第5章

’Hush！’saidthePhoenix；’howcanyou？Don’ttrampleonitsfeelingsjustbecauseit’sonlyacarpet。’

’Buthowcanitdoit——unlessoneofusisonittodothewishing？’askedRobert。HespokewitharisinghopethatitMIGHT

benecessaryforonetogoandwhynotRobert？ButthePhoenixquicklythrewcoldwateronhisnew-borndream。

’Why，youjustwriteyourwishonapaper，andpinitonthecarpet。’

SoaleafwastornfromAnthea’sarithmeticbook，andonitCyrilwroteinlargeround-handthefollowing：

Wewishyoutogotoyourdearnativehome，andbringbackthemostbeautifulanddelightfulproductionsofityoucan——andnottobegonelong，please。

（Signed）CYRIL。

ROBERT。

ANTHEA。

JANE。

Thenthepaperwaslaidonthecarpet。

’Writingdown，please，’saidthePhoenix；’thecarpetcan’treadapaperwhosebackisturnedtoit，anymorethanyoucan。’

Itwaspinnedfast，andthetableandchairshavingbeenmoved，thecarpetsimplyandsuddenlyvanished，ratherlikeapatchofwateronahearthunderafiercefire。Theedgesgotsmallerandsmaller，andthenitdisappearedfromsight。

’Itmaytakeitsometimetocollectthebeautifulanddelightfulthings，’saidthePhoenix。’Ishouldwashup——Imeanwashdown。’

Sotheydid。Therewasplentyofhotwaterleftinthekettle，andeveryonehelped——eventhePhoenix，whotookupcupsbytheirhandleswithitscleverclawsanddippedtheminthehotwater，andthenstoodthemonthetablereadyforAntheatodrythem。Butthebirdwasratherslow，because，asitsaid，thoughitwasnotaboveanysortofhonestwork，messingaboutwithdish-waterwasnotexactlywhatithadbeenbroughtupto。Everythingwasnicelywashedup，anddried，andputinitsproperplace，andthedish-clothwashedandhungontheedgeofthecoppertodry，andthetea-clothwashungonthelinethatgoesacrossthescullery。

（Ifyouareaduchess’schild，oraking’s，orapersonofhighsocialposition’schild，youwillperhapsnotknowthedifferencebetweenadish-clothandatea-cloth；butinthatcaseyournursehasbeenbetterinstructedthanyou，andshewilltellyouallaboutit。）Andjustaseighthandsandonepairofclawswerebeingdriedontheroller-towelbehindthescullerydoortherecameastrangesoundfromtheothersideofthekitchenwall——thesidewherethenurserywas。Itwasaverystrangesound，indeed——mostodd，andunlikeanyothersoundsthechildrenhadeverheard。Atleast，theyhadheardsoundsasmuchlikeitasatoyengine’swhistleislikeasteamsiren’s。

’Thecarpet’scomeback，’saidRobert；andtheothersfeltthathewasright。

’Butwhathasitbroughtwithit？’askedJane。’ItsoundslikeLeviathan，thatgreatbeast。’

’Itcouldn’thavebeenmadeinIndia，andhavebroughtelephants？

Evenbabyoneswouldberatherawfulinthatroom，’saidCyril。’I

votewetakeitinturnstosquintthroughthekeyhole。’

Theydid——intheorderoftheirages。ThePhoenix，beingtheeldestbysomethousandsofyears，wasentitledtothefirstpeep。

But——

’Excuseme，’itsaid，rufflingitsgoldenfeathersandsneezingsoftly；’lookingthroughkeyholesalwaysgivesmeacoldinmygoldeneyes。’

SoCyrillooked。

’Iseesomethinggreymoving，’saidhe。

’It’sazoologicalgardenofsomesort，Ibet，’saidRobert，whenhehadtakenhisturn。Andthesoftrustling，bustling，ruffling，scuffling，shuffling，flufflingnoisewentoninside。

’_I_can’tseeanything，’saidAnthea，’myeyeticklesso。’

ThenJane’sturncame，andsheputhereyetothekeyhole。

’It’sagiantkitty-cat，’shesaid；’andit’sasleepalloverthefloor。’

’Giantcatsaretigers——fathersaidso。’

’No，hedidn’t。Hesaidtigersweregiantcats。It’snotatallthesamething。’

’It’snousesendingthecarpettofetchpreciousthingsforyouifyou’reafraidtolookatthemwhentheycome，’saidthePhoenix，sensibly。AndCyril，beingtheeldest，said——

’Comeon，’andturnedthehandle。

Thegashadbeenleftfullonaftertea，andeverythingintheroomcouldbeplainlyseenbytheteneyesatthedoor。Atleast，noteverything，forthoughthecarpetwasthereitwasinvisible，becauseitwascompletelycoveredbythehundredandninety-ninebeautifulobjectswhichithadbroughtfromitsbirthplace。

’Myhat！’Cyrilremarked。’IneverthoughtaboutitsbeingaPERSIANcarpet。’

Yetitwasnowplainthatitwasso，forthebeautifulobjectswhichithadbroughtbackwerecats——Persiancats，greyPersiancats，andtherewere，asIhavesaid，199ofthem，andtheyweresittingonthecarpetascloseastheycouldgettoeachother。

Butthemomentthechildrenenteredtheroomthecatsroseandstretched，andspreadandoverflowedfromthecarpettothefloor，andinaninstantthefloorwasaseaofmoving，mewingpussishness，andthechildrenwithoneaccordclimbedtothetable，andgathereduptheirlegs，andthepeoplenextdoorknockedonthewall——and，indeed，nowonder，forthemewswerePersianandpiercing。

’Thisisprettypoorsport，’saidCyril。’What’sthematterwiththebounders？’

’Iimaginethattheyarehungry，’saidthePhoenix。’Ifyouweretofeedthem——’

’Wehaven’tanythingtofeedthemwith，’saidAntheaindespair，andshestrokedthenearestPersianback。’Oh，pussies，dobequiet——wecan’thearourselvesthink。’

Shehadtoshoutthisentreaty，forthemewsweregrowingdeafening，’anditwouldtakepounds’andpounds’worthofcat’s-meat。’

’Let’saskthecarpettotakethemaway，’saidRobert。Butthegirlssaid’No。’

’Theyaresosoftandpussy，’saidJane。

’Andvaluable，’saidAnthea，hastily。’Wecansellthemforlotsandlotsofmoney。’

’Whynotsendthecarpettogetfoodforthem？’suggestedthePhoenix，anditsgoldenvoicecameharshandcrackedwiththeeffortithadtobemaketobeheardabovetheincreasingfiercenessofthePersianmews。

