csl.thelionthewitchandthewardrobe-第4章

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　　〃Turkish　Delight；　please；　your　Majesty；〃　said　Edmund。
　　
　　The　Queen　let　another　drop　fall　from　her　bottle　on　to　the　snow；　and　instantly　there　appeared　a　round　box；　tied　with　green　silk　ribbon；　which；　when　opened；　turned　out　to　contain　several　pounds　of　the　best　Turkish　Delight。　Each　piece　was　sweet　and　light　to　the　very　centre　and　Edmund　had　never　tasted　anything　more　delicious。　He　was　quite　warm　now；　and　very　fortable。
　　
　　While　he　was　eating　the　Queen　kept　asking　him　questions。　At　first　Edmund　tried　to　remember　that　it　is　rude　to　speak　with　one's　mouth　full；　but　soon　he　forgot　about　this　and　thought　only　of　trying　to　shovel　down　as　much　Turkish　Delight　as　he　could；　and　the　more　he　ate　the　more　he　wanted　to　eat；　and　he　never　asked　himself　why　the　Queen　should　be　so　inquisitive。　She　got　him　to　tell　her　that　he　had　one　brother　and　two　sisters；　and　that　one　of　his　sisters　had　already　been　in　Narnia　and　had　met　a　Faun　there；　and　that　no　one　except　himself　and　his　brother　and　his　sisters　knew　anything　about　Narnia。　She　seemed　especially　interested　in　the　fact　that　there　were　four　of　them；　and　kept　on　ing　back　to　it。　〃You　are　sure　there　are　just　four　of　you？〃　she　asked。　〃Two　Sons　of　Adam　and　two　Daughters　of　Eve；　neither　more　nor　less？〃　and　Edmund；　with　his　mouth　full　of　Turkish　Delight；　kept　on　saying；　〃Yes；　I　told　you　that　before；〃　and　forgetting　to　call　her　〃Your　Majesty〃；　but　she　didn't　seem　to　mind　now。
　　
　　At　last　the　Turkish　Delight　was　all　finished　and　Edmund　was　looking　very　hard　at　the　empty　box　and　wishing　that　she　would　ask　him　whether　he　would　like　some　more。　Probably　the　Queen　knew　quite　well　what　he　was　thinking；　for　she　knew；　though　Edmund　did　not；　that　this　was　enchanted　Turkish　Delight　and　that　anyone　who　had　once　tasted　it　would　want　more　and　more　of　it；　and　would　even；　if　they　were　allowed；　go　on　eating　it　till　they　killed　themselves。　But　she　did　not　offer　him　any　more。　Instead；　she　said　to　him；
　　
　　〃Son　of　Adam；　I　should　so　much　like　to　see　your　brother　and　your　two　sisters。　Will　you　bring　them　to　see　me？〃
　　
　　〃I'll　try；〃　said　Edmund；　still　looking　at　the　empty　box。
　　
　　〃Because；　if　you　did　e　again…bringing　them　with　you　of　course…I'd　be　able　to　give　you　some　more　Turkish　Delight。　I　can't　do　it　now；　the　magic　will　only　work　once。　In　my　own　house　it　would　be　another　matter。〃
　　
　　〃Why　can't　we　go　to　your　house　now？〃　said　Edmund。　When　he　had　first　got　on　to　the　sledge　he　had　been　afraid　that　she　might　drive　away　with　him　to　some　unknown　place　from　which　he　would　not　be　able　to　get　back；　but　he　had　forgotten　about　that　fear　now。
　　
　　〃It　is　a　lovely　place；　my　house；〃　said　the　Queen。　〃I　am　sure　you　would　like　it。　There　are　whole　rooms　full　of　Turkish　Delight；　and　what's　more；　I　have　no　children　of　my　own。　I　want　a　nice　boy　whom　I　could　bring　up　as　a　Prince　and　who　would　be　King　of　Narnia　when　I　am　gone。　While　he　was　Prince　he　would　wear　a　gold　crown　and　eat　Turkish　Delight　all　day　long；　and　you　are　much　the　cleverest　and　handsomest　young　man　I've　ever　met。　I　think　I　would　like　to　make　you　the　Prince…some　day；　when　you　bring　the　others　to　visit　me。〃
　　
　　〃Why　not　now？〃　said　Edmund。　His　face　had　bee　very　red　and　his　mouth　and　fingers　were　sticky。　He　did　not　look　either　clever　or　handsome；　whatever　the　Queen　might　say。
　　
　　〃Oh；　but　if　I　took　you　there　now；〃　said　she；　〃I　shouldn't　see　your　brother　and　your　sisters。　I　very　much　want　to　know　your　charming　relations。　You　are　to　be　the　Prince　and…later　on…the　King；　that　is　understood。　But　you　must　have　courtiers　and　nobles。　I　will　make　your　brother　a　Duke　and　your　sisters　Duchesses。〃
　　
