THEplacewheretheyhadmettheFaunswas, ofcourse, DancingLawnitself, , todrinknothingbutwellwaterandtolivechieflyonnutsandwildfruit, wasastrangeexperienceforCaspianafterhisbedwithsilkensheetsinatapestriedchamberatthecastle, withmealslaidoutongoldandsilverdishesintheanteroom, , andhebeganalreadytohardenandhisfaceworeakinglierlook.
Whenthegreatnightcame, andhisvariousstrangesubjectscamestealingintothelawnbyonesandtwosandthreesorbysixesandsevens—themoonthenshiningalmostatherfull—: BulgyBearsandRedDwarfsandBlackDwarfs, MolesandBadgers, HaresandHedgehogs, andotherswhomhehadnotyetseen—fiveSatyrsasredasfoxes, thewholecontingentofTalkingMice, armedtotheteethandfollowingashrilltrumpet, someOwls, (andthistookCaspian'sbreathaway), withtheCentaurscameasmallbutgenuineGiant, WimbleweatherofDeadman'sHill, carryingonhisbackabasketfulofrathersea-sickDwarfswhohadacceptedhisofferofaliftandwerenowwishingtheyhadwalkedinstead.
TheBulgyBearswereveryanxioustohavethefeastfirstandleavethecounciltillafterward: , , sowhynothavethecouncilandfeastallatonce? , whileagreeingwiththeBearsthatitwouldtaketoolongtohaveafullcouncilbeforesupper, .
Whenalltheothercreatureshadbeenpersuadedtositdownquietlyinagreatcircle, andwhen (withmoredifficulty) theyhadgotPattertwigtostoprunningtoandfroandsaying “Silence! Silence, everyone, fortheKing'sspeech”, Caspian, feelingalittlenervous, gotup.“Narnians!” hebegan, buthenevergotanyfurther, foratthatverymomentCamillotheHaresaid, “Hush! There'saMansomewherenear.”