Soitwaswrittenthatthecarpetshouldbringfoodfor199Persiancats，andthepaperwaspinnedtothecarpetasbefore。

Thecarpetseemedtogatheritselftogether，andthecatsdroppedoffit，asraindropsdofromyourmackintoshwhenyoushakeit。

Andthecarpetdisappeared。

Unlessyouhavehadone-hundredandninety-ninewell-grownPersiancatsinonesmallroom，allhungry，andallsayingsoinunmistakablemews，youcanformbutapoorideaofthenoisethatnowdeafenedthechildrenandthePhoenix。Thecatsdidnotseemtohavebeenatallproperlybroughtup。Theyseemedtohavenoideaofitsbeingamistakeinmannerstoaskformealsinastrangehouse——letalonetohowlforthem——andtheymewed，andtheymewed，andtheymewed，andtheymewed，tillthechildrenpokedtheirfingersintotheirearsandwaitedinsilentagony，wonderingwhythewholeofCamdenTowndidnotcomeknockingatthedoortoaskwhatwasthematter，andonlyhopingthatthefoodforthecatswouldcomebeforetheneighboursdid——andbeforeallthesecretofthecarpetandthePhoenixhadtobegivenawaybeyondrecalltoanindignantneighbourhood。

ThecatsmewedandmewedandtwistedtheirPersianformsinandoutandunfoldedtheirPersiantails，andthechildrenandthePhoenixhuddledtogetheronthetable。

ThePhoenix，Robertnoticedsuddenly，wastrembling。

’Somanycats，’itsaid，’andtheymightnotknowIwasthePhoenix。Theseaccidentshappensoquickly。Itquiteun-mansme。’

Thiswasadangerofwhichthechildrenhadnotthought。

’Creepin，’criedRobert，openinghisjacket。

AndthePhoenixcreptin——onlyjustintime，forgreeneyeshadglared，pinknoseshadsniffed，whitewhiskershadtwitched，andasRobertbuttonedhiscoathedisappearedtothewaistinawaveofeagergreyPersianfur。Andontheinstantthegoodcarpetslappeditselfdownonthefloor。Anditwascoveredwithrats——threehundredandninety-eightofthem，Ibelieve，twoforeachcat。

’Howhorrible！’criedAnthea。’Oh，takethemaway！’

’Takeyourselfaway，’saidthePhoenix，’andme。’

’Iwishwe’dneverhadacarpet，’saidAnthea，intears。

Theyhustledandcrowdedoutofthedoor，andshutit，andlockedit。Cyril，withgreatpresenceofmind，litacandleandturnedoffthegasatthemain。

’Therats’llhaveabetterchanceinthedark，’hesaid。

Themewinghadceased。Everyonelistenedinbreathlesssilence。

Weallknowthatcatseatrats——itisoneofthefirstthingswereadinourlittlebrownreadingbooks；butallthosecatseatingallthoserats——itwouldn’tbearthinkingof。

SuddenlyRobertsniffed，inthesilenceofthedarkkitchen，wheretheonlycandlewasburningallononeside，becauseofthedraught。

’Whatafunnyscent！’hesaid。

Andashespoke，alanternflasheditslightthroughthewindowofthekitchen，afacepeeredin，andavoicesaid——

’What’sallthisrowabout？Youletmein。’

Itwasthevoiceofthepolice！

Roberttip-toedtothewindow，andspokethroughthepanethathadbeenalittlecrackedsinceCyrilaccidentallyknockeditwithawalking-stickwhenhewasplayingatbalancingitonhisnose。（Itwasaftertheyhadbeentoacircus。）

’Whatdoyoumean？’hesaid。’There’snorow。Youlisten；

everything’sasquietasquiet。’Andindeeditwas。

Thestrangesweetscentgrewstronger，andthePhoenixputoutitsbeak。

Thepolicemanhesitated。

’They’reMUSK-rats，’saidthePhoenix。’Isupposesomecatseatthem——butneverPersianones。Whatamistakeforawell-informedcarpettomake！Oh，whatanightwe’rehaving！’

’Dogoaway，’saidRobert，nervously。’We’rejustgoingtobed——that’sourbedroomcandle；thereisn’tanyrow。

Everything’sasquietasamouse。’

Awildchorusofmewsdrownedhiswords，andwiththemewsweremingledtheshrieksofthemusk-rats。Whathadhappened？Hadthecatstastedthembeforedecidingthattheydislikedtheflavour？

’I’ma-comingin，’saidthepoliceman。’You’vegotacatshutupthere。’

’Acat，’saidCyril。’Oh，myonlyaunt！Acat！’

’Comein，then，’saidRobert。’It’syourownlookout。Iadviseyounot。Waitashake，andI’llundothesidegate。’

Heundidthesidegate，andthepoliceman，verycautiously，camein。Andthereinthekitchen，bythelightofonecandle，withthemewingandthescreaminggoinglikeadozensteamsirens，twentywaitingonmotor-cars，andhalfahundredsqueakingpumps，fouragitatedvoicesshoutedtothepolicemanfourmixedandwhollydifferentexplanationsoftheverymixedeventsoftheevening。

Didyouevertrytoexplainthesimplestthingtoapoliceman？

CHAPTER8

THECATS，THECOW，ANDTHEBURGLAR

ThenurserywasfullofPersiancatsandmusk-ratsthathadbeenbroughttherebythewishingcarpet。Thecatsweremewingandthemusk-ratsweresqueakingsothatyoucouldhardlyhearyourselfspeak。Inthekitchenwerethefourchildren，onecandle，aconcealedPhoenix，andaveryvisiblepoliceman。

’Nowthen，lookhere，’saidthePoliceman，veryloudly，andhepointedhislanternateachchildinturn，’what’sthemeaningofthishereyellingandcaterwauling。Itellyouyou’vegotacathere，andsomeone’saill-treatingofit。Whatdoyoumeanbyit，eh？’

Itwasfivetoone，countingthePhoenix；butthepoliceman，whowasone，wasofunusuallyfinesize，andthefive，includingthePhoenix，weresmall。Themewsandthesqueaksgrewsofter，andinthecomparativesilence，Cyrilsaid——

’It’strue。Thereareafewcatshere。Butwe’venothurtthem。

It’squitetheopposite。We’vejustfedthem。’

’Itdon’tsoundlikeit，’saidthepolicemangrimly。

’Idaresaythey’renotREALcats，’saidJanemadly，perhapsthey’reonlydream-cats。’

’I’lldream-catyou，mylady，’wasthebriefresponseoftheforce。

’Ifyouunderstoodanythingexceptpeoplewhodomurdersandstealingsandnaughtythingslikethat，I’dtellyouallaboutit，’

saidRobert；’butI’mcertainyoudon’t。You’renotmeanttoshoveyouroarintopeople’sprivatecat-keepings。You’reonlysupposedtointerferewhenpeopleshout"murder"and"stopthief"inthestreet。Sothere！’

