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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)

The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

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there with my feet like ice and my nose fair p<strong>in</strong>ched <strong>of</strong>f me with the w<strong>in</strong>d, and my 'ands<br />

that numb I couldn't 'ardly 'old the re<strong>in</strong>s?"<br />

"It was a hard, cruel country," said Strawberry. "<strong>The</strong>re was no grass. All hard stones."<br />

"Too true, mate, too true!" said the Cabby. "A 'ard world it was. I always did say those<br />

pav<strong>in</strong>g-stones weren't fair on any 'oss. That's Lunn'on, that is. I didn't like it no more than<br />

what you did. You were a country 'oss, and I was a country man. Used to s<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the<br />

choir, I did, down at 'ome. But there wasn't a liv<strong>in</strong>g for me there."<br />

"Oh please, please," said Digory. "Could we get on? <strong>The</strong> Lion's gett<strong>in</strong>g further and<br />

further away. And I do want to speak to him so dreadfully badly."<br />

"Look 'ere, Strawberry," said the Cabby. "This young gen'leman 'as someth<strong>in</strong>g on his<br />

m<strong>in</strong>d that he wants to talk to the Lion about; 'im you call Aslan. Suppose you was to let<br />

'im ride on your back (which 'e'd take it very k<strong>in</strong>dly) and trot 'im over to where the Lion<br />

is. And me and the little girl will be follow<strong>in</strong>g along."<br />

"Ride?" said Strawberry. "Oh, I remember now. That means sitt<strong>in</strong>g on my back. I<br />

remember there used to be a little one <strong>of</strong> you two-leggers who used to do that long ago.<br />

He used to have little hard, square lumps <strong>of</strong> some white stuff that he gave me. <strong>The</strong>y<br />

tasted - oh, wonderful, sweeter than grass."<br />

"Ah, that'd be sugar," said the Cabby.<br />

"Please, Strawberry," begged Digory, "do, do let me get up and take me to Aslan."<br />

"Well, I don't m<strong>in</strong>d," said the Horse. "Not for once <strong>in</strong> a way. Up you get."<br />

"Good old Strawberry," said the Cabby. "'Ere, young 'un, I'll give you a lift." Digory was<br />

soon on Strawberry's back, and quite comfortable, for he had ridden bare-back before on<br />

his own pony.<br />

"Now, do gee up, Strawberry," he said.<br />

"You don't happen to have a bit <strong>of</strong> that white stuff about you, I suppose?" said the Horse.<br />

"No. I'm afraid I haven't," said Digory.<br />

"Well, it can't be helped," said Strawberry, and <strong>of</strong>f they went.<br />

At that moment a large Bulldog, who had been sniff<strong>in</strong>g and star<strong>in</strong>g very hard, said:<br />

"Look. Isn't there another <strong>of</strong> these queer creatures over there, beside the river, under the<br />

trees?"

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