Everyone was staring solemnly at the Tree when Aslan suddenly swung round his head （scattering golden gleams of light from his mane as he did so） and fixed his large eyes on the children. “What is it， children？” he said， for he caught them in the very act of whispering and nudging one another.
“Oh.Aslan， sir，” said Digory， turning red， “I forgot to tell you. The Witch has already eaten one of those apples， one of the same kind that Tree grew from.” He hadn‘t really said all he was thinking， but Polly at once said it for him （Digory was always much more afraid than she of looking a fool.）“So we thought， Aslan，” she said， “that there must be some mistake， and she can’t really mind the smell of those apples.”
“Why do you think that， Daughter of Eve？” asked theLion.
“Well， she ate one.”
“Child，” he replied， “that is why all the rest are now a horror to her. That is what happens to those who pluck and eat fruits at the wrong time and in the wrong way. The fruit is good， but they loathe it ever after.”
“Oh， I see，” said Polly. “And I suppose because she took it in the wrong way it won‘t work for her. I mean it won’t make her always young and all that？”
