A PARLIAMENT OF OWLS IT is a very funny thing that the sleepier you are, the longer you take about getting to bed; especially if you are lucky enough to have a fire in your room. Jill felt she couldnt even start undressing unless she sat down in front of the fire for a bit first. And once she had sat down, she didnt want to get up again. She had already said to herself about five times, "I must go to bed", when she was startled by a tap on the window.
She got up, pulled the curtain, and at first saw nothing but darkness. Then she jumped and started backwards, for something very large had dashed itself against the window, giving a sharp tap on the glass as. it did so. A very unpleasant idea came into her head - "Suppose they have giant moths in this try! Ugh!" But thehing came back, and this time she was almost sure she saw a beak, and that the beak had made that tapping noise. "Its some huge bird," thought Jill. "Could it be an eagle?" She didnt very much want a visit even from an eagle, but she opehe window and looked out. Instantly, with a great whirring he creature alighted on the window-sill and stood there filling up the whole window, so that Jill had to step baake room for it. It was the Owl.
"Hush, hush! Tu-whoo, tu-whoo," said the Owl. "Dont make a noise. Now, are you two really in ear about what youve got to do?」
"About the lost Prince, you mean?" said Jill. "Yes, weve got to be." For now she remembered the Lions void face, which she had nearly fotten during the feasting and story-telling in the hall.
"Good!" said the Owl. "Then theres no time to waste.
You must get away from here at once. Ill go and wake the other human. Then Ill e back for you. Youd better ge those court clothes and put on something you travel in. Ill be ba two twos. Tu-whoo!" And without waiting for an answer, he was gone.
If Jill had been more used to adventures, she might have doubted the Owls word, but this never occurred to her: and in the exg idea of a midnight escape she fot her sleepiness. She ged bato sweater and shorts there was a guides knife on the belt of the shorts which might e in useful - and added a few of the things that had bee in the room for her by the girl with the willowy hair. She chose a short cloak that came down to her knees and had a hood ("just the thing, if it rains," she thought), a few handkerchiefs and a b. The down and waited.
She was getting sleepy agaihe Owl returned.
"Now were ready," it said.
"Youd better lead the way," said Jill. "I dont know all these passages yet.」
"Tu-whoo!" said the Owl. "Were not going through the castle. That would never do. You must ride on me. We shall fly.」
"Oh!" said Jill, and stood with her mouth open, not much liking the idea. "Shant I be too heavy for you?」
"Tu-whoo, tu-whoo! Dont you be a fool. Ive already carried the other one. Now. But well put out that lamp first.」
As soon as the lamp was out, the bit of the night which you saw through the window looked less dark - no longer black, but grey. The Owl stood on the window- sill with his back to the room and raised his wings. Jill had to climb on to his short fat body a her knees uhe wings and grip tight. The feathers felt beautifully warm and soft but there was nothing to hold on by. "I wonder how Scrubb liked his ride!" thought Jill. And just as she was thinking this, with a horrid pluhey had left the window-sill, and the