Thepolicemanassuredthemthatheshouldseeaboutthat；andatthispointthePhoenix，whohadbeenmakingitselfsmallonthepot-shelfunderthedresser，amongthesaucepanlidsandthefish-

kettle，walkedontip-toedclawsinanoiselessandmodestmanner，andlefttheroomunnoticedbyanyone。

’Oh，don’tbesohorrid，’Antheawassaying，gentlyandearnestly。

’WeLOVEcats——dearpussy-softthings。Wewouldn’thurtthemforworlds。Wouldwe，Pussy？’

AndJaneansweredthatofcoursetheywouldn’t。Andstillthepolicemanseemedunmovedbytheireloquence。

’Now，lookhere，’hesaid，’I’ma-goingtoseewhat’sinthatroombeyondthere，and——’

Hisvoicewasdrownedinawildburstofmewingandsqueaking。Andassoonasitdieddownallfourchildrenbegantoexplainatonce；

andthoughthesqueakingandmewingwerenotattheirveryloudest，yettherewasquiteenoughofbothtomakeitveryhardforthepolicemantounderstandasinglewordofanyofthefourwhollydifferentexplanationsnowpouredouttohim。

’Stowit，’hesaidatlast。’I’ma-goin’intothenextroomintheexecutionofmyduty。I’ma-goin’tousemyeyes——myearshavegoneofftheirchumps，whatwithyouandthemcats。’

AndhepushedRobertaside，andstrodethroughthedoor。

’Don’tsayIdidn’twarnyou，’saidRobert。

’It’stigersREALLY，’saidJane。’Fathersaidso。Iwouldn’tgoin，ifIwereyou。’

Butthepolicemanwasquitestony；nothinganyonesaidseemedtomakeanydifferencetohim。Somepolicemenarelikethis，I

believe。Hestrodedownthepassage，andinanothermomenthewouldhavebeenintheroomwithallthecatsandalltherats（musk），butatthatveryinstantathin，sharpvoicescreamedfromthestreetoutside——

’Murder——murder！Stopthief！’

Thepolicemanstopped，withoneregulationbootheavilypoisedintheair。

’Eh？’hesaid。

Andagaintheshriekssoundedshrillyandpiercinglyfromthedarkstreetoutside。

’Comeon，’saidRobert。’Comeandlookaftercatswhilesomebody’sbeingkilledoutside。’ForRoberthadaninsidefeelingthattoldhimquiteplainlyWHOitwasthatwasscreaming。

’Youyoungrip，’saidthepoliceman，’I’llsettleupwithyoubimeby。’

Andherushedout，andthechildrenheardhisbootsgoingweightilyalongthepavement，andthescreamsalsogoingalong，ratheraheadofthepoliceman；andboththemurder-screamsandthepoliceman’sbootsfadedawayintheremotedistance。

ThenRobertsmackedhisknickerbockerloudlywithhispalm，andsaid——

’GoodoldPhoenix！Ishouldknowitsgoldenvoiceanywhere。’

AndtheneveryoneunderstoodhowcleverlythePhoenixhadcaughtatwhatRoberthadsaidabouttherealworkofapolicemanbeingtolookaftermurderersandthieves，andnotaftercats，andallheartswerefilledwithadmiringaffection。

’Buthe’llcomeback，’saidAnthea，mournfully，’assoonasitfindsthemurdererisonlyabrightvisionofadream，andthereisn’toneatallreally。’

’Nohewon’t，’saidthesoftvoiceofthecleverPhoenix，asitflewin。’HEDOESNOTKNOWWHEREYOURHOUSEIS。Iheardhimownasmuchtoafellowmercenary。Oh！whatanightwearehaving！

Lockthedoor，andletusridourselvesofthisintolerablesmelloftheperfumepeculiartothemusk-ratandtothehouseofthetrimmersofbeards。Ifyou’llexcuseme，Iwillgotobed。Iamwornout。’

ItwasCyrilwhowrotethepaperthattoldthecarpettotakeawaytheratsandbringmilk，becausethereseemedtobenodoubtinanybreastthat，howeverPersiancatsmaybe，theymustlikemilk。

’Let’shopeitwon’tbemusk-milk，’saidAnthea，ingloom，asshepinnedthepaperface-downwardsonthecarpet。’Istheresuchathingasamusk-cow？’sheaddedanxiously，asthecarpetshrivelledandvanished。’Idohopenot。PerhapsreallyitWOULDhavebeenwisertoletthecarpettakethecatsaway。It’sgettingquitelate，andwecan’tkeepthemallnight。’

’Oh，can’twe？’wasthebitterrejoinderofRobert，whohadbeenfasteningthesidedoor。’Youmighthaveconsultedme，’hewenton。’I’mnotsuchanidiotassomepeople。’

’Why，whatever——’

’Don’tyousee？We’vejollywellGOTtokeepthecatsallnight——oh，getdown，youfurrybeasts！——becausewe’vehadthreewishesoutoftheoldcarpetnow，andwecan’tgetanymoretillto-morrow。’

ThelivelinessofPersianmewsalonepreventedtheoccurrenceofadismalsilence。

Antheaspokefirst。

’Nevermind，’shesaid。’Doyouknow，Ireallydothinkthey’requietingdownabit。Perhapstheyheardussaymilk。’

’Theycan’tunderstandEnglish，’saidJane。’Youforgetthey’rePersiancats，Panther。’

’Well，’saidAnthea，rathersharply，forshewastiredandanxious，’whotoldyou"milk"wasn’tPersianformilk。LotsofEnglishwordsarejustthesameinFrench——atleastIknow"miaw"is，and"croquet"，and"fiance"。Oh，pussies，dobequiet！Let’sstrokethemashardaswecanwithbothhands，andperhapsthey’llstop。’

Soeveryonestrokedgreyfurtilltheirhandsweretired，andassoonasacathadbeenstrokedenoughtomakeitstopmewingitwaspushedgentlyaway，andanothermewingmouserwasapproachedbythehandsofthestrokers。Andthenoisewasreallymorethanhalfpurrwhenthecarpetsuddenlyappearedinitsproperplace，andonit，insteadofrowsofmilk-cans，orevenofmilk-jugs，therewasaCOW。NotaPersiancow，either，nor，mostfortunately，amusk-cow，ifthereissuchathing，butasmooth，sleek，dun-colouredJerseycow，whoblinkedlargesofteyesatthegas-lightandmooedinanamiableifratherinquiringmanner。

