s place? ere to stay long? Ama conveyed tions housand misgivings.

    A novel anso Mrs. Coulter as tanding filtered into ell trut all of it, naturally, but some. S a little quiver of laug t kept it out of her voice as she explained:

    quot;Yes, t to be afraid of. Ser, and s made o er ry to cure ;

    Ama  voice, and ill; and talk of encers and spells added to t. But tly, and ser into the cave.

    ook a step for ayed where he was.

    Mrs. Coulter lit a candle, because t o ttered ogetitive gesture of finger on to s.

    quot;You see?quot; said Mrs. Coulter. quot;So be afraid of.quot;

    Ama looked at t a about t, for  . ure like a mongoose, but red-gold in color and smaller. tenderly smooture stirred uneasily and uttered a tle mehrough her hair.

    quot;So you can tell your fat youve seen,quot; Mrs. Coulter  on. quot;No evil spirit. Just my daug, please, Ama, tell your fat t be a secret. No one but you t knoroy ell your fat;

    S beside Lyra and smooto kiss ers c Ama  ttle girl felt tears fill her gaze.

    Mrs. Coulter took Amas  back to trance, and sac ogeto er, o Mrs. Coulter and to ted sleeper, turned and scampered doo t off, to vanishe heavy rhododendrons.