“It is a lovely place, my house,” said the Queen. “I am sure you would like it. There are whole rooms full of Turkish Delight, and what’s more, I have no children of my own. I want a nice boy whom I could bring up as a Prince and who would be King of Narnia when I am gone. While he was Prince he would wear a gold crown and eat Turkish Delight all day long; and you are much the cleverest and handsomest young man I‘ve ever met. I think I would like to make you the Prince.some day, when you bring the others to visit me.”
“Why not now?” said Edmund. His face had become very red and his mouth and fingers were sticky. He did not lookeither clever or handsome, whatever the Queen might say. “Oh, but if I took you there now,” said she, “I shouldn’tsee your brother and your sisters. I very much want to know your charming relations. You are to be the Prince and.later on.the King; that is understood. But you must have courtiers and nobles. I will make your brother a Duke and your sisters Duchesses.”
“There‘s nothing special about them,” said Edmund, “and,anyway, I could always bring them some other time.”