“Why！ Eustace！” he said. “Eustace！ So you did reach the nd of the world after all. What about my second.best word that you broke on the sea serpent？”
Eustace made a step towards him with both hands eld out， but then drew back with a somewhat startled xpression.
“Look here！ I say，” he stammered. “It‘s all very well. But ren’t you.？ I mean didn‘t you.？”
“Oh， don’t be such an ass，” said Caspian.
“But，” said Eustace， looking at Aslan. “Hasn‘t he.er. ied？”
“Yes，” said the Lion in a very quiet voice， almost （Jill hought） as if he were laughing. “He has died. Most people ave， you know. Even I have. There are very few who aven’t.”
“Oh，” said Caspian. “I see what‘s bothering you. You hink I’m a ghost， or some nonsense. But don‘t you see？ I ould be that if I appeared in Narnia now： because I don’t elong there any more. But one can‘t be a ghost in one’s wn country. I might be a ghost if I got into your world. I on‘t know. But I suppose it isn’t yours either， now you‘re ere.”
A great hope rose in the children’s hearts. But Aslan hook his shaggy head. “No， my dears，” he said. “When you eet me here again， you will have come to stay. But not ow. You must go back to your own world for a while.”
