csl.thelionthewitchandthewardrobe-第5章

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　　〃Of　course　it's　all　nonsense；〃　said　Peter；　〃that's　just　the　point。　Lu　was　perfectly　all　right　when　we　left　home；　but　since　we've　been　down　here　she　seems　to　be　either　going　queer　in　the　head　or　else　turning　into　a　most　frightful　liar。　But　whichever　it　is；　what　good　do　you　think　you'll　do　by　jeering　and　nagging　at　her　one　day　and　encouraging　her　the　next？〃
　　
　　〃I　thought…I　thought；〃　said　Edmund；　but　he　couldn't　think　of　anything　to　say。
　　
　　〃You　didn't　think　anything　at　all；〃　said　Peter；　〃it's　just　spite。　You've　always　liked　being　beastly　to　anyone　smaller　than　yourself；　we've　seen　that　at　school　before　now。〃
　　
　　〃Do　stop　it；〃　said　Susan；　〃it　won't　make　things　any　better　having　a　row　between　you　two。　Let's　go　and　find　Lucy。〃
　　
　　It　was　not　surprising　that　when　they　found　Lucy；　a　good　deal　later；　everyone　could　see　that　she　had　been　crying。　Nothing　they　could　say　to　her　made　any　difference。　She　stuck　to　her　story　and　said：
　　
　　〃I　don't　care　what　you　think；　and　I　don't　care　what　you　say。　You　can　tell　the　Professor　or　you　can　write　to　Mother　or　you　can　do　anything　you　like。　I　know　I've　met　a　Faun　in　there　and…I　wish　I'd　stayed　there　and　you　are　all　beasts；　beasts。〃
　　
　　It　was　an　unpleasant　evening。　Lucy　was　miserable　and　Edmund　was　beginning　to　feel　that　his　plan　wasn't　working　as　well　as　he　had　expected。　The　two　older　ones　were　really　beginning　to　think　that　Lucy　was　out　of　her　mind。　They　stood　in　the　passage　talking　about　it　in　whispers　long　after　she　had　gone　to　bed。
　　
　　The　result　was　the　next　morning　they　decided　that　they　really　would　go　and　tell　the　whole　thing　to　the　Professor。　〃He'll　write　to　Father　if　he　thinks　there　is　really　something　wrong　with　Lu；〃　said　Peter；　〃it's　getting　beyond　us。〃　So　they　went　and　knocked　at　the　study　door；　and　the　Professor　said　〃e　in；〃　and　got　up　and　found　chairs　for　them　and　said　he　was　quite　at　their　disposal。　Then　he　sat　listening　to　them　with　the　tips　of　his　fingers　pressed　together　and　never　interrupting；　till　they　had　finished　the　whole　story。　After　that　he　said　nothing　for　quite　a　long　time。　Then　he　cleared　his　throat　and　said　the　last　thing　either　of　them　expected：
　　
　　〃How　do　you　know；〃　he　asked；　〃that　your　sister's　story　is　not　true？〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　but…〃　began　Susan；　and　then　stopped。　Anyone　could　see　from　the　old　man's　face　that　he　was　perfectly　serious。　Then　Susan　pulled　herself　together　and　said；　〃But　Edmund　said　they　had　only　been　pretending。〃
　　
　　〃That　is　a　point；〃　said　the　Professor；　〃which　certainly　deserves　consideration；　very　careful　consideration。　For　instance…if　you　will　excuse　me　for　asking　the　question…does　your　experience　lead　you　to　regard　your　brother　or　your　sister　as　the　more　reliable？　I　mean；　which　is　the　more　truthful？〃
　　
　　〃That's　just　the　funny　thing　about　it；　sir；〃　said　Peter。　〃Up　till　now；　I'd　have　said　Lucy　every　time。〃
　　
　　〃And　what　do　you　think；　my　dear？〃　said　the　Professor；　turning　to　Susan。
　　
　　〃Well；〃　said　Susan；　〃in　general；　I'd　say　the　same　as　Peter；　but　this　couldn't　be　true…all　this　about　the　wood　and　the　Faun。〃
　　
　　〃That　is　more　than　I　know；〃　said　the　Professor；　〃and　a　charge　of　lying　against　someone　whom　you　have　always　found　truthful　is　a　very　serious　thing；　a　very　serious　thing　indeed。〃
　　
　　〃We　were　afraid　it　mightn't　even　be　lying；〃　said　Susan；　〃we　thought　there　might　be　something　wrong　with　Lucy。〃
　　
　　〃Madness；　you　mean？〃　said　the　Professor　quite　coolly。　〃Oh；　you　can　make　your　minds　easy　about　that。　One　has　only　to　look　at　her　and　talk　to　her　to　see　that　she　is　not　mad。〃
　　
