w　w　w/xiao　shu　otx　t
  CHAPTER　SEVEN
  澶А〃鐢煟哄皬。。璇础＄綉
  aravis　in　tashbaan　　what　had　really　happened　was　this。　when　aravis　saw　shasta　hurried　away　by　　the　narnians　and　found　herself　alone　with　two　horses　who　（very　wisely）　wouldnt　　say　a　word；　she　never　lost　her　head　even　for　a　moment。　she　grabbed　brees　halter　and　　stood　still；　holding　both　the　horses；　and　though　her　heart　was　beating　as　hard　as　a　　hammer；　she　did　nothing　to　show　it。　as　soon　as　the　narnian　lords　had　passed　she　tried　to　　move　on　again。
  but　before　she　could　take　a　step；　another　crier　（〃bother　all　these　people〃　　thought　aravis）
  was　heard　shouting　out；　〃way；　way；　way！　way　for　the　tarkheena　lasaraleen！〃　　and　immediately；　following　the　crier；　came　four　armed　slaves　and　then　four　　bearers　carrying　a　litter　which　was　all　a…flutter　with　silken　curtains　and　all　a…jingle　with　　silver　bells　and　which　scented　the　whole　street　with　perfumes　and　flowers。　after　the　litter；　　female　slaves　in　beautiful　clothes；　and　then　a　few　grooms；　runners；　pages；　and　the　like。　　and　now　aravis　made　her　first　mistake。
  she　knew　lasaraleen　quite　well　…　almost　as　if　they　had　been　at　school　　together　…　because　they　had　often　stayed　in　the　same　houses　and　been　to　the　same　parties。　and　　aravis　couldnt　help　looking　up　to　see　what　lasaraleen　looked　like　now　that　she　　was　married　and　a　very　great　person　indeed。
  it　was　fatal。　the　eyes　of　the　two　girls　met。　and　immediately　lasaraleen　sat　　up　in　the　litter　and　burst　out　at　the　top　of　her　voice。
  〃aravis！　what　on　earth　are　you　doing　here？　your　father…鈥?br />
  there　was　not　a　moment　to　lose。　without　a　seconds　delay　aravis　let　go　the　　horses；　caught　the　edge　of　the　litter；　swung　herself　up　beside　lasaraleen　and　　whispered　furiously　in　her　ear。
  〃shut　up！　do　you　hear！　shut　up。　you　must　hide　me。　tell　your　people…鈥?br />
  〃but　darling…〃　began　lasaraleen　in　the　same　loud　voice。　（she　didnt　in　the　　least　mind　making　people　stare；　in　fact　she　rather　liked　it。）
  〃do　what　i　tell　you　or　ill　never　speak　to　you　again；〃　hissed　aravis。　　〃please；　please　be　quick；　las。　its　frightfully　important。　tell　your　people　to　bring　those　two　　horses　along。
  pull　all　the　curtains　of　the　litter　and　get　away　somewhere　where　i　cant　be　　found。　and　do　hurry。鈥?br />
  〃all　right；　darling；〃　said　lasaraleen　in　her　lazy　voice。　〃here。　two　of　you　　take　the　tarkheenas　horses。〃　（this　was　to　the　slaves。）　〃and　now　home。　i　say；　　darling；　do　you　think　we　really　want　the　curtains　drawn　on　a　day　like　this？　i　mean　to　say…鈥?br />
  but　aravis　had　already　drawn　the　curtains；　enclosing　lasaraleen　and　herself　　in　a　rich　and　scented；　but　rather　stuffy；　kind　of　tent。
  〃i　mustnt　be　seen；〃　〃she　said。　〃my　father　doesnt　know　im　here。　im　　running　away。鈥?br />
  〃my　dear；　how　perfectly　thrilling；〃　said　lasaraleen。　〃im　dying　to　hear　all　　about　it。
  darling；　youre　sitting　on　my　dress。　do　you　mind？　thats　better。　it　is　a　　new　one。　do　you　like　it？　i　got　it　at…鈥?br />
  〃oh；　las；　do　be　serious；〃　said　aravis。　〃where　is　my　father？鈥?br />
