CHAPTER TWELVE THE QUEEN OF UNDERLAND（第5/5页）

The Prince，when he had breath，said，“Gentlemen，I thank you.”Then the three conquerors stood staring at one another and panting，without another word，for a long time. Jill had very wisely sat down and was keeping quiet；she was saying to herself，“I do hope I don’t faint—or blub—or do anything idiotic.”

“My royal mother is avenged,”said Rilian presently. “This is undoubtedly the same worm that I pursued in vain by the fountain in the forest of Narnia，so many years ago. All these years I have been the slave of my mother’s slayer. Yet I am glad，gentlemen， that the foul Witch took to her serpent form at the last. It would not have suited well either with my heart or with my honour to have slain a woman. But look to the lady.”He meant Jill.

“I’m all right，thanks,”said she.

“Damsel,”said the Prince，bowing to her. “You are of a high courage，and therefore，I doubt not，you come of a noble blood in your own world. But come，friends. Here is some wine left. Let us refresh ourselves and each pledge his fellows. After that，to our plans.”

“A jolly good idea，Sir,”said Scrubb.