Sometirred in tudy . S so do and tapped on t opened almost at once.

    “Good girl. Come in quickly. e  got long,” said ter, and dreain back across tered. he was fully dressed in his usual black.

    “Arent I going after all?” Lyra asked.

    “Yes; I cant prevent it,” said ter, and Lyra didnt notice at time  o say. “Lyra, Im going to give you somet promise to keep it private. ill you so t?”

    “Yes,” Lyra said.

    o took from a dra. cal. It mig.

    “ is it?” she said.

    “Its an aleter. Its one of only six t  private. It ter if Mrs. Coulter didnt kno it. Your uncle—”

    “But  do?”

    “It tells you truto read it, youll o learn by yourself. Nos getting ligo your room before anyone sees you.”

    over trument and t it into  .

    Sried to look up at  o say about Uncle Asriel?”

    “Your uncle presented it to Jordan College some years ago. —”

    Before  urgent knock on tary tremor.

    “Quick norong.

    Men and ides muco t. Go well, Lyra; bless you, child, bless you.

    Keep your own counsel.”

    “ter,” sifully.

    Clutco , s tudy by to see ters daemon cer already; t fresir in the air.

    “s t youve got?” said Mrs. Lonsdale, closing ttered little suitcase h a snap.

    “ter gave it me. Cant it go in tcase?” “too late. Im not opening it noll o go in your coat pocket,  is. o ttery; dont keep ting....”

    It er so ts  s guilty for not  of ing Mrs. Coulter.   no doubt Mrs. Coulter urn up eventually.