In the Witch’s house

           AndnowofcourseyouwanttoknowwhathadhappenedtoEdmund.Hehadeatenhisshareofthedinner,buthehadn’treallyenjoyeditbecausehewasthinkingallthetimeaboutTurkishDelight-andthere’snothingthatspoilsthetasteofgoodordinaryfoodhalfsomuchasthememoryofbadmagicfood.Andhehadheardtheconversation,andhadn’tenjoyeditmucheither,becausehekeptonthinkingthattheothersweretakingnonoticeofhimandtryingtogivehimthecoldshoulder.Theyweren’t,butheimaginedit.AndthenhehadlisteneduntilMrBeavertoldthemaboutAslananduntilhehadheardthewholearrangementformeetingAslanattheStoneTable.Itwasthenthathebeganveryquietlytoedgehimselfunderthecurtainwhichhungoverthedoor.ForthementionofAslangavehimamysteriousandhorriblefeelingjustasitgavetheothersamysteriousandlovelyfeeling.

           JustasMrBeaverhadbeenrepeatingtherhymeaboutAdam’sfleshandAdam’sboneEdmundhadbeenveryquietlyturningthedoorhandle;andjustbeforeMrBeaverhadbeguntellingthemthattheWhiteWitchwasn’treallyhumanatallbuthalfaJinnandhalfagiantess,Edmundhadgotoutsideintothesnowandcautiouslyclosedthedoorbehindhim.

           Youmustn’tthinkthatevennowEdmundwasquitesobadthatheactuallywantedhisbrotherandsisterstobeturnedintostone.HedidwantTurkishDelightandtobeaPrince(andlateraKing)andtopayPeteroutforcallinghimabeast.AsforwhattheWitchwoulddowiththeothers,hedidn’twanthertobeparticularlynicetothem-certainlynottoputthemonthesamelevelashimself;buthemanagedtobelieve,ortopretendhebelieved,thatshewouldn’tdoanythingverybadtothem,"Because,"hesaidtohimself,"allthesepeoplewhosaynastythingsaboutherareherenemiesandprobablyhalfofitisn’ttrue.Shewasjollynicetome,anyway,muchnicerthantheyare.IexpectsheistherightfulQueenreally.