Antheahadalwaysbeenafraidofcows；butnowshetriedtobebrave。

’Anyway，itcan’trunafterme，’shesaidtoherself’Thereisn’troomforiteventobegintorun。’

Thecowwasperfectlyplacid。Shebehavedlikeastrayedduchesstillsomeonebroughtasaucerforthemilk，andsomeoneelsetriedtomilkthecowintoit。Milkingisverydifficult。Youmaythinkitiseasy，butitisnot。Allthechildrenwerebythistimestrunguptoapitchofheroismthatwouldhavebeenimpossibletothemintheirordinarycondition。RobertandCyrilheldthecowbythehorns；andJane，whenshewasquitesurethattheirendofthecowwasquitesecure，consentedtostandby，readytoholdthecowbythetailshouldoccasionarise。Anthea，holdingthesaucer，nowadvancedtowardsthecow。Sherememberedtohaveheardthatcows，whenmilkedbystrangers，aresusceptibletothesoothinginfluenceofthehumanvoice。So，clutchinghersaucerverytight，shesoughtforwordstowhosesoothinginfluencethecowmightbesusceptible。Andhermemory，troubledbytheeventsofthenight，whichseemedtogoonandonforeverandever，refusedtohelpherwithanyformofwordssuitabletoaddressaJerseycowin。

’Poorpussy，then。Liedown，then，gooddog，liedown！’wasallthatshecouldthinkoftosay，andshesaidit。

Andnobodylaughed。Thesituation，fullofgreymewingcats，wastooseriousforthat。ThenAnthea，withabeatingheart，triedtomilkthecow。Nextmomentthecowhadknockedthesauceroutofherhandandtrampledonitwithonefoot，whilewiththeotherthreeshehadwalkedonafooteachofRobert，Cyril，andJane。

Janeburstintotears。’Oh，howmuchtoohorrideverythingis！’

shecried。’Comeaway。Let’sgotobedandleavethehorridcatswiththehatefulcow。Perhapssomebodywilleatsomebodyelse。

Andservethemright。’

Theydidnotgotobed，buttheyhadashiveringcouncilinthedrawing-room，whichsmeltofsoot——and，indeed，aheapofthislayinthefender。Therehadbeennofireintheroomsincemotherwentaway，andallthechairsandtableswereinthewrongplaces，andthechrysanthemumsweredead，andthewaterinthepotnearlydriedup。AntheawrappedtheembroideredwoollysofablanketroundJaneandherself，whileRobertandCyrilhadastruggle，silentandbrief，butfierce，forthelargershareofthefurhearthrug。

’Itismosttrulyawful，’saidAnthea，’andIamsotired。Let’sletthecatsloose。’

’Andthecow，perhaps？’saidCyril。’Thepolicewouldfindusatonce。Thatcowwouldstandatthegateandmew——Imeanmoo——tocomein。Andsowouldthecats。No；Iseequitewellwhatwe’vegottodo。Wemustputtheminbasketsandleavethemonpeople’sdoorsteps，likeorphanfoundlings。’

’We’vegotthreebaskets，countingmother’sworkone，’saidJanebrightening。

’Andtherearenearlytwohundredcats，’saidAnthea，’besidesthecow——anditwouldhavetobeadifferent-sizedbasketforher；andthenIdon’tknowhowyou’dcarryit，andyou’dneverfindadoorstepbigenoughtoputiton。Exceptthechurchone——and——’

’Oh，well，’saidCyril，’ifyousimplyMAKEdifficulties——’

’I’mwithyou，’saidRobert。’Don’tfussaboutthecow，Panther。

It’ssimplyGOTtostaythenight，andI’msureI’vereadthatthecowisaremuneratingcreature，andthatmeansitwillsitstillandthinkforhours。Thecarpetcantakeitawayinthemorning。

Andasforthebaskets，we’lldothemupindusters，orpillow-cases，orbath-towels。Comeon，Squirrel。Yougirlscanbeoutofitifyoulike。’

Histonewasfullofcontempt，butJaneandAntheaweretootiredanddesperatetocare；evenbeing’outofit’，whichatothertimestheycouldnothaveborne，nowseemedquiteacomfort。Theysnuggleddowninthesofablanket，andCyrilthrewthefurhearthrugoverthem。

’Ah，hesaid，’that’sallwomenarefitfor——tokeepsafeandwarm，whilethemendotheworkandrundangersandrisksandthings。’

’I’mnot，’saidAnthea，’youknowI’mnot。’ButCyrilwasgone。

Itwaswarmundertheblanketandthehearthrug，andJanesnuggledupclosetohersister；andAntheacuddledJanecloselyandkindly，andinasortofdreamtheyheardtheriseofawaveofmewingasRobertopenedthedoorofthenursery。Theyheardthebootedsearchforbasketsinthebackkitchen。Theyheardthesidedooropenandclose，andtheyknewthateachbrotherhadgoneoutwithatleastonecat。Anthea’slastthoughtwasthatitwouldtakeatleastallnighttogetridofonehundredandninety-ninecatsbytwos。Therewouldbeninety-ninejourneysoftwocatseach，andonecatover。

’Ialmostthinkwemightkeeptheonecatover，’saidAnthea。’I

don’tseemtocareforcatsjustnow，butIdaresayIshallagainsomeday。’Andshefellasleep。Janealsowassleeping。

ItwasJanewhoawokewithastart，tofindAntheastillasleep。

As，intheactofawakening，shekickedhersister，shewonderedidlywhytheyshouldhavegonetobedintheirboots；butthenextmomentsherememberedwheretheywere。

Therewasasoundofmuffled，shuffledfeetonthestairs。Liketheheroineoftheclassicpoem，Jane’thoughtitwastheboys’，andasshefeltquitewideawake，andnotnearlysotiredasbefore，shecreptgentlyfromAnthea’ssideandfollowedthefootsteps。Theywentdownintothebasement；thecats，whoseemedtohavefallenintothesleepofexhaustion，awokeatthesoundoftheapproachingfootstepsandmewedpiteously。Janewasatthefootofthestairsbeforeshesawitwasnotherbrotherswhosecominghadrousedherandthecats，butaburglar。Sheknewhewasaburglaratonce，becauseheworeafurcapandaredandblackcharity-checkcomforter，andhehadnobusinesswherehewas。

