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 couldn't even start undressing unless she sat down in front of the fire for a bit first. And once she had sat down, she didn't 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 country! Ugh! ” But then the thing came back, and this time she was almost sure she saw a beak, and that the beak had made that tapping noise. “It's some huge bird, ” thought Jill. “Could it be an eagle? ” She didn't very much want a visit even from an eagle, but she opened the window and looked out. Instantly, with a great whirring noise, the creature alighted on the window-sill and stood there filling up the whole window, so that Jill had to step back to make room for it. It was the Owl.
“Hush, hush! Tu-whoo, tu-whoo, ” said the Owl. “Don't make a noise. Now, are you two really in earnest about what you've got to do? ”
“About the lost Prince, you mean? ” said Jill. “Yes, we've got to be.” For now she remembered the Lion's voice and face, which she had nearly forgotten during the feasting and story-telling in the hall.
“Good! ” said the Owl. “Then there's no time to waste.
You must get away from here at once. I'll go and wake the other human. Then I'll come back for you. You'd better change those court clothes and put on something you can travel in. I'll be back in two twos. Tu-whoo! ” And without waiting for an answer, he was gone.