She was obviously running fast before a gay wind, listing over a little on her port side.

(By the way, if you are going to read this story at all, and if you don't know already, you had better get it into your head that the left of a ship when you are looking ahead, is port , and the right is starboard . ) All the sunlight fell on her from that side, and the water on that side was full of greens and purples.

On the other, it was darker blue from the shadow of the ship.

"The question is, "said Edmund, "whether it doesn't make things worse, looking at a Narnian ship when you can't get there. " "Even looking is better than nothing, "said Lucy. "And she is such a very Narnian ship. " "Still playing your old game ?"said Eustace Clarence, who had been listening outside the door and now came grinning into the room.

Last year, when he had been staying with the Pevensies, he had managed to hear them all talking of Narnia and he loved teasing them about it.

He thought of course that they were making it all up;and as he was far too stupid to make anything up himself, he did not approve of that.

"You're not wanted here, "said Edmund curtly.

"I'm trying to think of a limerick, "said Eustace. "Something like this: "Some kids who played games about Narnia Got gradually balmier and balmier--" "Well Narnia and balmier don't rhyme, to begin with, "said Lucy.

"It's an assonance, "said Eustace.

"Don't ask him what an assy-thingummy is, "said Edmund. "He's only longing to be asked. Say nothing and perhaps he'll go away. " Most boys, on meeting a reception like this, would either have cleared out or flared up. Eustace did neither.