“Um.um.yes， to be sure. I see that，” said the Dwarf， whose pipe seemed to be blocked （at any rate he made himself very busy cleaning it）. “But.well.I mean.”
“But don’t you yet see who we are？” shouted Lucy. “Youare stupid.”
“I suppose you are the four children out of the old stories，” said Trumpkin. “And I‘m very glad to meet you of course. And it’s very interesting， no doubt. But.no offence？ .and he hesitated again.
“Do get on and say whatever you‘re going to say，” saidEdmund.
“Well， then.no offence，” said Trumpkin. “But， you know， the King and Trufflehunter and Doctor Cornelius were expecting.well， if you see what I mean， help. To put it in another way， I think they’d been imagining you as great warriors. As it is.we‘re awfully fond of children and all that， but just at the moment， in the middle of a war.but I’m sure you understand.”
“You mean you think we‘re no good，” said Edmund，getting red in the face.
“Now pray don’t be offended，” interrupted the Dwarf. “Iassure you， my dear little friends.”
“Little from you is really a bit too much，” said Edmund，jumping up. “I suppose you don‘t believe we won the Battle of Beruna？ Well， you can say what you like about me because I know.”