Aslan is nearer

           Edmundmeanwhilehadbeenhavingamostdisappointingtime.WhenthedwarfhadgonetogetthesledgereadyheexpectedthattheWitchwouldstartbeingnicetohim,asshehadbeenattheirlastmeeting.Butshesaidnothingatall.AndwhenatlastEdmundpluckeduphiscouragetosay,"Please,yourMajesty,couldIhavesomeTurkishDelight?You-you-said-"sheanswered,"Silence,fool!"Thensheappearedtochangehermindandsaid,asiftoherself,a"Andyetitwillnotdotohavethebratfaintingontheway,"andoncemoreclappedherhands.Another,dwarfappeared.

           "Bringthehumancreaturefoodanddrink,"shesaid.

           Thedwarfwentawayandpresentlyreturnedbringinganironbowlwithsomewaterinitandanironplatewithahunkofdrybreadonit.HegrinnedinarepulsivemannerashesetthemdownonthefloorbesideEdmundandsaid:

           "TurkishDelightforthelittlePrince.Ha!Ha!Ha!"

           "Takeitaway,"saidEdmundsulkily."Idon’twantdrybread."ButtheWitchsuddenlyturnedonhimwithsuchaterribleexpressiononherfacethathe,apologizedandbegantonibbleatthebread,though,itwassostalehecouldhardlygetitdown.

           "Youmaybegladenoughofitbeforeyoutastebreadagain,"saidtheWitch.

           Whilehewasstillchewingawaythefirstdwarfcamebackandannouncedthatthesledgewasready.TheWhiteWitchroseandwentout,orderingEdmundtogowithher.Thesnowwasagainfallingastheycameintothecourtyard,butshetooknonoticeofthatandmadeEdmundsitbesideheronthesledge.ButbeforetheydroveoffshecalledMaugrimandhecameboundinglikeanenormousdogtothesideofthesledge.