you　may　overtake　these　humans　before　they　reach　the　stone　table。　you　will know　what　to　do　if　you　find　them！”
〃i　hear　and　obey；　o　queen；〃　growled　the　wolf；　and　immediately　he　shot　away into　the　snow　and　darkness；　as　quickly　as　a　horse　can　gallop。　in　a　few　minutes　he