“What has the Lion ever done for you that you should behis slave？” said the Witch. “What can he do to you once you are back in your own world？ And what would your Mother think if she knew that you could have taken her pain away and given her back her life and saved your Father‘s heart from being broken， and that you wouldn’t.that you‘d rather run messages for a wild animal in a strange world that is no business of yours？”
“I.I don’t think he is a wild animal，” said Digory in a dried.up sort of voice. “He is.I don‘t know.”
“Then he is something worse，” said the Witch. “Look what he has done to you already； look how heartless he has made you. That is what he does to everyone who listens to him. Cruel， pitiless boy！ you would let your own Mother die rather than.”
“Oh， shut up，” said the miserable Digory， still in the same voice. “Do you think I don’t see？ But I.I promised.”
“Ah， but you didn‘t know what you were promising. And no one here can prevent you.”
“Mother herself，” said Digory， getting the words out with difficulty， “wouldn’t like it.awfully strict about keeping promises.and not stealing.and all that sort of thing. She‘d tell me not to do it.quick as anything.if she was here.”