　　〃There's　nothing　special　about　them；〃　said　Edmund；　〃and；　anyway；　I　could　always　bring　them　some　other　time。〃
　　
　　〃Ah；　but　once　you　were　in　my　house；〃　said　the　Queen；　〃you　might　forget　all　about　thern。　You　would　be　enjoying　yourself　so　much　that　you　wouldn't　want　the　bother　of　going　to　fetch　them。　No。　You　must　go　back　to　your　own　country　now　and　e　to　me　another　day；　with　them；　you　understand。　It　is　no　good　ing　without　them。〃
　　
　　〃But　I　don't　even　know　the　way　back　to　my　own　country；〃　pleaded　Edmund。　〃That's　easy；〃　answered　the　Queen。　〃Do　you　see　that　lamp？〃　She　pointed　with　her　wand　and　Edmund　turned　and　saw　the　same　lamp…post　under　which　Lucy　had　met　the　Faun。　〃Straight　on；　beyond　that；　is　the　way　to　the　World　of　Men。　And　now　look　the　other　way'…here　she　pointed　in　the　opposite　direction…〃and　tell　me　if　you　can　see　two　little　hills　rising　above　the　trees。〃
　　
　　〃I　think　I　can；〃　said　Edmund。
　　
　　〃Well；　my　house　is　between　those　two　hills。　So　next　time　you　e　you　have　only　to　find　the　lamp…post　and　look　for　those　two　hills　and　walk　through　the　wood　till　you　reach　my　house。　But　remember…you　must　bring　the　others　with　you。　I　might　have　to　be　very　angry　with　you　if　you　came　alone。〃
　　
　　〃I'll　do　my　best；〃　said　Edmund。
　　
　　〃And；　by　the　way；〃　said　the　Queen；　〃you　needn't　tell　them　about　me。　It　would　be　fun　to　keep　it　a　secret　between　us　two；　wouldn't　it？　Make　it　a　surprise　for　them。　Just　bring　them　along　to　the　two　hills…a　clever　boy　like　you　will　easily　think　of　some　excuse　for　doing　that…and　when　you　e　to　my　house　you　could　just　say　〃Let's　see　who　lives　here〃　or　something　like　that。　I　am　sure　that　would　be　best。　If　your　sister　has　met　one　of　the　Fauns；　she　may　have　heard　strange　stories　about　me…nasty　stories　that　might　make　her　afraid　to　e　to　me。　Fauns　will　say　anything；　you　know；　and　now…〃
　　
　　〃Please；　please；〃　said　Edmund　suddenly；　〃please　couldn't　I　have　just　one　piece　of　Turkish　Delight　to　eat　on　the　way　home？〃
　　
　　〃No；　no；〃　said　the　Queen　with　a　laugh；　〃you　must　wait　till　next　time。〃　While　she　spoke；　she　signalled　to　the　dwarf　to　drive　on；　but　as　the　sledge　swept　away　out　of　sight；　the　Queen　waved　to　Edmund；　calling　out；　〃Next　time！　Next　time！　Don't　forget。　e　soon。〃
　　
　　Edmund　was　still　staring　after　the　sledge　when　he　heard　someone　calling　his　own　name；　and　looking　round　he　saw　Lucy　ing　towards　him　from　another　part　of　the　wood。
　　
　　〃Oh；　Edmund！〃　she　cried。　〃So　you've　got　in　too！　Isn't　it　wonderful；　and　now…〃
　　
　　〃All　right；〃　said　Edmund；　〃I　see　you　were　right　and　it　is　a　magic　wardrobe　after　all。　I'll　say　I'm　sorry　if　you　like。　But　where　on　earth　have　you　been　all　this　time？　I've　been　looking　for　you　everywhere。〃
　　
　　〃If　I'd　known　you　had　got　in　I'd　have　waited　for　you；〃　said　Lucy；　who　was　too　happy　and　excited　to　notice　how　snappishly　Edmund　spoke　or　how　flushed　and　strange　his　face　was。　〃I've　been　having　lunch　with　dear　Mr　Tumnus；　the　Faun；　and　he's　very　well　and　the　White　Witch　has　done　nothing　to　him　for　letting　me　go；　so　he　thinks　she　can't　have　found　out　and　perhaps　everything　is　going　to　be　all　right　after　all。〃
　　
　　〃The　White　Witch？〃　said　Edmund；　〃who's　she？〃
　　
　　〃She　is　a　perfectly　terrible　person；〃　said　Lucy。　〃She　calls　herself　the　Queen　of　Narnia　though　she　has　no　right　to　be　queen　at　all；　and　all　the　Fauns　and　Dryads　and　Naiads　and　Dwarfs　and　Animals…at　least　all　the　good　ones…simply　hate　her。　And　she　can　turn　people　into　stone　and　do　all　kinds　of　horrible　things。　And　she　has　made　a　magic　so　that　it　is　always　winter　in　Narnia…always　winter；　but　it　never　gets　to　Christmas。　And　she　drives　about　on　a　sledge；　drawn　by　reindeer；　with　her　wand　in　her　hand　and　a　crown　on　her　head。〃
　　