  〃didnt　you　know？〃　said　lasaraleen。　〃hes　here；　of　course。　he　came　to　town　　yesterday　and　is　asking　about　you　everywhere。　and　to　think　of　you　and　me　being　here　　together　and　his　not　knowing　anything　about　it！　its　the　funniest　thing　i　ever　heard。〃　　and　she　went　off　into　giggles。　she　always　had　been　a　terrible　giggler；　as　aravis　now　　remembered。
  〃it　isnt　funny　at　all；〃　she　said。　〃its　dreadfully　serious。　where　can　you　　hide　me？鈥?br />
  〃no　difficulty　at　all；　my　dear　girl；〃　said　lasaraleen。　〃ill　take　you　home。　　my　husbands　away　and　no　one　will　see　you。　phew！　its　not　much　fun　with　the　curtains　　drawn。　i　want　to　see　people。　theres　no　point　in　having　a　new　dress　on　if　ones　to　go　about　　shut　up　like　this。鈥?br />
  〃i　hope　no　one　heard　you　when　you　shouted　out　to　me　like　that；〃　said　　aravis。
  〃no；　no；　of　course；　darling；〃　said　lasaraleen　absentmindedly。　〃but　you　　havent　even　told　me　yet　what　you　think　of　the　dress。鈥?br />
  〃another　thing；〃　said　aravis。　〃you　must　tell　your　people　to　treat　those　two　　horses　very　respectfully。　thats　part　of　the　secret。　theyre　really　talking　horses　from　　narnia。鈥?br />
  〃fancy！〃　said　lasaraleen。　〃how　exciting！　and　oh；　darling；　have　you　seen　the　　barbarian　queen　from　narnia？　shes　staying　in　tashbaan　at　present。　they　say　prince　　rsh　is　madly　in　love　with　her。　there　have　been　the　most　wonderful　parties　and　　hunts　and　things　all　this　last　fortnight。　i　cant　see　that　shes　so　very　pretty　myself。　but　　some　of　the　narnian　men　are　lovely。　i　was　taken　out　on　a　river　party　the　day　before　yesterday；　　and　i　was　wearing　my…鈥?br />
  〃how　shall　we　prevent　your　people　telling　everyone　that　youve　got　a　　visitor　…　dressed　like　a　beggars　brat　…　in　your　house？　it　might　so　easily　get　round　to　my　　father。鈥?br />
  〃now　dont　keep　on　fussing；　theres　a　dear；〃　said　lasaraleen。　〃well　get　　you　some　proper　clothes　in　a　moment。　and　here　we　are！鈥?br />
  the　bearers　had　stopped　and　the　litter　was　being　lowered。　when　the　curtains　　had　been　drawn　aravis　found　that　she　was　in　a　courtyard…garden　very　like　the　one　　that　shasta　had　been　taken　into　a　few　minutes　earlier　in　another　part　of　the　city。　　lasaraleen　would　have　gone　indoors　at　once　but　aravis　reminded　her　in　a　frantic　whisper　to　say　　something　to　the　slaves　about　not　telling　anyone　of　their　mistresss　strange　visitor。
  〃sorry；　darling；　it　had　gone　right　out　of　my　head；〃　said　lasareleen。　〃here。　　all　of　you。
  and　you；　doorkeeper。　no　one　is　to　be　let　out　of　the　house　today。　and　anyone　　i　catch　talking　about　this　young　lady　will　be　first　beaten　to　death　and　then　burned　　alive　and　after　that　be　kept　on　bread　and　water　for　six　weeks。　there。鈥?br />
  although　lasaraleen　had　said　she　was　dying　to　hear　araviss　story；　she　　showed　no　sign　of　really　wanting　to　hear　it　at　all。　she　was；　in　fact；　much　better　at　talking　　than　at　listening。
  she　insisted　on　aravis　having　a　long　and　luxurious　bath　（calormene　baths　　are　famous）
  and　then　dressing　her　up　in　the　finest　clothes　before　she　would　let　her　　explain　anything。
