《THE SILVER CHAIR》第30章

a　score　of　feet　beneath　the　very　grass　on　which the　updwellers　of　that　country　walk。　it　will　be　very　soon　now　that　those　uplanders　fate will　e　upon　them。　she　herself　is　at　the　diggings　tonight；　and　i　expect　a　message　to　go to　her。　then　the　thin　roof　of　earth　which　still　keeps　me　from　my　kingdom　will　be　broken through；　and　with　her　to　guide　me　and　a　thousand　earthmen　at　my　back；　i　shall　ride　forth in　arms；　fall　suddenly　on　our　enemies；　slay　their　chief　men；　cast　down　their　strong places；　and　doubtless　be　their　crowned　king　within　four　and　twenty　hours。”
〃its　a　bit　rough　luck　on　them；　isnt　it？〃　said　scrubb。
〃thou　art　a　lad　of　a　wondrous；　quick…working　wit！〃　exclaimed　the　knight。 〃for；　on　my　honour；　i　had　never　thought　of　it　so　before。　i　see　your　meaning。〃　he　looked slightly；　very　slightly　troubled　for　a　moment　or　two；　but　his　face　soon　cleared　and　he broke　out；　with　another　of　his　loud　laughs；　〃but　fie　on　gravity！　is　it　not　the　most　ical and　ridiculous　thing　in　the　world　to　think　of　them　all　going　about　their　business　and never　dreaming　that　under　their　peaceful　fields　and　floors；　only　a　fathom　down；　there　is　a great　army　ready　to　break　out　upon　them　like　a　fountain！　and　they　never　to　have　suspected！　why； they　themselves；　when　once　the　first　smart　of　their　defeat　is　over；　can　hardly choose　but　laugh　at　the　thought！”
〃i　dont　think　its　funny　at　all；〃　said　jill。　〃i　think　youll　be　a　wicked tyrant。”
〃what？〃　said　the　knight；　still　laughing　and　patting　her　head　in　a　quite infuriating　fashion。
〃is　our　little　maid　a　deep　politician？　but　never　fear；　sweetheart。　in ruling　that　land；　i　shall　do　all　by　the　counsel　of　my　lady；　who　will　then　be　my　queen　too。　her　word shall　be　my　law；　even　as　my　word　will　be　law　to　the　people　we　have　conquered。”
〃where　i　e　from；〃　said　jill；　who　was　disliking　him　more　every　minute； 〃they　dont　think　much　of　men　who　are　bossed　about　by　their　wives。”
〃shalt　think　otherwise　when　thou　hast　a　man　of　thine　own；　i　warrant　you；〃 said　the　knight；　apparently　thinking　this　very　funny。　〃but　with　my　lady；　it　is another　matter。　i　am　well　content　to　live　by　her　word；　who　has　already　saved　me　from　a　thousand dangers。　no
mother　has　taken　pains　more　tenderly　for　her　child；　than　the　queens　grace has　for　me。
why；　look　you；　amid　all　her　cares　and　business；　she　rideth　out　with　me　in the　overworld　many　a　time　and　oft　to　accustom　my　eyes　to　the　sunlight。　and　then　i　must　go fully　armed　and　with　visor　down；　so　that　no　man　may　see　my　face；　and　i　must　speak　to　no one。　for　she　has　found　out　by　art　magical　that　this　would　hinder　my　deliverance　from the　grievous　enchantment　i　lie　under。　is　not　that　a　lady　worthy　of　a　mans　whole worship？”
〃sounds　a　very　nice　lady　indeed；〃　said　puddleglum　in　a　voice　which　meant exactly　the　opposite。
they　were　thoroughly　tired　of　the　knights　talk　before　they　had　finished supper。
puddleglum　was　thinking；　〃i　wonder　what　game　that　witch　is　really　playing with　this　young　fool。〃　scrubb　was　thinking；　〃hes　a　great　baby；　really：　tied　to　that womans　apron　strings；　hes　a　sap。〃　and　jill　was　thinking；　〃hes　the　silliest；　most conceited；　selfish　pig　ive　met　for　a　long　time。〃　but　when　the　meal　was　over；　the　knights　mood had　changed。
