The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

almost hear the trees growing) and full of life: this was a dead, cold, empty silence. You
couldn't imagine anything growing in it.
"Let's go home," said Polly.
"But we haven't seen anything yet," said Digory. "Now we're here, we simply must have
a look round."
"I'm sure there's nothing at all interesting here."
"There's not much point in finding a magic ring that lets you into other worlds if you're
afraid to look at them when you've got there."
"Who's talking about being afraid?" said Polly, letting go of Digory's hand.
"I only thought you didn't seem very keen on exploring this place."
"I'll go anywhere you go."
"We can get away the moment we want to," said Digory. "Let's take off our green rings
and put them in our right-hand pockets. All we've got to do is to remember that our
yellow are in our left-hand pockets. You can keep your hand as near your pocket as you
like, but don't put it in or you'll touch your yellow and vanish."
They did this and went quietly up to one of the big arched doorways which led into the
inside of the building. And when they stood on the threshold and could look in, they saw
it was not so dark inside as they had thought at first. It led into a vast, shadowy hall
which appeared to be empty; but on the far side there was a row of pillars with arches
between them and through those arches there streamed in some more of the same tiredlooking
light. They crossed the hall, walking very carefully for fear of holes in the floor
or of anything lying about that they might trip over. It seemed a long walk. When they
had reached the other side they came out through the arches and found themselves in
another and larger courtyard.
"That doesn't look very safe," said Polly, pointing at a place where the wall bulged
outward and looked as if it were ready to fall over into the courtyard. In one place a pillar
was missing between two arches and the bit that came down to where the top of the pillar
ought to have been hung there with nothing to support it. Clearly, the place had been
deserted for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years.
"If it's lasted till now, I suppose it'll last a bit longer," said Digory. "But we must be very
quiet. You know a noise sometimes brings things down - like an avalanche in the Alps."
They went on out of that courtyard into another doorway, and up a great flight of steps
and through vast rooms that opened out of one another till you were dizzy with the mere
size of the place. Every now and then they thought they were going to get out into the