  the　fuss　she　made　about　choosing　the　dresses　nearly　drove　aravis　mad。　she　　remembered　now　that　lasaraleen　had　always　been　like　that；　interested　in　clothes　and　　parties　and　gossip。　aravis　had　always　been　more　interested　in　bows　and　arrows　and　　horses　and　dogs　and　swimming。　you　will　guess　that　each　thought　the　other　silly。　but　when　at　　last　they　were　both　seated　after　a　meal　（it　was　chiefly　of　the　whipped　cream　and　　jelly　and　fruit　and　ice　sort）　in　a　beautiful　pillared　room　（which　aravis　would　have　liked　　better　if　lasaraleens　spoiled　pet　monkey　hadnt　been　climbing　about　it　all　the　time）　　lasaraleen　at　last　asked　her　why　she　was　running　away　from　home。
  when　aravis　had　finished　telling　her　story；　lasaraleen　said；　〃but；　darling；　　why　dont　you　marry　ahoshta　tarkaan？　everyones　crazy　about　him。　my　husband　says　he　is　　beginning　to　be　one　of　the　greatest　men　in　calormen。　he　has　just　been　made　grand　　vizier　now　old　axartha　has　died。　didnt　you　know？鈥?br />
  〃i　dont　care。　i　cant　stand　the　sight　of　him；〃　said　aravis。
  〃but；　darling；　only　think！　three　palaces；　and　one　of　them　that　beautiful　　one　down　on　the　lake　at　ilkeen。　positively　ropes　of　pearls；　im　told。　baths　of　asses　milk。　　and　youd　see　such　a　lot　of　me。鈥?br />
  〃he　can　keep　his　pearls　and　palaces　as　far　as　im　concerned；〃　said　aravis。
  〃you　always　were　a　queer　girl；　aravis；〃　said　lasaraleen。　〃what　more　do　you　　want？鈥?br />
  in　the　end；　however；　aravis　managed　to　make　her　friend　believe　that　she　was　　in　earnest　and　even　to　discuss　plans。　there　would　be　no　difficulty　now　about　getting　　the　two　horses　out　of　the　north　gate　and　then　on　to　the　tombs。　no　one　would　stop　or　　question　a　groom　in　fine　clothes　leading　a　war　horse　and　a　ladys　saddle　horse　down　to　the　　river；　and　lasaraleen　had　plenty　of　grooms　to　send。　it　wasnt　so　easy　to　decide　what　　to　do　about　aravis　herself。　she　suggested　that　she　could　be　carried　out　in　the　litter　　with　the　curtains　drawn。　but　lasaraleen　told　her　that　litters　were　only　used　in　the　city　and　　the　sight　of　one　going　out　through　the　gate　would　be　certain　to　lead　to　questions。
  when　they　had　talked　for　a　long　time　…　and　it　was　all　the　longer　because　　aravis　found　it　hard　to　keep　her　friend　to　the　point…at　last　lasaraleen　clapped　her　hands　　and　said；　〃oh；　i　have　an　idea。　there　is　one　way　of　getting　out　of　the　city　without　using　the　　gates。　the　tisrocs　garden　（may　he　live　for　ever！）　runs　right　down　to　the　water　and　　there　is　a　little　water…door。　only　for　the　palace　people　of　course　…　but　then　you　know；　dear　　（here　she　tittered　a　little）　we　almost　are　palace　people。　i　say；　it　is　lucky　for　you　　that　you　came　to　me。　the　dear　tisroc　（may　he　live　for　ever！）　is　so　kind。　were　asked　to　the　　palace　almost　every　day　and　it　is　like　a　second　home。　i　love　all　the　dear　princes　and　　princesses　and　i　positively　adore　prince　rsh。　i　might　run　in　and　see　any　of　the　palace　　ladies　at　any　hour　of　the　day　or　night。　why　shouldnt　i　slip　in　withyou；　after　dark；　and　　let　you　out　by　the　water…door？　there　are　always　a　few　punts　and　things　tied　up　outside　it。　　and　even　if　we　were　caught…鈥?br />
  〃all　would　be　lost；〃　said　aravis。
  〃oh　darling；　dont　get　so　excited；〃　said　lasaraleen。　〃i　was　going　to　say；　　even　if　we　were　caught　everyone　would　only　say　it　was　one　of　my　mad　jokes。　im　getting　　quite　well　known　for　them