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hat none of them could reach the handle； and that almost certainly no one could turn it if they did。
〃do you think they wont let us out if we ask？〃 said jill。 and nobody said； but everyone thought； 〃supposing they dont。”
it was not a pleasant idea。 puddleglum was dead against any idea of telling the giants their real business and simply asking to be let out； and of course the children couldnt tell without his permission； because they had promised。 and all three felt pretty sure that there would be no chance of escaping from the castle by night。 once they were in their rooms with the doors shut； they would be prisoners till morning。 they might； of course； ask to have their doors left open； but that would rouse suspicions。
〃our only chance；〃 said scrubb； 〃is to try to sneak away by daylight。 mightnt there be an hour in the afternoon when most of the giants are asleep？ … and if we could steal down into the kitchen； mightnt there be a back door open？”
〃its hardly what i call a chance；〃 said the marshwiggle。 〃but its all the chance were likely to get。〃 as a matter of fact； scrubbs plan was not quite so hopeless as you might think。 if you want to get out of a house without being seen； the middle of the afternoon is in some ways a better time to try it than the middle of the night。 doors and windows are more likely to be open； and if you are caught； you can always pretend you werent meaning to go far and had no particular plans。 （it is very hard to make either giants or grown…ups believe this if youre found climbing out of a bedroom window at one oclock in the morning。）
〃we must put them off their guard； though；〃 said scrubb。 〃we must pretend we love being here and are longing for this autumn feast。”
〃thats tomorrow night；〃 said puddleglum。 〃i heard one of them say so。”
〃i see；〃 said jill。 〃we must pretend to be awfully excited about it； and keep on asking questions。 they think were absolute infants anyway； which will make it easier。”
〃gay；〃 said puddleglum with a deep sigh。 〃thats what weve got to be。 gay。 as if we hadnt a care in the world。 frolicsome。 you two youngsters havent always got very high spirits； ive noticed。 you must watch me； and do as i do。 ill be gay。 like this〃 … and he assumed a ghastly grin。 〃and frolicsome〃 … here he cut a most mournful caper。 〃youll
soon get into it； if you keep your eyes on me。 they think im a funny fellow already； you see。 i dare say you two thought i was a trifle tipsy last night； but i do assure you it was … well； most of it was … put on。 i had an idea it would e in useful； somehow。”
the children； when they talked over their adventures afterwards； could never feel sure whether this last statement was quite strictly true； but they were sure that puddleglum thought it was true when he made it。
〃all right。 gays the word；〃 said scrubb。 〃now； if we could only get someone to open this door。 while were fooling about and being gay； weve got to find out all we can about this castle。”
luckily； at that very moment the door opened； and the giant nurse bustled in saying； 〃now； my poppets。 like to e and see the king and all the court setting out on the hunting？ such a pretty sight！”
they lost no time in rushing out past her and climbing down the first staircase they came to。 the noise of hounds and horns and giant voices guided them； so that in a few minutes they reached the courtyard。 the giants were all on foot； for there are no giant horses in that part of the world； and the giants hunting is done on foot； like beagling in england。
the hounds were also of normal size。 when jill saw that there were no horses she was at first dreadfully disappointed； for she felt sure that the great fat queen would never go after hounds on foot； and it would never do to have her about the house all day。 but then she saw the queen in a kind of litter supported on the shoulders of six young giants。 the silly old creature was all got up in green and had a horn at her side。
twenty or thirty giants； including the king； were assembled； ready for the sport； all talking and laughing fit to deafen you： and down below； nearer jills level； there were wagging tails； and barking； and loose； slobbery mouths and noses of dogs thrust into your hand。 puddleglum was just beginning to strike what he thought a gay and gamesome attitude （which might have spoiled everything if it had been noticed） when jill put on her most attractively childish smile； rushed across to the queens litter and shouted up to the queen。
〃oh； please！ youre not going away； are you？ you will e back？”
〃yes； my dear；〃 said the queen。 〃ill be back tonight。”
〃oh； good。 how lovely！〃 said jill。 〃and we may e to the feast tomorrow night； maynt we？ were so longing for tomorrow night！ and we do love being here。 and while youre out； we may run over the whole castle and see everything； maynt we？ do say yes。”
the queen did say yes； but the laughter of all the courtiers nearly drowned her voice。
m。
CHAPTER NINE
生？
how they discovered something worth knowing the others admitted afterwards that jill had been wonderful that day。 as soon as the king and the rest of the hunting party had set off； she began making a tour of the whole castle and asking questions； but all in such an innocent； babyish way that no one could suspect her of any secret design。 though her tongue was never still； you could hardly say she talked： she prattled and giggled。 she made love to everyone … the grooms； the porters； the housemaids； the ladies…in…waiting； and the elderly giant lords whose hunting days were past。 she submitted to being kissed and pawed about by any number of giantesses； many of whom seemed sorry for her and called her 〃a poor little thing〃 though none of them explained why。 she made especial friends with the cook and discovered the all…important fact there was a scullery door which let you out through the outer wall； so that you did not have to cross the courtyard or pass the great gatehouse。 in the kitchen she pretended to be greedy； and ate all sorts of scraps which the cook and scullions delighted to give her。 but upstairs among the ladies she asked questions about how she would be dressed for the great feast； and how long she would be allowed to sit up； and whether she would dance with some very； very small giant。 and then （it made her hot all over when she remembered it afterwards） she would put her head on one side in an idiotic fashion which grown…ups； giant and otherwise； thought very fetching； and shake her curls； and fidget； and say； 〃oh； i do wish it was tomorrow night； dont you？ do you think the time will go quickly till then？〃 and all the giantesses said she was a perfect little darling； and some of them dabbed their eyes with enormous handkerchiefs as if they were going to cry。
〃theyre dear little things at that age；〃 said one giantess to another。 〃it seems almost a pity 。 。 。”
scrubb and puddleglum both did their best； but girls do that kind of thing better than boys。 even boys do it better than marsh…wiggles。
at lunchtime something happened which made all three of them more anxious than ever to leave the castl