Before they had reached the gate King Lune came out to meet them， not looking at all like Aravis’s idea of a king and wearing the oldest of old clothes； for he had just come from making a round of the kennels with his Huntsman and had only stopped for a moment to wash his doggy hands. But the bow with which he greeted Aravis as he took her hand would have been stately enough for an Emperor.
“Little lady，” he said， “we bid you very heartily welcome. If my dear wife were still alive we could make you better cheer but could not do it with a better will. And I am sorry that you have had misfortunes and been driven from your father‘s house， which cannot but be a grief to you. My son Cor has told me about your adventures together and all your valour.”
“It was he who did all that， Sir，” said Aravis. “Why， he rushed at a lion to save me.”
“Eh， what’s that？” said King Lune， his face brightening. “Ihaven‘t heard that part of the story.”