　　Edmund　was　already　feeling　unfortable　from　having　eaten　too　many　sweets；　and　when　he　heard　that　the　Lady　he　had　made　friends　with　was　a　dangerous　witch　he　felt　even　more　unfortable。　But　he　still　wanted　to　taste　that　Turkish　Delight　again　more　than　he　wanted　anything　else。
　　
　　〃Who　told　you　all　that　stuff　about　the　White　Witch？〃　he　asked。
　　
　　〃Mr　Tumnus；　the　Faun；〃　said　Lucy。
　　
　　〃You　can't　always　believe　what　Fauns　say；〃　said　Edmund；　trying　to　sound　as　if　he　knew　far　more　about　them　than　Lucy。
　　
　　〃Who　said　so？〃　asked　Lucy。
　　
　　〃Everyone　knows　it；〃　said　Edmund；　〃ask　anybody　you　like。　But　it's　pretty　poor　sport　standing　here　in　the　snow。　Let's　go　home。〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　let's；〃　said　Lucy。　〃Oh；　Edmund；　I　am　glad　you've　got　in　too。　The　others　will　have　to　believe　in　Narnia　now　that　both　of　us　have　been　there。　What　fun　it　will　be！〃
　　
　　But　Edmund　secretly　thought　that　it　would　not　be　as　good　fun　for　him　as　for　her。　He　would　have　to　admit　that　Lucy　had　been　right；　before　all　the　others；　and　he　felt　sure　the　others　would　all　be　on　the　side　of　the　Fauns　and　the　animals；　but　he　was　already　more　than　half　on　the　side　of　the　Witch。　He　did　not　know　what　he　would　say；　or　how　he　would　keep　his　secret　once　they　were　all　talking　about　Narnia。
　　
　　By　this　time　they　had　walked　a　good　way。　Then　suddenly　they　felt　coats　around　them　instead　of　branches　and　next　moment　they　were　both　standing　outside　the　wardrobe　in　the　empty　room。
　　
　　〃I　say；〃　said　Lucy；　〃you　do　look　awful；　Edmund。　Don't　you　feel　well？〃
　　
　　〃I'm　all　right；〃　said　Edmund；　but　this　was　not　true。　He　was　feeling　very　sick。
　　
　　〃e　on　then；〃　said　Lucy；　〃let's　find　the　others。　What　a　lot　we　shall　have　to　tell　them！　And　what　wonderful　adventures　we　shall　have　now　that　we're　all　in　it　together。〃
　　
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　FIVE
　　
　　BACK　ON　THIS　SIDE　OF　THE　DOOR
　　
　　BECAUSE　the　game　of　hide…and…seek　was　still　going　on；　it　took　Edmund　and　Lucy　some　time　to　find　the　others。　But　when　at　last　they　were　all　together　（which　happened　in　the　long　room；　where　the　suit　of　armour　was）　Lucy　burst　out：
　　
　　〃Peter！　Susan！　It's　all　true。　Edmund　has　seen　it　too。　There　is　a　country　you　can　get　to　through　the　wardrobe。　Edmund　and　I　both　got　in。　We　met　one　another　in　there；　in　the　wood。　Go　on；　Edmund；　tell　them　all　about　it。〃
　　
　　〃What's　all　this　about；　Ed？〃　said　Peter。
　　
　　And　now　we　e　to　one　of　the　nastiest　things　in　this　story。　Up　to　that　moment　Edmund　had　been　feeling　sick；　and　sulky；　and　annoyed　with　Lucy　for　being　right；　but　he　hadn't　made　up　his　mind　what　to　do。　When　Peter　suddenly　asked　him　the　question　he　decided　all　at　once　to　do　the　meanest　and　most　spiteful　thing　he　could　think　of。　He　decided　to　let　Lucy　down。
　　
　　〃Tell　us；　Ed；〃　said　Susan。
　　
　　And　Edmund　gave　a　very　superior　look　as　if　he　were　far　older　than　Lucy　（there　was　really　only　a　year's　difference）　and　then　a　little　snigger　and　said；　〃Oh；　yes；　Lucy　and　I　have　been　playing…pretending　that　all　her　story　about　a　country　in　the　wardrobe　is　true。　just　for　fun；　of　course。　There's　nothing　there　really。〃
　　
　　Poor　Lucy　gave　Edmund　one　look　and　rushed　out　of　the　room。
　　
　　Edmund；　who　was　being　a　nastier　person　every　minute；　thought　that　he　had　scored　a　great　success；　and　went　on　at　once　to　say；　〃There　she　goes　again。　What's　the　matter　with　her？　That's　the　worst　of　young　kids；　they　always…〃
　　
　　〃Look　here；〃　said　Peter；　turning　on　him　savagely；　〃shut　up！　You've　been　perfectly　beastly　to　Lu　ever　since　she　started　this　nonsense　about　the　wardrobe；　and　now　you　go　playing　games　with　her　about　it　and　setting　her　off　again。　I　believe　you　did　it　simply　out　of　spite。〃
　　
　　〃But　it's　all　nonsense；〃　said　Edmund；　very　taken　aback。
　　
　　〃Of　course　it's　all　nonsense；〃　said　Peter；　〃that's　just　the　point。　Lu　was　perfectly　all　righ