csl.thelionthewitchandthewardrobe-第2章

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　　〃If　you　will　take　my　arm；　Daughter　of　Eve；〃　said　Mr　Tumnus；　〃I　shall　be　able　to　hold　the　umbrella　over　both　of　us。　That's　the　way。　Now…off　we　go。〃
　　
　　And　so　Lucy　found　herself　walking　through　the　wood　arm　in　arm　with　this　strange　creature　as　if　they　had　known　one　another　all　their　lives。
　　
　　They　had　not　gone　far　before　they　came　to　a　place　where　the　ground　became　rough　and　there　were　rocks　all　about　and　little　hills　up　and　little　hills　down。　At　the　bottom　of　one　small　valley　Mr　Tumnus　turned　suddenly　aside　as　if　he　were　going　to　walk　straight　into　an　unusually　large　rock；　but　at　the　last　moment　Lucy　found　he　was　leading　her　into　the　entrance　of　a　cave。　As　soon　as　they　were　inside　she　found　herself　blinking　in　the　light　of　a　wood　fire。　Then　Mr　Tumnus　stooped　and　took　a　flaming　piece　of　wood　out　of　the　fire　with　a　neat　little　pair　of　tongs；　and　lit　a　lamp。　〃Now　we　shan't　be　long；〃　he　said；　and　immediately　put　a　kettle　on。
　　
　　Lucy　thought　she　had　never　been　in　a　nicer　place。　It　was　a　little；　dry；　clean　cave　of　reddish　stone　with　a　carpet　on　the　floor　and　two　little　chairs　（〃one　for　me　and　one　for　a　friend；〃　said　Mr　Tumnus）　and　a　table　and　a　dresser　and　a　mantelpiece　over　the　fire　and　above　that　a　picture　of　an　old　Faun　with　a　grey　beard。　In　one　corner　there　was　a　door　which　Lucy　thought　must　lead　to　Mr　Tumnus's　bedroom；　and　on　one　wall　was　a　shelf　full　of　books。　Lucy　looked　at　these　while　he　was　setting　out　the　tea　things。　They　had　titles　like　The　Life　and　Letters　of　Silenus　or　Nymphs　and　Their　Ways　or　Men；　Monks　and　Gamekeepers；　a　Study　in　Popular　Legend　or　Is　Man　a　Myth？
　　
　　〃Now；　Daughter　of　Eve！〃　said　the　Faun。
　　
　　And　really　it　was　a　wonderful　tea。　There　was　a　nice　brown　egg；　lightly　boiled；　for　each　of　them；　and　then　sardines　on　toast；　and　then　buttered　toast；　and　then　toast　with　honey；　and　then　a　sugar…topped　cake。　And　when　Lucy　was　tired　of　eating　the　Faun　began　to　talk。　He　had　wonderful　tales　to　tell　of　life　in　the　forest。　He　told　about　the　midnight　dances　and　how　the　Nymphs　who　lived　in　the　wells　and　the　Dryads　who　lived　in　the　trees　came　out　to　dance　with　the　Fauns；　about　long　hunting　parties　after　the　milk…white　stag　who　could　give　you　wishes　if　you　caught　him；　about　feasting　and　treasure…seeking　with　the　wild　Red　Dwarfs　in　deep　mines　and　caverns　far　beneath　the　forest　floor；　and　then　about　summer　when　the　woods　were　green　and　old　Silenus　on　his　fat　donkey　would　e　to　visit　them；　and　sometimes　Bacchus　himself；　and　then　the　streams　would　run　with　wine　instead　of　water　and　the　whole　forest　would　give　itself　up　to　jollification　for　weeks　on　end。　〃Not　that　it　isn't　always　winter　now；〃　he　added　gloomily。　Then　to　cheer　himself　up　he　took　out　from　its　case　on　the　dresser　a　strange　little　flute　that　looked　as　if　it　were　made　of　straw　and　began　to　play。　And　the　tune　he　played　made　Lucy　want　to　cry　and　laugh　and　dance　and　go　to　sleep　all　at　the　same　time。　It　must　have　been　hours　later　when　she　shook　herself　and　said：
