Real isn’t how you are made,’ said the Skin Horse. ‘It’s a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves...

He didn’t mind how he looked to other people, because the nursery magic had made him Real, and when you are Real shabbiness doesn’t matter.

…because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.

When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.

But the thing that . . . that I touched . . . ” I cried. “It was furry! It-” I stopped short, taken with a shudder. “I know,” said Herrick.

When you are Real you don’t mind being hurt.