He raced up the stirs before them and at first they were very afraid he was heading for his attic and meant to hide his remaining magic rings. But they needn’t have bothered. What he was thinking about was the bottle in his wardrobe, and he disappeared at once into his bedroom and lockedthe door. When he came out again (which was not for a long time) he was in his dressing.gown and made straight for the bathroom.
“Can you get the other rings, Poll?” said Digory. “I want to go to Mother.”
“Right. See you later,” said Polly and clattered up the attic stairs.
Then Digory took a minute to get his breath, and then went softly into his Mother‘s room. And there she lay, as he had seen her lie so many other times, propped up on the pillows, with a thin, pale face that would make you cry to look at. Digory took the Apple of Life out of his pocket.