The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

A PARLIAMENT OF OWLS
IT is a very funny thing that the sleepier you are, the longer you take about getting to bed;
especially if you are lucky enough to have a fire in your room. Jill felt she couldn't even
start undressing unless she sat down in front of the fire for a bit first. And once she had
sat down, she didn't want to get up again. She had already said to herself about five times,
"I must go to bed", when she was startled by a tap on the window.
She got up, pulled the curtain, and at first saw nothing but darkness. Then she jumped
and started backwards, for something very large had dashed itself against the window,
giving a sharp tap on the glass as. it did so. A very unpleasant idea came into her head -
"Suppose they have giant moths in this country! Ugh!" But then the thing came back, and
this time she was almost sure she saw a beak, and that the beak had made that tapping
noise. "It's some huge bird," thought Jill. "Could it be an eagle?" She didn't very much
want a visit even from an eagle, but she opened the window and looked out. Instantly,
with a great whirring noise, the creature alighted on the window-sill and stood there
filling up the whole window, so that Jill had to step back to make room for it. It was the
Owl.
"Hush, hush! Tu-whoo, tu-whoo," said the Owl. "Don't make a noise. Now, are you two
really in earnest about what you've got to do?"
"About the lost Prince, you mean?" said Jill. "Yes, we've got to be." For now she
remembered the Lion's voice and face, which she had nearly forgotten during the feasting
and story-telling in the hall.
"Good!" said the Owl. "Then there's no time to waste.
You must get away from here at once. I'll go and wake the other human. Then I'll come
back for you. You'd better change those court clothes and put on something you can
travel in. I'll be back in two twos. Tu-whoo!" And without waiting for an answer, he was
gone.
If Jill had been more used to adventures, she might have doubted the Owl's word, but this
never occurred to her: and in the exciting idea of a midnight escape she forgot her
sleepiness. She changed back into sweater and shorts there was a guide's knife on the belt
of the shorts which might come in useful - and added a few of the things that had been
left in the room for her by the girl with the willowy hair. She chose a short cloak that
came down to her knees and had a hood ("just the thing, if it rains," she thought), a few
handkerchiefs and a comb. Then she sat down and waited.
She was getting sleepy again when the Owl returned.
"Now we're ready," it said.