Trust: The Magician's Nephew

Chapter 9

Next minute she came tumbling into the noise, heat, and hot smells of street she had been standing in before the whole adventure.

She were on the pavement outside the Ketterley's front door, and except that the Witch, the Horse, and the Cabby were gone, everything was exactly as it had been when they left.

There was the lamp-post, with one arm missing, there was the wreck of the hansom cab, and there was the crowd. Everyone was still talking and people were kneeling beside the damaged policeman, saying things like, "He's coming round" or "How do you feel now, old chap?" or "The Ambulance will be here in a jiffy".

"Great Scott!" Digory said, "I believe the whole adventure's taken no time at all."

Most people were wildly looking round for Jadis and the horse. No one took any notice of the children for no one had seen them go or noticed them coming back.

As for Uncle Andrew, what between the state of his clothes and the honey on his face, he could not have been recognised by anyone. Fortunately, the front door of the house was open and the housemaid was standing in the doorway staring at the fun so the children had no difficulty in bustling Uncle Andrew indoors before anyone asked any questions.

He raced up the stairs before them and at first they were very afraid he was heading for his attic and meant to hide his remaining magic rings. But they needn't have bothered. What he was thinking about was the bottle in his wardrobe, and he disappeared at once into his bedroom and locked the door. When he came out again he was in his dressing gown and made straight for the bathroom.

"Can you get the other rings, Poll, Lili?" Digory asked. "I want to go to Mother."

"Right. See you later," Polly said before both girls clattered up the attic stairs.

When they reached the study they both put gloves on their hands and picked up the rings and placed them into a bag that was in the room.

Once the rings were in the bag the girls went down the stairs and Polly took the rings back to her house and Liliana went over to where Mrs Kirke's room was and stood by the door.

That evening Digory and Liliana buried the core of the Apple in the back garden.

Next morning when the Doctor made his usual visit, the two of them leaned over the banisters to listen. They heard the Doctor come out with Aunt Letty and say:

"Miss Ketterley, this is the most extraordinary case I have known in my whole medical career. It is — it is like a miracle. I wouldn't tell the little boy anything at present; we don't want to raise any false hopes. But in my opinion –" then his voice became too low to hear.

That afternoon they went down the garden and Digory whistled their agreed secret signal for Polly.

"What luck?" Polly said, looking over the wall. "I mean, about your Mother?"

"I think — I think it is going to be alright," Digory said. "But if you don't mind I'd really rather not talk about it yet. What about the rings?"

"I've got them all," Polly said. "Look, it's alright, I'm wearing gloves. Let's bury them."

"Yes, let's." Liliana said, "I've marked the place where we buried the core of the Apple yesterday."

Then Polly came over the wall and they went together to the place.

But, as it turned out, Liliana need not have marked the place. Something was already coming up.

It was not growing so that you could see it grow as the new trees had done in Narnia; but it was already well above ground. They got a trowel and buried all the magic rings, including their own ones, in a circle round it.

About a week after this it was quite certain that Digory's Mother was getting better.

About a fortnight later she was able to sit out in the garden.

And a month later that whole house had become a different place.

Aunt Letty did everything that Mother liked; windows were opened, frowsy curtains were drawn back to brighten up the rooms, there were new flowers everywhere, and nicer things to eat, and the old piano was tuned and Mother took up her singing again, and had such games with Digory, Polly and Liliana that Aunt Letty would say "I declare, Mabel, you're the biggest baby of the four."

When things go wrong, you'll find they usually go on getting worse for some time; but when things once start going right they often go on getting better and better. After about six weeks of this lovely life there came a long letter from Digory's father in India, which had wonderful news in it.

Old Great-Uncle Kirke had died and this meant, apparently, that Father was now very rich. He was going to retire and come home from India forever and ever.

And the great big house in the country, which Digory had heard of all his life and never seen would now be their home; the big house with the suits of armour, the stables, the kennels, the river, the park, the hot-houses, the vineries, the woods, and the mountains behind it. So that Digory felt just as sure as you that they were all going to live happily ever after.

Polly, Digory and Liliana were always great friends and Polly came nearly every holidays to stay with them at their beautiful house in the country; and that was where she learned to ride and swim and milk and bake and climb.

When Digory and his people went to live in the big country house, they took Uncle Andrew to live with them; for Digory's father said, "We must try to keep the old fellow out of mischief, and it isn't fair that poor Letty should have him always on her hands."

Uncle Andrew never tried any Magic again as long as he lived. He had learned his lesson, and in his old age he became a nicer and less selfish old man than he had ever been before.

The tree which sprang from the Apple that Digory and Liliana planted in the back garden, lived and grew into a fine tree. However, when Digory was quite middle aged and the Ketterley's old house belonged to him, which he had then given to Liliana, there was a great storm which blew the tree down.

He couldn't bear to have it simply chopped up for firewood, so he had part of the timber made into a wardrobe, which he put in his big house in the country.

Liliana lived a happy life in the Kirke's big house. And after many years she moved into the Ketterley's old house so she could have a life of her own. However when she was much older she moved back in with Digory.

Liliana never looked back on her decision to stay with Digory and Polly. The one thing she disliked was that her powers never worked. But what she didn't know was that was what kept her always healthy along with her daughter and granddaughter.

Her daughter lived a sad life, always taking off other people and as for her granddaughter, well her tale is yet to come.