Ifyouhadbeenstoodinjane’sshoesyouwouldnodoubthaverunawayinthem，appealingtothepoliceandneighbourswithhorridscreams。ButJaneknewbetter。Shehadreadagreatmanynicestoriesaboutburglars，aswellassomeaffectingpiecesofpoetry，andsheknewthatnoburglarwilleverhurtalittlegirlifhemeetsherwhenburgling。Indeed，inallthecasesJanehadreadof，hisburglarishnesswasalmostatonceforgottenintheinteresthefeltinthelittlegirl’sartlessprattle。SoifJanehesitatedforamomentbeforeaddressingtheburglar，itwasonlybecauseshecouldnotatoncethinkofanyremarksufficientlyprattlingandartlesstomakeabeginningwith。Inthestoriesandtheaffectingpoetrythechildcouldneverspeakplainly，thoughitalwayslookedoldenoughtointhepictures。AndJanecouldnotmakeuphermindtolispand’talkbaby’，eventoaburglar。Andwhileshehesitatedhesoftlyopenedthenurserydoorandwentin。

Janefollowed——justintimetoseehimsitdownflatonthefloor，scatteringcatsasastonethrownintoapoolsplasheswater。

Sheclosedthedoorsoftlyandstoodthere，stillwonderingwhethersheCOULDbringherselftosay，’What’s’oodoinghere，MithterWobber？’andwhetheranyotherkindoftalkwoulddo。

Thensheheardtheburglardrawalongbreath，andhespoke。

’It’sajudgement，’hesaid，’sohelpmebobifitain’t。Oh，’ere’sathingto’appentoachap！Makesitcome’ometoyou，don’titneither？Catsan’catsan’cats。Therecouldn’tbeallthemcats。Letalonethecow。Ifsheain’tthemoraloftheoldman’sDaisy。She’sadreamoutofwhenIwasalad——Idon’tmind’ersomuch。’Ere，Daisy，Daisy？’

Thecowturnedandlookedathim。

’SHE’Sallright，’hewenton。’Sortofcompany，too。Thoughthemaboveknowshowshegotintothisdownstairsparlour。Butthemcats——oh，take’emaway，take’emaway！I’llchuckthe’oleshow——Oh，take’emaway。’

’Burglar，’saidJane，closebehindhim，andhestartedconvulsively，andturnedonherablankface，whosepalelipstrembled。’Ican’ttakethosecatsaway。’

’Lor’lumme！’exclaimedtheman；’if’ereain’tanotheron’em。

Areyoureal，miss，orsomethingI’llwakeupfrompresently？’

’Iamquitereal，’saidJane，relievedtofindthatalispwasnotneededtomaketheburglarunderstandher。’Andso，’sheadded，’arethecats。’

’Thensendforthepolice，sendforthepolice，andI’llgoquiet。

Ifyouain’tnoreallerthanthemcats，I’mdone，spunchuck——outoftime。Sendforthepolice。I’llgoquiet。Onething，there’dnotberoomfor’arfthemcatsinnocellasever_I_see。’

Heranhisfingersthroughhishair，whichwasshort，andhiseyeswanderedwildlyroundtheroomfulofcats。

’Burglar，’saidJane，kindlyandsoftly，’ifyoudidn’tlikecats，whatdidyoucomeherefor？’

’Sendforthepolice，’wastheunfortunatecriminal’sonlyreply。

’I’dratheryouwould——honest，I’drather。’

’Idaren’t，’saidJane，’andbesides，I’venoonetosend。Ihatethepolice。Iwishhe’dneverbeenborn。’

’You’veafeeling’art，miss，’saidtheburglar；’butthemcatsisreallyalittlebittoothick。’

’Lookhere，’saidJane，’Iwon’tcallthepolice。AndIamquiteareallittlegirl，thoughItalkolderthanthekindyou’vemetbeforewhenyou’vebeendoingyourburglings。Andtheyarerealcats——andtheywantrealmilk——and——Didn’tyousaythecowwaslikesomebody’sDaisythatyouusedtoknow？’

’WishImaydieifsheain’ttheveryspitofher，’repliedtheman。

’Well，then，’saidJane——andathrillofjoyfulprideranthroughher——’perhapsyouknowhowtomilkcows？’

’PerhapsIdoes，’wastheburglar’scautiousrejoinder。

’Then，’saidJane，’ifyouwillONLYmilkours——youdon’tknowhowweshallalwaysloveyou。’

Theburglarrepliedthatlovingwasallverywell。

’Ifthosecatsonlyhadagoodlong，wet，thirstydrinkofmilk，’

Janewentonwitheagerpersuasion，’they’dliedownandgotosleepaslikelyasnot，andthenthepolicewon’tcomeback。Butiftheygoonmewinglikethishewill，andthenIdon’tknowwhat’llbecomeofus，oryoueither。’

Thisargumentseemedtodecidethecriminal。Janefetchedthewash-bowlfromthesink，andhespatonhishandsandpreparedtomilkthecow。Atthisinstantbootswereheardonthestairs。

’It’sallup，’saidtheman，desperately，’this’ere’saplant。

’ERE’Sthepolice。’Hemadeasiftoopenthewindowandleapfromit。

’It’sallright，Itellyou，’whisperedJane，inanguish。’I’llsayyou’reafriendofmine，orthegoodclergymancalledin，ormyuncle，orANYTHIING——onlydo，do，domilkthecow。Oh，DON’T

go——oh——oh，thankgoodnessit’sonlytheboys！’

Itwas；andtheirentrancehadawakenedAnthea，who，withherbrothers，nowcrowdedthroughthedoorway。Themanlookedabouthimlikearatlooksroundatrap。

’Thisisafriendofmine，’saidJane；’he’sjustcalledin，andhe’sgoingtomilkthecowforus。ISN’Titgoodandkindofhim？’

Shewinkedattheothers，andthoughtheydidnotunderstandtheyplayeduployally。

’Howdo？’saidCyril，’Verygladtomeetyou。Don’tletusinterruptthemilking。’

’Ishall’avea’eadanda’arfinthemorning，andnobloomin’

error，’remarkedtheburglar；buthebegantomilkthecow。

Robertwaswinkedattostayandseethathedidnotleaveoffmilkingortrytoescape，andtheotherswenttogetthingstoputthemilkin；foritwasnowspurtingandfoaminginthewash-bowl，andthecatshadceasedfrommewingandwerecrowdingroundthecow，withexpressionsofhopeandanticipationontheirwhiskeredfaces。

’Wecan’tgetridofanymorecats，’saidCyril，asheandhissisterspiledatrayhighwithsaucersandsoup-platesandplattersandpie-dishes，’thepolicenearlygotusasitwas。Notthesameone——amuchstrongersort。Hethoughtitreallywasafoundlingorphanwe’dgot。Ifithadn’tbeenformethrowingthetwobagsofcatslapinhiseyeandhaulingRobertoverarailing，andlyinglikemiceunderalaurel-bush——Well，it’sjollyluckyI’magoodshot，that’sall。Heprancedoffwhenhe’dgotthecat-bagsoffhisface——thoughtwe’dbolted。Andhereweare。’