　　
　　〃Oh；　Mr　Tumnus…I'm　so　sorry　to　stop　you；　and　I　do　love　that　tune…but　really；　I　must　go　home。　I　only　meant　to　stay　for　a　few　minutes。〃
　　
　　〃It's　no　good　now；　you　know；〃　said　the　Faun；　laying　down　its　flute　and　shaking　its　head　at　her　very　sorrowfully。
　　
　　〃No　good？〃　said　Lucy；　jumping　up　and　feeling　rather　frightened。　〃What　do　you　mean？　I've　got　to　go　home　at　once。　The　others　will　be　wondering　what　has　happened　to　me。〃　But　a　moment　later　she　asked；　〃Mr　Tumnus！　Whatever　is　the　matter？〃　for　the　Faun's　brown　eyes　had　filled　with　tears　and　then　the　tears　began　trickling　down　its　cheeks；　and　soon　they　were　running　off　the　end　of　its　nose；　and　at　last　it　covered　its　face　with　its　hands　and　began　to　howl。
　　
　　〃Mr　Tumnus！　Mr　Tumnus！〃　said　Lucy　in　great　distress。　〃Don't！　Don't！　What　is　the　matter？　Aren'　you　well？　Dear　Mr　Tumnus；　do　tell　me　what　is　wrong。〃　But　the　Faun　continued　sobbing　as　if　its　heart　would　break。　And　even　when　Lucy　went　over　and　put　her　arms　round　him　and　lent　him　her　hand　kerchief；　he　did　not　stop。　He　merely　took　the　handker　chief　and　kept　on　using　it；　wringing　it　out　with　both　hands　whenever　it　got　too　wet　to　be　any　more　use；　so　that　presently　Lucy　was　standing　in　a　damp　patch。
　　
　　〃Mr　Tumnus！〃　bawled　Lucy　in　his　ear；　shaking　him。　〃Do　stop。　Stop　it　at　once！　You　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　yourself；　a　great　big　Faun　like　you。　What　on　earth　are　you　crying　about？〃
　　
　　〃Oh…oh…oh！〃　sobbed　Mr　Tumnus；　〃I'm　crying　because　I'm　such　a　bad　Faun。〃
　　
　　〃I　don't　think　you're　a　bad　Faun　at　all；〃　said　Lucy。　〃I　think　you　are　a　very　good　Faun。　You　are　the　nicest　Faun　I've　ever　met。〃
　　
　　〃Oh…oh…you　wouldn't　say　that　if　you　knew；〃　replied　Mr　Tumnus　between　his　sobs。　〃No；　I'm　a　bad　Faun。　I　don't　suppose　there　ever　was　a　worse　Faun　since　the　beginning　of　the　world。〃
　　
　　〃But　what　have　you　done？〃　asked　Lucy。
　　
　　〃My　old　father；　now；〃　said　Mr　Tumnus；　〃that's　his　picture　over　the　mantelpiece。　He　would　never　have　done　a　thing　like　this。〃
　　
　　〃A　thing　like　what？〃　said　Lucy。
　　
　　〃Like　what　I've　done；〃　said　the　Faun。　〃Taken　service　under　the　White　Witch。　That's　what　I　am。　I'm　in　the　pay　of　the　White　Witch。〃
　　
　　〃The　White　Witch？　Who　is　she？〃
　　
　　〃Why；　it　is　she　that　has　got　all　Narnia　under　her　thumb。　It's　she　that　makes　it　always　winter。　Always　winter　and　never　Christmas；　think　of　that！〃
　　
　　〃How　awful！〃　said　Lucy。　〃But　what　does　she　pay　you　for？〃
　　
