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The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

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"But what are we to do?" said Susan. She felt that the conversation was beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g to get<br />

<strong>of</strong>f the po<strong>in</strong>t.<br />

"My dear young lady," said the Pr<strong>of</strong>essor, suddenly look<strong>in</strong>g up with a very sharp<br />

expression at both <strong>of</strong> them, "there is one plan which no one has yet suggested and which<br />

is well worth try<strong>in</strong>g."<br />

"What's that?" said Susan.<br />

"We might all try m<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g our own bus<strong>in</strong>ess," said he. And that was the end <strong>of</strong> that<br />

conversation.<br />

After this th<strong>in</strong>gs were a good deal better for Lucy. Peter saw to it that Edmund stopped<br />

jeer<strong>in</strong>g at her, and neither she nor anyone else felt <strong>in</strong>cl<strong>in</strong>ed to talk about the wardrobe at<br />

all. It had become a rather alarm<strong>in</strong>g subject. And so for a time it looked as if all the<br />

adventures were com<strong>in</strong>g to an end; but that was not to be.<br />

This house <strong>of</strong> the Pr<strong>of</strong>essor's - which even he knew so little about - was so old and<br />

famous that people from all over England used to come and ask permission to see over it.<br />

It was the sort <strong>of</strong> house that is mentioned <strong>in</strong> guide books and even <strong>in</strong> histories; and well it<br />

might be, for all manner <strong>of</strong> stories were told about it, some <strong>of</strong> them even stranger than the<br />

one I am tell<strong>in</strong>g you now. And when parties <strong>of</strong> sightseers arrived and asked to see the<br />

house, the Pr<strong>of</strong>essor always gave them permission, and Mrs Macready, the housekeeper,<br />

showed them round, tell<strong>in</strong>g them about the pictures and the armour, and the rare books <strong>in</strong><br />

the library. Mrs Macready was not fond <strong>of</strong> children, and did not like to be <strong>in</strong>terrupted<br />

when she was tell<strong>in</strong>g visitors all the th<strong>in</strong>gs she knew. She had said to Susan and Peter<br />

almost on the first morn<strong>in</strong>g (along with a good many other <strong>in</strong>structions), "And please<br />

remember you're to keep out <strong>of</strong> the way whenever I'm tak<strong>in</strong>g a party over the house."<br />

"Just as if any <strong>of</strong> us would want to waste half the morn<strong>in</strong>g trail<strong>in</strong>g round with a crowd <strong>of</strong><br />

strange grown-ups!" said Edmund, and the other three thought the same. That was how<br />

the adventures began for the second time.<br />

A few morn<strong>in</strong>gs later Peter and Edmund were look<strong>in</strong>g at the suit <strong>of</strong> armour and<br />

wonder<strong>in</strong>g if they could take it to bits when the two girls rushed <strong>in</strong>to the room and said,<br />

"Look out! Here comes the Macready and a whole gang with her."<br />

"Sharp's the word," said Peter, and all four made <strong>of</strong>f through the door at the far end <strong>of</strong> the<br />

room. But when they had got out <strong>in</strong>to the Green Room and beyond it, <strong>in</strong>to the Library,<br />

they suddenly heard voices ahead <strong>of</strong> them, and realized that Mrs Macready must be<br />

br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g her party <strong>of</strong> sightseers up the back stairs - <strong>in</strong>stead <strong>of</strong> up the front stairs as they<br />

had expected. And after that - whether it was that they lost their heads, or that Mrs<br />

Macready was try<strong>in</strong>g to catch them, or that some magic <strong>in</strong> the house had come to life and<br />

was chas<strong>in</strong>g them <strong>in</strong>to <strong>Narnia</strong> they seemed to f<strong>in</strong>d themselves be<strong>in</strong>g followed<br />

everywhere, until at last Susan said, "Oh bother those trippers! Here - let's get <strong>in</strong>to the

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