there　was　no　more　laughter　about　him。
〃friends；〃　he　said；　〃my　hour　is　now　very　near。　i　am　ashamed　that　you　should see　me　yet　i　dread　being　left　alone。　they　will　e　in　presently　and　bind　me　hand　and foot　to　yonder　chair。　alas；　so　it　must　be：　for　in　my　fury；　they　tell　me；　i　would　destroy all　that　i　could　reach。”
〃i　say；〃　said　scrubb；　〃im　awfully　sorry　about　your　enchantment　of　course； but　what　will　those　fellows　do　to　us　when　they　e　to　bind　you？　they　talked　of　putting us　in　prison。
and　we　dont　like　all　those　dark　places　very　much。　wed　much　rather　stay here　till　youre　。　。　。　better　。　。　。　if　we　may。”
〃it　is　well　thought　of；〃　said　the　knight。　〃by　custom　none　but　the　queen herself　remains　with　me　in　my　evil　hour。　such　is　her　tender　care　for　my　honour　that　she would　not　willingly　suffer　any　ears　but　her　own　to　hear　the　words　i　utter　in　that frenzy。　but　i　could　not　easily　persuade　my　attendant　gnomes　that　you　should　be　left　with　me。 and　i　think　i　hear　their　soft　feet　even　now　upon　the　stairs。　go　through　yonder　door：　it leads　into　my　other　apartments。　and　there；　either　await　my　ing　when　they　have　unbound me；　or；　if　you　will；　return　and　sit　with　me　in　my　ravings。”
they　followed　his　directions　and　passed　out　of　the　room　by　a　door　which they　had　not　yet　seen　opened。　it　brought　them；　they　were　pleased　to　see；　not　into　darkness but　into　a　lighted　corridor。　they　tried　various　doors　and　found　（what　they　very　badly needed）　water　for　washing　and　even　a　looking　glass。　〃he　never　offered　us　a　wash　before supper；〃　said　jill；　drying　her　face。　〃selfish；　selfcentred　pig。”
〃are　we　going　back　to　watch　the　enchantment；　or　shall　we　stay　here？〃　said scrubb。
〃stay　here；　i　vote；〃　said　jill。　〃id　much　rather　not　see　it。〃　but　she　felt a　little　inquisitive　all　the　same。
〃no；　go　back；〃　said　puddleglum。　〃we　may　pick　up　some　information；　and　we need　all　we　can　get。　i　am　sure　that　queen　is　a　witch　and　an　enemy。　and　those　earthmen would　knock　us　on　the　head　as　soon　as　look　at　us。　theres　a　stronger　smell　of　danger and　lies　and　magic　and　treason　about　this　land　than　ive　ever　smelled　before。　we　need　to keep　our　eyes　and　ears　open。”
they　went　back　down　the　corridor　and　gently　pushed　the　door　open。　〃its　all right；〃　said　scrubb；　meaning　that　there　were　no　earthmen　about。　then　they　all　came　back into　the　room　where　they　had　supped。
the　main　door　was　now　shut；　concealing　the　curtain　between　which　they　had first　entered。　the　knight　was　seated　in　a　curious　silver　chair；　to　which　he　was bound　by　his　ankles；　his　knees；　his　elbows；　his　wrists；　and　his　waist。　there　was　sweat on　his　forehead　and　his　face　was　filled　with　anguish。
〃e　in；　friends；〃　he　said；　glancing　quickly　up。　〃the　fit　is　not　yet　upon me。　make　no　noise；　for　i　told　that　prying　chamberlain　that　you　were　in　bed。　now　。　。　。　i can　feel　it　ing。　quick！　listen　while　i　am　master　of　myself。　when　the　fit　is　upon　me； it　well　may　be　that　i　shall　beg　and　implo