Thegentlesamishnessofthemilkswishingintothehand-bowlseemedtohavesoothedtheburglarverymuch。Hewentonmilkinginasortofhappydream，whilethechildrengotacapandladledthewarmmilkoutintothepie-dishesandplates，andplattersandsaucers，andsetthemdowntothemusicofPersianpurrsandlappings。

’Itmakesmethinkofoldtimes，’saidtheburglar，smearinghisraggedcoat-cuffacrosshiseyes——’abouttheapplesintheorchardathome，andtheratsatthreshingtime，andtherabbitsandtheferrets，andhowprettyitwasseeingthepigskilled。’

Findinghiminthissoftenedmood，Janesaid——

’Iwishyou’dtellushowyoucametochooseourhouseforyourburglaringto-night。Iamawfullygladyoudid。Youhavebeensokind。Idon’tknowwhatweshouldhavedonewithoutyou，’sheaddedhastily。’Weallloveyoueverso。Dotellus。’

Theothersaddedtheiraffectionateentreaties，andatlasttheburglarsaid——

’Well，it’smyfirstjob，andIdidn’texpecttobemadesowelcome，andthat’sthetruth，younggentsandladies。AndIdon’tknowbutwhatitwon’tbemylast。Forthis’erecow，sheremindsmeofmyfather，andIknow’ow’e’d’ave’idedmeifI’dlaid’andsona’a’pennyaswasn’tmyown。’

’I’msurehewould，’Janeagreedkindly；’butwhatmadeyoucomehere？’

’Well，miss，’saidtheburglar，’youknowbest’owyoucomebythemcats，andwhyyoudon’tlikethepolice，soI’llgivemyselfawayfree，andtrusttoyournoble’earts。（You’dbestbaleoutabit，thepan’sgettingfullish。）Iwasa-sellingorangesoffofmybarrow——forIain’taburglarbytrade，thoughyou’aveusedthenamesofree——an’therewasaladyboughtthree’a’porthoffme。

An’whileshewasa-pickin’ofthemout——verycarefulindeed，andI’malwaysgladwhenthemsortgetsafewover-ripeones——therewastwootherladiestalkin’overthefence。An’oneon’emsaidtotheotheron’emjustlikethis——

"’I’vetoldbothgellstocome，andtheycandossinwithM’riaandJane，’causetheirbossandhismissisismilesawayandthekidstoo。Sotheycanjustlockupthe’ouseandleavethegasa-burning，so’snoonewon’tknow，andgetbackbrightan’earlyby’leveno’clock。Andwe’llmakeanightofit，MrsProsser，sowewill。I’mjusta-goingtorunouttopoptheletterinthepost。"

Andthentheladywhathadchosenthethreeha’porthsocareful，shesaid："Lor，MrsWigson，Iwonderatyou，andyourhandsalloversuds。Thisgoodgentleman’llslipitintothepostforyer，I’llbebound，seeingI’macustomerofhis。"Sotheygivemetheletter，andofcourseIreadthedirectionwhatwaswrittenonitaforeIshoveditintothepost。AndthenwhenI’dsoldmybarrowful，Iwasa-goin’’omewiththechinkinmypocket，andI’mblowedifsomebloomin’thievin’beggardidn’tnickthelotwhilstIwasjusta-wettin’ofmywhistle，forcallin’oforangesisdrywork。Nickedthebloomin’lot’edid——andmewithnotafardentotake’ometomybrotherandhismissus。’

’Howawful！’saidAnthea，withmuchsympathy。

’Horfulindeed，miss，Ibelieveyer，’theburglarrejoined，withdeepfeeling。’Youdon’tknowhertemperwhenshe’sroused。An’

I’msureI’opeyounevermay，neither。AndI’d’adallmyorangesoffof’em。Soitcamebacktomewhatwaswroteontheongverlope，andIsaystomyself，"Whynot，seein’asI’vebeendonemyself，andiftheykeepstwoslaveystheremustbesomepickings？"An’so’ereIam。Butthemcats，they’vebroughtmebacktothewaysofhonestness。Nevernomore。’

’Lookhere，’saidCyril，’thesecatsareveryvaluable——veryindeed。Andwewillgivethemalltoyou，ifonlyyouwilltakethemaway。’

’Iseethey’reabreedylot，’repliedtheburglar。’ButIdon’twantnobotherwiththecoppers。Didyoucomebythemhonestnow？

Straight？’

’Theyareallourveryown，’saidAnthea，’wewantedthem，buttheconfidement——’

’Consignment，’whisperedCyril。

’waslargerthanwewanted，andthey’reanawfulbother。Ifyougotyourbarrow，andsomesacksorbaskets，yourbrother’smissuswouldbeawfullypleased。MyfathersaysPersiancatsareworthpoundsandpoundseach。’

’Well，’saidtheburglar——andhewascertainlymovedbyherremarks——’Iseeyou’reinahole——andIdon’tmindlendingahelping’and。Idon’task’owyoucomebythem。ButI’vegotapal——’e’samarkoncats。I’llfetchhimalong，andifhethinksthey’dfetchanythingabovetheirskinsIdon’tminddoin’youakindness。’

’Youwon’tgoawayandnevercomeback，’saidJane，’becauseI

don’tthinkICOULDbearthat。’

Theburglar，quitetouchedbyheremotion，sworesentimentallythat，aliveordead，hewouldcomeback。

Thenhewent，andCyrilandRobertsentthegirlstobedandsatuptowaitforhisreturn。Itsoonseemedabsurdtoawaithiminastateofwakefulness，buthisstealthytaponthewindowawokethemreadilyenough。Forhedidreturn，withthepalandthebarrowandthesacks。Thepalapprovedofthecats，nowdormantinPersianrepletion，andtheywerebundledintothesacks，andtakenawayonthebarrow——mewing，indeed，butwithmewstoosleepytoattractpublicattention。

’I’mafence——that’swhatIam，’saidtheburglargloomily。’I

neverthoughtI’dcomedowntothis，andallacauseermykind’eart。’

Cyrilknewthatafenceisareceiverofstolengoods，andherepliedbriskly——

’Igiveyoumysacredthecatsaren’tstolen。Whatdoyoumakethetime？’

’Iain’tgotthetimeonme，’saidthepal——’butitwasjustaboutchucking-outtimeasIcomebythe"BullandGate"。Ishouldn’twonderifitwasnighupononenow。’

Whenthecatshadbeenremoved，andtheboysandtheburglarhadpartedwithwarmexpressionsoffriendship，thereremainedonlythecow。

’Shemuststayallnight，’saidRobert。’Cook’llhaveafitwhensheseesher。’

’Allnight？’saidCyril。’Why——it’stomorrowmorningifit’sone。

Wecanhaveanotherwish！’

