The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

chaplet of oak leaves, his beard fell to his girdle, and he supported himself with a
curiously carved staff. When he saw Aslan he bowed low and said,
"Welcome, Sir, to the least of your houses."
"Do you grow weary, Coriakin, of ruling such foolish subjects as I have given you here?"
"No," said the Magician, "they are very stupid but there is no real harm in them. I begin
to grow rather fond of the creatures. Sometimes, perhaps, I am a little impatient, waiting
for the day when they can be governed by wisdom instead of this rough magic."
"All in good time, Coriakin," said Aslan.
"Yes, all in very good time, Sir," was the answer. "Do you intend to show yourself to
them?"
"Nay," said the Lion, with a little half-growl that meant (Lucy thought) the same as a
laugh. "I should frighten them out of their senses. Many stars will grow old and come to
take their rest in islands before your people are ripe for that. And today before sunset I
must visit Trumpkin the Dwarf where he sits in the castle of Cair Paravel counting the
days till his master Caspian comes home. I will tell him all your story, Lucy. Do not look
so sad. We shall meet soon again."
"Please, Aslan," said Lucy, "what do you call soon?"
"I call all times soon," said Aslan; and instantly he was vanished away and Lucy was
alone with the Magician.
"Gone!" said he, "and you and I quite crestfallen. It's always like that, you can't keep him;
it's not as if he were a tame lion. And how did you enjoy my book?"
"Parts of it very much indeed," said Lucy. "Did you know I was there all the time?"
"Well, of course I knew when I let the Duffers make themselves invisible that you would
be coming along presently to take the spell off. I wasn't quite sure of the exact day. And I
wasn't especially on the watch this morning. You see they had made me invisible too and
being invisible always makes me so sleepy. Heigh-ho - there I'm yawning again. Are you
hungry?"
"Well, perhaps I am a little," said Lucy. "I've no idea what the time is."
"Come," said the Magician. "All times may be soon to Aslan; but in my home all hungry
times are one o'clock."
He led her a little way down the passage and opened a door. Passing in, Lucy found
herself in a pleasant room full of sunlight and flowers. The table was bare when they