CHAPTER FOURTEEN HOW BREE BECAME A WISER HORSE（第4/4页）

"I suppose Aslan would say that was part of someone else's story,"said Aravis.

"I was forgetting that," said Cor.

"And I wonder how the prophecy will work out," said Aravis, "and what the great danger is that you're to save Archenland from."

"Well," said Cor rather awkwardly, "they seem to think I've done it already."

Aravis clapped her hands. "Why, of course !"she said. "How stupid I am. And how wonderful ! Archenland can never be in much greater danger than it was when Rabadash had crossed the Arrow with his two hundred horse and you hadn t yet got through with your message.Don t you feel proud ?"

"I think I feel a bit scared," said Cor.

"And you'll be living at Anvard now," said Aravis rather wistfully.

"Oh !" said Cor, "I'd nearly forgotten what I came about. Father wants you to come and live with us. He says there s been no lady in the court (they call it the court, I don t know why) since Mother died. Do, Aravis. You ll like Father—and Corin. They re not like me;they ve been properly brought up. You needn t be afraid that—"

"Oh stop it," said Aravis, "or we'll have a real fight. Of course I ll come."

"Now let's go and see the Horses," said Cor. There was a great and joyous meeting between Bree and Cor, and Bree,who was still in a rather subdued frame of mind, agreed to set out for Anvard at once: he and Hwin would cross into Narnia on the following day.All four bade an affectionate farewell to the Hermit and promised that they would soon visit him again.By about the middle of the morning they were on their way. The Horses had expected that Aravis and Cor would ride, but Cor explained that except in war,where everyone must do what he can do best,no one in Narnia or Archenland ever dreamed of mounting a Talking Horse.

This reminded poor Bree again of how little he knew about Narnian customs and what dreadful mistakes he might make. So while Hwin strolled along in a happy dream,Bree got more nervous and more self-conscious with every step he took.

"Buck up, Bree," said Cor. "It's far worse for me than for you. You aren t going to be educated. I shall be learning reading and writing and heraldry and dancing and history and music while you ll be galloping and rolling on the hills of Narnia to your heart s content."

"But that's just the point," groaned Bree."Do Talking Horses roll ? Supposing they don t ? I can t bear to give it up. What do you think, Hwin ?"

"I'm going to roll anyway," said Hwin."I don't suppose any of them will care two lumps of sugar whether you roll or not."

"Are we near that castle ?" said Bree to Cor.

"Round the next bend," said the Prince.

"Well," said Bree,"I'm going to have a good one now: it may be the last.Wait for me a minute."

It was five minutes before he rose again, blowing hard and covered with bits of bracken.

"Now I'm ready," he said in a voice of profound gloom. "Lead on,Prince Cor, Narnia and the North. "

But he looked more like a horse going to a funeral than a long-lost captive returning to home and freedom.