And Digory could say nothing， for tears choked him and he gave up all hopes of saving his Mother’s life； but at the same time he knew that the Lion knew what would have happened， and that there might be things more terrible even than losing someone you love by death. But now Aslan was speaking again， almost in a whisper：
“That is what would have happened， child， with a stolen apple. It is not what will happen now. What I give you now will bring joy. It will not， in your world， give endless life， but it will heal. Go. Pluck her an apple from the Tree.”
For a second Digory could hardly understand. It was as if the whole world had turned inside out and upside down. And then， like someone in a dream， he was walking across to the Tree， and the King and Queen were cheering him and all the creatures were cheering too. He plucked the apple and put it in his pocket. Then he came back to Aslan.
“Please，” he said， “may we go home now？” He had forgotten to say “Thank you” ， but he meant it， and Aslan understood.
