The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

This proved, by the way, another thing about the rings which Uncle Andrew hadn't told
Digory because he didn't know it himself. In order to jump from world to world by one of
those rings you don't need to be wearing or touching it yourself; it is enough if you are
touching someone who is touching it. In that way they work like a magnet; and everyone
knows that if you pick up a pin with a magnet, any other pin which is touching the first
pin will come too.
Now that you saw her in the wood, Queen Jadis looked different. She was much paler
than she had been; so pale that hardly any of her beauty was left. And she was stooped
and seemed to be finding it hard to breathe, as if the air of that place stifled her. Neither
of the children felt in the least afraid of her now.
"Let go! Let go of my hair," said Polly. "What do you mean by it?"
"Here! Let go of her hair. At once," said Digory.
They both turned and struggled with her. They were stronger than she and in a few
seconds they had forced her to let go. She reeled back, panting, and there was a look of
terror in her eyes.
"Quick, Digory!" said Polly. "Change rings and into' the home pool."
"Help! Help! Mercy!" cried the Witch in a faint voice, staggering after them. "Take me
with you. You cannot. mean to leave me in this horrible place. It is killing me."
"It's a reason of State," said Polly spitefully. "Like when you killed all those people in
your own world. Do be quick, Digory." They had put on their green rings, but Digory
said:
"Oh bother! What are we to do?" He couldn't help feeling a little sorry for the Queen.
"Oh don't be such an ass," said Polly. "Ten to one she's only shamming. Do come on."
And then both children plunged into the home pool. "It's a good thing we made that
mark," thought Polly. But as they jumped Digory felt that a large cold finger and thumb
had caught him by the ear. And as they sank down and the confused shapes of our own
world began to appear, the grip of that finger and thumb grew stronger. The Witch was
apparently recovering her strength. Digory struggled and kicked, but it was not of the
least use. In a moment they found themselves in Uncle Andrew's study; and there was
Uncle Andrew himself, staring at the wonderful creature that Digory had brought back
from beyond the world.
And well he might stare. Digory and Polly stared too. There was no doubt that the Witch
had got over her faintness; and now that one saw her in our own world, with ordinary
things around her, she fairly took one's breath away. In Charn she had been alarming
enough: in London, she was terrifying. For one thing, they had not realized till now how
very big she was. "Hardly human" was what Digory thought when he looked at her; and