　　〃But　then；〃　said　Susan；　and　stopped。　She　had　never　dreamed　that　a　grown…up　would　talk　like　the　Professor　and　didn't　know　what　to　think。
　　
　　〃Logic！〃　said　the　Professor　half　to　himself。　〃Why　don't　they　teach　logic　at　these　schools？　There　are　only　three　possibilities。　Either　your　sister　is　telling　lies；　or　she　is　mad；　or　she　is　telling　the　truth。　You　know　she　doesn't　tell　lies　and　it　is　obvious　that　she　is　not　mad　For　the　moment　then　and　unless　any　further　evidence　turns　up；　we　must　assume　that　she　is　telling　the　truth。〃
　　
　　Susan　looked　at　him　very　hard　and　was　quite　sure　from　the　expression　on　his　face　that　he　was　no　making　fun　of　them。
　　
　　〃But　how　could　it　be　true；　sir？〃　said　Peter。
　　
　　〃Why　do　you　say　that？〃　asked　the　Professor。
　　
　　〃Well；　for　one　thing；〃　said　Peter；　〃if　it　was　true　why　doesn't　everyone　find　this　country　every　time　they　go　to　the　wardrobe？　I　mean；　there　was　nothing　there　when　we　looked；　even　Lucy　didn't　pretend　the　was。〃
　　
　　〃What　has　that　to　do　with　it？〃　said　the　Professor。
　　
　　〃Well；　sir；　if　things　are　real；　they're　there　all　the　time。〃
　　
　　〃Are　they？〃　said　the　Professor；　and　Peter　did'nt　know　quite　what　to　say。
　　
　　〃But　there　was　no　time；〃　said　Susan。　〃Lucy　had　no　time　to　have　gone　anywhere；　even　if　there　was　such　a　place。　She　came　running　after　us　the　very　moment　we　were　out　of　the　room。　It　was　less　than　minute；　and　she　pretended　to　have　been　away　for　hours。〃
　　
　　〃That　is　the　very　thing　that　makes　her　story　so　likely　to　be　true；〃　said　the　Professor。　〃If　there　really　a　door　in　this　house　that　leads　to　some　other　world　（and　I　should　warn　you　that　this　is　a　very　strange　house；　and　even　I　know　very　little　about　it）…if；　I　say；　she　had　got　into　another　world；　I　should　not　be　at　a　surprised　to　find　that　the　other　world　had　a　separate　time　of　its　own；　so　that　however　long　you　stay　there　it　would　never　take　up　any　of　our　time。　On　the　other　hand；　I　don't　think　many　girls　of　her　age　would　invent　that　idea　for　themselves。　If　she　had　been　pretending；　she　would　have　hidden　for　a　reasonable　time　before　ing　out　and　telling　her　story。〃
　　
　　〃But　do　you　really　mean；　sir；〃　said　Peter；　〃that　there　could　be　other　worlds…all　over　the　place；　just　round　the　corner…like　that？〃
　　
　　〃Nothing　is　more　probable；〃　said　the　Professor；　taking　off　his　spectacles　and　beginning　to　polish　them；　while　he　muttered　to　himself；　〃I　wonder　what　they　do　teach　them　at　these　schools。〃
　　
　　〃But　what　are　we　to　do？〃　said　Susan。　She　felt　that　the　conversation　was　beginning　to　get　off　the　point。
　　
　　〃My　dear　young　lady；〃　said　the　Professor；　suddenly　looking　up　with　a　very　sharp　expression　at　both　of　them；　〃there　is　one　plan　which　no　one　has　yet　suggested　and　which　is　well　worth　trying。〃
　　
　　〃What's　that？〃　said　Susan。
　　
　　〃We　might　all　try　minding　our　own　business；〃　said　he。　And　that　was　the　end　of　that　conversation。
　　
　　After　this　things　were　a　good　deal　better　for　Lucy。　Peter　saw　to　it　that　Edmund　stopped　jeering　at　her；　and　neither　she　nor　anyone　else　felt　inclined　to　talk　about　the　wardrobe　at　all。　It　had　bee　a　rather　alarming　subject。　And　so　for　a　time　it　looked　as　if　all　the　adventures　were　ing　to　an　end；　but　that　was　not　to　be。
　　
　　This　house　of　the　Professor's…which　even　he　knew　so　little　about…was　so　old　and　famous　that　people　from　all　over　England　used　to　e　and　ask　permission　to　see　over　it。　It　was　the　sort　of　house　that　is　mentioned　in　guide　books　and　even　in　histories；　and　well　it　might　be；　for　all　manner　of　stories　were　told　about　it；　some　of　them　even　stranger　than　the　one　I　am　telling　you　now。　And　when　parties　of　sightseers　arrived　and　asked　to　see　the　house；　the　Professor　always　gave　them　permission；　and　Mrs　Macready；　the　housekeeper；　showed　them　round；　telling　them　about　the　pictures　and　the　armour；　and　the　rare　books　in　the　library。　Mrs　Macready　was　not　fond　of　children；　and　did　not　like　to　be　interrupted　when　she　was　telling　visitors　all　the　things　she　knew。　She　had　said　to　Susan　and　Peter　almost　on　the　first　morning　（along　with　a　good　many　other　instructions）；　〃And　please　remember　you're　to　keep　out　of　the　way　whenever　I'm　taking　a　party　over　the　house。〃