Sothecarpetwasurged，inahastilywrittennote，toremovethecowtowherevershebelonged，andtoreturntoitsproperplaceonthenurseryfloor。Butthecowcouldnotbegottomoveontothecarpet。SoRobertgottheclotheslineoutofthebackkitchen，andtiedoneendveryfirmlytothecow’shorns，andtheotherendtoabunched-upcornerofthecarpet，andsaid’Fireaway。’

Andthecarpetandcowvanishedtogether，andtheboyswenttobed，tiredoutandonlytoothankfulthattheeveningatlastwasover。

Nextmorningthecarpetlaycalmlyinitsplace，butonecornerwasverybadlytorn。Itwasthecornerthatthecowhadbeentiedonto。

CHAPTER9

THEBURGLAR’SBRIDE

ThemorningaftertheadventureofthePersiancats，themusk-rats，thecommoncow，andtheuncommonburglar，allthechildrenslepttillitwasteno’clock；andthenitwasonlyCyrilwhowoke；butheattendedtotheothers，sothatbyhalfpastteneveryonewasreadytohelptogetbreakfast。Itwasshiverycold，andtherewasbutlittleinthehousethatwasreallywortheating。

Roberthadarrangedathoughtfullittlesurprisefortheabsentservants。Hehadmadeaneatanddelightfulboobytrapoverthekitchendoor，andassoonastheyheardthefrontdoorclickopenandknewtheservantshadcomeback，allfourchildrenhidinthecupboardunderthestairsandlistenedwithdelighttotheentrance——thetumble，thesplash，thescuffle，andtheremarksoftheservants。Theyheardthecooksayitwasajudgementonthemforleavingtheplacetoitself；sheseemedtothinkthataboobytrapwasakindofplantthatwasquitelikelytogrow，allbyitself，inadwellingthatwasleftshutup。Butthehousemaid，moreacute，judgedthatsomeonemusthavebeeninthehouse——aviewconfirmedbythesightofthebreakfastthingsonthenurserytable。

Thecupboardunderthestairswasverytightandparaffiny，however，andasilentstruggleforaplaceontopendedinthedoorburstingopenanddischargingJane，whorolledlikeafootballtothefeetoftheservants。

’Now，’saidCyril，firmly，whenthecook’shystericshadbecomequieter，andthehousemaidhadtimetosaywhatshethoughtofthem，’don’tyoubeginjawingus。Wearen’tgoingtostandit。Weknowtoomuch。You’llpleasemakeanextraspecialtreacleroleyfordinner，andwe’llhaveatinnedtongue。’

’Idaresay，’saidthehousemaid，indignant，stillinheroutdoorthingsandwithherhatverymuchononeside。’Don’tyoucomea-threateningme，MasterCyril，becauseIwon’tstandit，soItellyou。Youtellyourmaaboutusbeingout？MuchIcare！She’llbesorryformewhenshehearsaboutmydeargreat-auntbymarriageasbroughtmeupfromachildandwasamothertome。Shesentforme，shedid，shewasn’texpectedtolastthenight，fromthespasmsgoingtoherlegs——andcookwasthatkindandcarefulshecouldn’tletmegoalone，so——’

’Don’t，’saidAnthea，inrealdistress。’Youknowwhereliarsgoto，Eliza——atleastifyoudon’t——’

’Liarsindeed！’saidEliza，’Iwon’tdemeanmyselftalkingtoyou。’

’How’sMrsWigson？’saidRobert，’andDIDyoukeepituplastnight？’

Themouthofthehousemaidfellopen。

’DidyoudosswithMariaorEmily？’askedCyril。

’HowdidMrsProsserenjoyherself？’askedJane。

’Forbear，’saidCyril，’they’vehadenough。Whetherwetellornotdependsonyourlaterlife，’hewenton，addressingtheservants。

’Ifyouaredecenttouswe’llbedecenttoyou。You’dbettermakethattreacleroley——andifIwereyou，Eliza，I’ddoalittlehouseworkandcleaning，justforachange。’

Theservantsgaveinonceandforall。

’There’snothinglikefirmness，’Cyrilwenton，whenthebreakfastthingswereclearedawayandthechildrenwerealoneinthenursery。’Peoplearealwaystalkingofdifficultieswithservants。

It’squitesimple，whenyouknowtheway。Wecandowhatwelikenowandtheywon’tpeach。Ithinkwe’vebrokenTHEIRproudspirit。

Let’sgosomewherebycarpet。’

’Iwouldn’tifIwereyou，’saidthePhoenix，yawning，asitswoopeddownfromitsroostonthecurtainpole。’I’vegivenyouoneortwohints，butnowconcealmentisatanend，andIseeI

mustspeakout。’

Itperchedonthebackofachairandswayedtoandfro，likeaparrotonaswing。

’What’sthematternow？’saidAnthea。Shewasnotquitesogentleasusual，becauseshewasstillwearyfromtheexcitementoflastnight’scats。’I’mtiredofthingshappening。Ishan’tgoanywhereonthecarpet。I’mgoingtodarnmystockings。’

’Darn！’saidthePhoenix，’darn！Fromthoseyounglipsthesestrangeexpressions——’

’Mend，then，’saidAnthea，’withaneedleandwool。’

ThePhoenixopenedandshutitswingsthoughtfully。

’Yourstockings，’itsaid，’aremuchlessimportantthantheynowappeartoyou。Butthecarpet——lookatthebarewornpatches，lookatthegreatrentatyondercorner。Thecarpethasbeenyourfaithfulfriend——yourwillingservant。Howhaveyourequiteditsdevotedservice？’

’DearPhoenix，’Antheaurged，’don’ttalkinthathorridlecturingtone。YoumakemefeelasifI’ddonesomethingwrong。Andreallyitisawishingcarpet，andwehaven’tdoneanythingelsetoit——onlywishes。’

’Onlywishes，’repeatedthePhoenix，rufflingitsneckfeathersangrily，’andwhatsortofwishes？Wishingpeopletobeinagoodtemper，forinstance。Whatcarpetdidyoueverhearofthathadsuchawishaskedofit？Butthisnoblefabric，onwhichyoutramplesorecklessly’（everyoneremoveditsbootsfromthecarpetandstoodonthelinoleum），’thiscarpetneverflinched。Itdidwhatyouasked，butthewearandtearmusthavebeenawful。Andthenlastnight——Idon’tblameyouaboutthecatsandtherats，forthosewereitsownchoice；butwhatcarpetcouldstandaheavycowhangingontoitatonecorner？’

’Ishouldthinkthecatsandratswereworse，’saidRobert，’lookatalltheirclaws。’

’Yes，’saidthebird，’eleventhousandninehundredandfortyofthem——Idaresayyounoticed？Ishouldbesurprisedifthesehadnotlefttheirmark。’

