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〃you mean i have;〃 said jill。 〃its quite true。 ive spoiled everything ever since you brought me here。 all the same … im frightfully sorry and all that … all the same; what are the instructions? under me doesnt seem to make much sense。”
〃yes it does; though;〃 said puddleglum。 〃it means weve got to look for the prince under that city。”
〃but how can we?〃 asked jill。
〃thats the question;〃 said puddleglum; rubbing his big; frog…like hands together。 〃how can we now? no doubt; if wed had our minds on our job when we were at the ruinous
city; wed have been shown how … found a little door; or a cave; or a tunnel; met someone to help us。 might have been (you never know) aslan himself。 wed have got down under those paving…stones somehow or other。 aslans instructions always work: there are no exceptions。 but how to do it now … thats another matter。”
〃well; we shall just have to go back; i suppose;〃 said jill。
〃easy; isnt it?〃 said puddleglum。 〃we might try opening that door to begin with。〃 and they all looked at the door and saw that none of them could reach the handle; and that almost certainly no one could turn it if they did。
〃do you think they wont let us out if we ask?〃 said jill。 and nobody said; but everyone thought; 〃supposing they dont。”
it was not a pleasant idea。 puddleglum was dead against any idea of telling the giants their real business and simply asking to be let out; and of course the children couldnt tell without his permission; because they had promised。 and all three felt pretty sure that there would be no chance of escaping from the castle by night。 once they were in their rooms with the doors shut; they would be prisoners till morning。 they might; of course; ask to have their doors left open; but that would rouse suspicions。
〃our only chance;〃 said scrubb; 〃is to try to sneak away by daylight。 mightnt there be an hour in the afternoon when most of the giants are asleep? … and if we could steal down into the kitchen; mightnt there be a back door open?”
〃its hardly what i call a chance;〃 said the marshwiggle。 〃but its all the chance were likely to get。〃 as a matter of fact; scrubbs plan was not quite so hopeless as you might think。 if you want to get out of a house without being seen; the middle of the afternoon is in some ways a better time to try it than the middle of the night。 doors and windows are more likely to be open; and if you are caught; you can always pretend you werent meaning to go far and had no particular plans。 (it is very hard to make either giants or grown…ups believe this if youre found climbing out of a bedroom window at one oclock in the morning。)
〃we must put them off their guard; though;〃 said scrubb。 〃we must pretend we love being here and are longing for this autumn feast。”
〃thats tomorrow night;〃 said puddleglum。 〃i heard one of them say so。”
〃i see;〃 said jill。 〃we must pretend to be awfully excited about it; and keep on asking questions。 they think were absolute infants anyway; which will make it easier。”
〃gay;〃 said puddleglum with a deep sigh。 〃thats what weve got to be。 gay。 as if we hadnt a care in the world。 frolicsome。 you two youngsters havent always got very high spirits; ive noticed。 you must watch me; and do as i do。 ill be gay。 like this〃 … and he assumed a ghastly grin。 〃and frolicsome〃 … here he cut a most mournful caper。 〃youll
soon get into it; if you keep your eyes on me。 they think im a funny fellow already; you see。 i dare say you two thought i was a trifle tipsy last night; but i do assure you it was … well; most of it was … put on。 i had an idea it would e in useful; somehow。”
the children; when they talked over their adventures afterwards; could never feel sure whether this last statement was quite strictly true; but they were sure that puddleglum thought it was true when he made it。
〃all right。 gays the word;〃 said scrubb。 〃now; if we could only get someone to open this door。 while were fooling about and being gay; weve got to find out all we can about this castle。”
luckily; at that very moment the door opened; and the giant nurse bustled in saying; 〃now; my poppets。 like to e and see the king and all the court setting out on the hunting? such a pretty sight!”
they lost no time in rushing out past her and climbing down the first staircase they came to。 the noise of hounds and horns and giant voices guided them; so that in a few minutes they reached the courtyard。 the giants were all on foot; for there are no giant horses in that part of the world; and the giants hunting is done on foot; like beagling in england。
the hounds were also of normal size。 when jill saw that there were no horses she was at first dreadfully disappointed; for she felt sure that the great fat queen would never go after hounds on foot; and it would never do to have her about the house all day。 but then she saw the queen in a kind of litter supported on the shoulders of six young giants。 the silly old creature was all got up in green and had a horn at her side。
twenty or thirty giants; including the king; were assembled; ready for the sport; all talking and laughing fit to deafen you: and down below; nearer jills level; there were wagging tails; and barking; and loose; slobbery mouths and noses of dogs thrust into your hand。 puddleglum was just beginning to strike what he thought a gay and gamesome attitude (which might have spoiled everything if it had been noticed) when jill put on her most attractively childish smile; rushed across to the queens litter and shouted up to the queen。
〃oh; please! youre not going away; are you? you will e back?”
〃yes; my dear;〃 said the queen。 〃ill be back tonight。”
〃oh; good。 how lovely!〃 said jill。 〃and we may e to the feast tomorrow night; maynt we? were so longing for tomorrow night! and we do love being here。 and while youre out; we may run over the whole castle and see everything; maynt we? do say yes。”
the queen did say yes; but the laughter of all the courtiers nearly drowned her voice。
m。
CHAPTER NINE
生?
how they discovered something worth knowing the others admitted afterwards that jill