　　〃That's　the　worst　of　it；〃　said　Mr　Tumnus　with　a　deep　groan。　〃I'm　a　kidnapper　for　her；　that's　what　I　am。　Look　at　me；　Daughter　of　Eve。　Would　you　believe　that　I'm　the　sort　of　Faun　to　meet　a　poor　innocent　child　in　the　wood；　one　that　had　never　done　me　any　harm；　and　pretend　to　be　friendly　with　it；　and　invite　it　home　to　my　cave；　all　for　the　sake　of　lulling　it　asleep　and　then　handing　it　over　to　the　White　Witch？〃
　　
　　〃No；〃　said　Lucy。　〃I'm　sure　you　wouldn't　do　anything　of　the　sort。〃
　　
　　〃But　I　have；〃　said　the　Faun。
　　
　　〃Well；〃　said　Lucy　rather　slowly　（for　she　wanted　to　be　truthful　and　yet　not　be　too　hard　on　him）；　〃well；　that　was　pretty　bad。　But　you're　so　sorry　for　it　that　I'm　sure　you　will　never　do　it　again。〃
　　
　　〃Daughter　of　Eve；　don't　you　understand？〃　said　the　Faun。　〃It　isn't　something　I　have　done。　I'm　doing　it　now；　this　very　moment。〃
　　
　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　cried　Lucy；　turning　very　white。
　　
　　〃You　are　the　child；〃　said　Tumnus。　〃I　had　orders　from　the　White　Witch　that　if　ever　I　saw　a　Son　of　Adam　or　a　Daughter　of　Eve　in　the　wood；　I　was　to　catch　them　and　hand　them　over　to　her。　And　you　are　the　first　I've　ever　met。　And　I've　pretended　to　be　your　friend　an　asked　you　to　tea；　and　all　the　time　I've　been　meaning　to　wait　till　you　were　asleep　and　then　go　and　tell　Her。〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　but　you　won't；　Mr　Tumnus；〃　said　Lucy。　〃Yo　won't；　will　you？　Indeed；　indeed　you　really　mustn't。〃
　　
　　〃And　if　I　don't；〃　said　he；　beginning　to　cry　again　〃she's　sure　to　find　out。　And　she'll　have　my　tail　cut　off　and　my　horns　sawn　off；　and　my　beard　plucked　out；　and　she'll　wave　her　wand　over　my　beautiful　clove　hoofs　and　turn　them　into　horrid　solid　hoofs　like　wretched　horse's。　And　if　she　is　extra　and　specially　angry　she'll　turn　me　into　stone　and　I　shall　be　only　statue　of　a　Faun　in　her　horrible　house　until　the　four　thrones　at　Cair　Paravel　are　filled　and　goodness　knows　when　that　will　happen；　or　whether　it　will　ever　happen　at　all。〃
　　
　　〃I'm　very　sorry；　Mr　Tumnus；〃　said　Lucy。　〃But　please　let　me　go　home。〃
　　
　　〃Of　course　I　will；〃　said　the　Faun。　〃Of　course　I've　got　to。　I　see　that　now。　I　hadn't　known　what　Humans　were　like　before　I　met　you。　Of　course　I　can't　give　you　up　to　the　Witch；　not　now　that　I　know　you。　But　we　must　be　off　at　once。　I'll　see　you　back　to　the　lamp…post。　I　suppose　you　can　find　your　own　way　from　there　back　to　Spare　Oom　and　War　Drobe？〃
　　
　　〃I'm　sure　I　can；〃　said　Lucy。
　　
　　〃We　must　go　as　quietly　as　we　can；〃　said　Mr　Tumnus。　〃The　whole　wood　is　full　of　her　spies。　Even　some　of　the　trees　are　on　her　side。〃
　　
　　They　both　got　up　and　left　the　tea　things　on　the　table；　and　Mr　Tumnus　once　more　put　up　his　umbrella　and　gave　Lucy　his　arm；　and　they　went　out　into　the　snow。　The　journey　back　was　not　at　all　like　the　journey　to　the　Faun's　cave；　they　stole　along　as　quickly　as　they　could；　without　speaking　a　word；　and　Mr　Tumnus　kept　to　the　darkest　places。　Lucy　was　relieved　when　they　reached　the　lamp…post　again。