　　
　　〃Just　as　if　any　of　us　would　want　to　waste　half　the　morning　trailing　round　with　a　crowd　of　strange　grown…ups！〃　said　Edmund；　and　the　other　three　thought　the　same。　That　was　how　the　adventures　began　for　the　second　time。
　　
　　A　few　mornings　later　Peter　and　Edmund　were　looking　at　the　suit　of　armour　and　wondering　if　they　could　take　it　to　bits　when　the　two　girls　rushed　into　the　room　and　said；　〃Look　out！　Here　es　the　Macready　and　a　whole　gang　with　her。〃
　　
　　〃Sharp's　the　word；〃　said　Peter；　and　all　four　made　off　through　the　door　at　the　far　end　of　the　room。　But　when　they　had　got　out　into　the　Green　Room　and　beyond　it；　into　the　Library；　they　suddenly　heard　voices　ahead　of　them；　and　realized　that　Mrs　Macready　must　be　bringing　her　party　of　sightseers　up　the　back　stairs…instead　of　up　the　front　stairs　as　they　had　expected。　And　after　that…whether　it　was　that　they　lost　their　heads；　or　that　Mrs　Macready　was　trying　to　catch　them；　or　that　some　magic　in　the　house　had　e　to　life　and　was　chasing　them　into　Narnia　they　seemed　to　find　themselves　being　followed　everywhere；　until　at　last　Susan　said；　〃Oh　bother　those　trippers！　Here…let's　get　into　the　Wardrobe　Room　till　they've　passed。　No　one　will　follow　us　in　there。〃　But　the　moment　they　were　inside　they　heard　the　voices　in　the　passage…and　then　someone　fumbling　at　the　door…and　then　they　saw　the　handle　turning。
　　
　　〃Quick！〃　said　Peter；　〃there's　nowhere　else；〃　and　flung　open　the　wardrobe。　All　four　of　them　bundled　inside　it　and　sat　there；　panting；　in　the　dark。　Peter　held　the　door　closed　but　did　not　shut　it；　for；　of　course；　he　remembered；　as　every　sensible　person　does；　that　you　should　never　never　shut　yourself　up　in　a　wardrobe。
　　
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　SIX
　　
　　INTO　THE　FOREST
　　
　　〃I　wish　the　Macready　would　hurry　up　and　take　all　these　people　away；〃　said　Susan　presently；　〃I'm　getting　horribly　cramped。〃
　　
　　〃And　what　a　filthy　smell　of　camphor！〃　said　Edmund。
　　
　　〃I　expect　the　pockets　of　these　coats　are　full　of　it；〃　said　Susan；　〃to　keep　away　the　moths。〃
　　
　　〃There's　something　sticking　into　my　back；〃　said　Peter。
　　
　　〃And　isn't　it　cold？〃　said　Susan。
　　
　　〃Now　that　you　mention　it；　it　is　cold；〃　said　Peter；　〃and　hang　it　all；　it's　wet　too。　What's　the　matter　with　this　place？　I'm　sitting　on　something　wet。　It's　getting　wetter　every　minute。〃　He　struggled　to　his　feet。
　　
　　〃Let's　get　out；〃　said　Edmund；　〃they've　gone。〃
　　
　　〃O…o…oh！〃　said　Susan　suddenly；　and　everyone　asked　her　what　was　the　matter。
　　
　　〃I'm　sitting　against　a　tree；〃　said　Susan；　〃and　look！　It's　getting　light…over　there。〃
　　
　　〃By　Jove；　you're　right；〃　said　Peter；　〃and　look　there…and　there。　It's　trees　all　round。　And　this　wet　stuff　is　snow。　Why；　I　do　believe　we've　got　into　Lucy's　wood　after　all。〃
　　
　　And　now　there　was　no　mistaking　it　and　all　four　children　stood　blinking　in　the　daylight　of　a　winter　day。　Behind　them　were　coats　hanging　on　pegs；　in　front　of　them　were　snow…covered　trees。
　　
　　Peter　turned　at　once　to　Lucy。
　　
　　〃I　apologize　for　not　believing　you；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　sorry。　Will　you　shake　hands？〃
　　
　　〃Of　course；〃　said　Lucy；　and　did。
　　
　　〃And　now；〃　said　Susan；　〃what　do　we　do　next？〃
　　
　　〃Do？〃　said　Peter；　〃why；　go　and　explore　the　wood；　of　course。〃
　　
　　〃Ugh！〃　said　Susan；　stamping　her　feet；　〃it's　pretty　cold。　What　about　putting　on　some　of　these　coats？〃
　　
　　〃They're　not　ours；〃　said　Peter　doub