　　
　　〃Do　you　know　your　way　from　here；　Daughter　o　Eve？〃　said　Tumnus。
　　
　　Lucy　looked　very　hard　between　the　trees　and　could　just　see　in　the　distance　a　patch　of　light　that　looked　like　daylight。　〃Yes；〃　she　said；　〃I　can　see　the　wardrobe　door。〃
　　
　　〃Then　be　off　home　as　quick　as　you　can；〃　said　the　Faun；　〃and…c…can　you　ever　forgive　me　for　what　meant　to　do？〃
　　
　　〃Why；　of　course　I　can；〃　said　Lucy；　shaking　him　heartily　by　the　hand。　〃And　I　do　hope　you　won't　get　into　dreadful　trouble　on　my　account。〃
　　
　　〃Farewell；　Daughter　of　Eve；〃　said　he。　〃Perhaps　I　may　keep　the　handkerchief？〃
　　
　　〃Rather！〃　said　Lucy；　and　then　ran　towards　the　far　off　patch　of　daylight　as　quickly　as　her　legs　would　carry　her。　And　presently　instead　of　rough　branch　brushing　past　her　she　felt　coats；　and　instead　of　crunching　snow　under　her　feet　she　felt　wooden　board　and　all　at　once　she　found　herself　jumping　out　of　the　wardrobe　into　the　same　empty　room　from　which　the　whole　adventure　had　started。　She　shut　the　wardrobe　door　tightly　behind　her　and　looked　around；　panting　for　breath。　It　was　still　raining　and　she　could　hear　the　voices　of　the　others　in　the　passage。
　　
　　〃I'm　here；〃　she　shouted。　〃I'm　here。　I've　e　back　I'm　all　right。〃
　　
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　THREE
　　
　　EDMUND　AND　THE　WARDROBE
　　
　　Lucy　ran　out　of　the　empty　room　into　the　passage　and　found　the　other　three。
　　
　　〃It's　all　right；〃　she　repeated；　〃I've　eback。〃
　　
　　〃What　on　earth　are　you　talking　about；　Lucy？〃　asked　Susan。
　　
　　〃Why？　said　Lucy　in　amazement；　〃haven't　you　all　been　wondering　where　I　was？〃
　　
　　〃So　you've　been　hiding；　have　you？〃　said　Peter。　〃Poor　old　Lu；　hiding　and　nobody　noticed！　You'll　have　to　hide　longer　than　that　if　you　want　people　to　start　looking　for　you。〃
　　
　　〃But　I've　been　away　for　hours　and　hours；〃　said　Lucy。
　　
　　The　others　all　stared　at　one　another。
　　
　　〃Batty！〃　said　Edmund；　tapping　his　head。　〃Quite　batty。〃
　　
　　〃What　do　you　mean；　Lu？〃　asked　Peter。
　　
　　〃What　I　said；〃　answered　Lucy。　〃It　was　just　after　breakfast　when　I　went　into　the　wardrobe；　and　I've　been　away　for　hours　and　hours；　and　had　tea；　and　all　sorts　of　things　have　happened。〃
　　
　　〃Don't　be　silly；　Lucy；〃　said　Susan。　〃We've　only　just　e　out　of　that　room　a　moment　ago；　and　you　were　there　then。〃
　　
　　〃She's　not　being　silly　at　all；〃　said　Peter；　〃she's　just　making　up　a　story　for　fun；　aren't　you；　Lu？　And　why　shouldn't　she？〃
　　
　　〃No；　Peter；　I'm　not；〃　she　said。　〃It's…it's　a　magic　wardrobe。　There's　a　wood　inside　it；　and　it's　snowing；　and　there's　a　Faun　and　a　Witch　and　it's　called　Narnia；　e　and　see。〃
　　
　　The　others　did　not　know　what　to　think；　but　Lucy　was　so　excited　that　they　all　went　back　with　her　into　the　room。　She　rushed　ahead　of　them；　flung　open　the　door　of　the　wardrobe　and　cried；　〃Now！　go　in　and　see　for　yourselv