’Goodgracious，’saidJane，sittingdownsuddenlyonthefloor，andpattingtheedgeofthecarpetsoftly；’doyoumeanit’sWEARINGOUT？’

’Itslifewithyouhasnotbeenaluxuriousone，’saidthePhoenix。

’Frenchmudtwice。Sandofsunnyshorestwice。Soakinginsouthernseasonce。Indiaonce。GoodnessknowswhereinPersiaonce。musk-rat-landonce。Andonce，whereverthecowcamefrom。

Holdyourcarpetuptothelight，andwithcautioustenderness，ifYOUplease。’

Withcautioustendernesstheboysheldthecarpetuptothelight；

thegirlslooked，andashiverofregretranthroughthemastheysawhowthoseeleventhoousandninehundredandfortyclawshadrunthroughthecarpet。Itwasfulloflittleholes：thereweresomelargeones，andmorethanonethinplace。Atonecornerastripofitwastorn，andhungforlornly。

’Wemustmendit，’saidAnthea；’nevermindaboutmystockings。I

cansewthemupinlumpswithsewingcottonifthere’snotimetodothemproperly。Iknowit’sawfulandnogirlwouldwhorespectedherself，andallthat；butthepoordearcarpet’smoreimportantthanmysillystockings。Let’sgooutnowthisveryminute。’

Soouttheyallwent，andboughtwooltomendthecarpet；butthereisnoshopinCamdenTownwhereyoucanbuywishing-wool，no，norinKentishTowneither。However，ordinaryScotchheather-mixturefingeringseemedgoodenough，andthistheybought，andallthat-dayJaneandAntheadarnedanddarnedanddarned。Theboyswentoutforawalkintheafternoon，andthegentlePhoenixpacedupanddownthetable——forexercise，asitsaid——andtalkedtotheindustriousgirlsabouttheircarpet。

’Itisnotanordinary，ignorant，innocentcarpetfromKidderminster，’itsaid，’itisacarpetwithapast——aPersianpast。Doyouknowthatinhappieryears，whenthatcarpetwasthepropertyofcaliphs，viziers，kings，andsultans，itneverlayonafloor？’

’Ithoughtthefloorwastheproperhomeofacarpet，’Janeinterrupted。

’NotofaMAGICcarpet，’saidthePhoenix；’why，ifithadbeenallowedtolieaboutonfloorstherewouldn’tbemuchofitleftnow。No，indeed！Ithaslivedinchestsofcedarwood，inlaidwithpearlandivory，wrappedinpricelesstissuesofclothofgold，embroideredwithgemsoffabulousvalue。Ithasreposedinthesandal-woodcasketsofprincesses，andintherose-attar-scentedtreasure-housesofkings。Never，never，hadanyonedegradeditbywalkingonit——exceptinthewayofbusiness，whenwisheswererequired，andthentheyalwaystooktheirshoesoff。AndYOU——’

’Oh，DON’T！’saidJane，veryneartears。’Youknowyou’dneverhavebeenhatchedatallifithadn’tbeenformotherwantingacarpetforustowalkon。’

’Youneedn’thavewalkedsomuchorsohard！’saidthebird，’butcome，drythatcrystaltear，andIwillrelatetoyouthestoryofthePrincessZulieka，thePrinceofAsia，andthemagiccarpet。’

’Relateaway，’saidAnthea——’Imean，pleasedo。’

’ThePrincessZulieka，fairestofroyalladies，’beganthebird，’hadinhercradlebeenthesubjectofseveralenchantments。Hergrandmotherhadbeeninherday——’

ButwhatinherdayZulieka’sgrandmotherhadbeenwasdestinednevertoberevealed，forCyrilandRobertsuddenlyburstintotheroom，andoneachbrowwerethetracesofdeepemotion。OnCyril’spalebrowstoodbeadsofagitationandperspiration，andonthescarletbrowofRobertwasalargeblacksmear。

’Whatailsyeboth？’askedthePhoenix，anditaddedtartlythatstory-tellingwasquiteimpossibleifpeoplewouldcomeinterruptinglikethat。

’Oh，doshutup，foranysake！’saidCyril，sinkingintoachair。

Robertsmoothedtheruffledgoldenfeathers，addingkindly——

’Squirreldoesn’tmeantobeabeast。It’sonlythattheMOST

AWFULthinghashappened，andstoriesdon’tseemtomattersomuch。

Don’tbecross。Youwon’tbewhenyou’veheardwhat’shappened。’

’Well，whatHAShappened？’saidthebird，stillrathercrossly；andAntheaandJanepausedwithlongneedlespoisedinair，andlongneedlefulsofScotchheather-mixturefingeringwooldroopingfromthem。

’Themostawfulthingyoucanpossiblythinkof，’saidCyril。

’Thatnicechap——ourownburglar——thepolicehavegothim，onsuspicionofstolencats。That’swhathisbrother’smissistoldme。’

’Oh，beginatthebeginning！’criedAntheaimpatiently。

’Well，then，wewentout，anddownbywheretheundertaker’sis，withthechinaflowersinthewindow——youknow。Therewasacrowd，andofcoursewewenttohaveasquint。Anditwastwobobbiesandourburglarbetweenthem，andhewasbeingdraggedalong；andhesaid，"ItellyouthemcatswasGIVEme。Igot’eminexchangeformemilkingacowinabasementparlourupCamdenTownway。"

’Andthepeoplelaughed。Beasts！Andthenoneofthepolicemensaidperhapshecouldgivethenameandaddressofthecow，andhesaid，no，hecouldn’t；buthecouldtakethemthereifthey’donlyleavegoofhiscoatcollar，andgivehimachancetogethisbreath。Andthepolicemansaidhecouldtellallthattothemagistrateinthemorning。Hedidn’tseeus，andsowecameaway。’

’Oh，Cyril，howCOULDyou？’saidAnthea。

’Don’tbeapudding-head，’Cyriladvised。’Afatlotofgooditwouldhavedoneifwe’dlethimseeus。Noonewouldhavebelievedawordwesaid。They’dhavethoughtwewerekidding。Wedidbetterthanlethimseeus。Weaskedaboywherehelivedandhetoldus，andwewentthere，andit’salittlegreengrocer’sshop，andweboughtsomeBrazilnuts。Heretheyare。’ThegirlswavedawaytheBrazilnutswithloathingandcontempt。

’Well，wehadtobuySOMETHING，andwhileweweremakingupourmindswhattobuyweheardhisbrother’smissistalking。Shesaidwhenhecamehomewithallthemmiaoulersshethoughttherewasmoreinitthanmettheeye。ButheWOULDgooutthismorningwiththetwolikeliestofthem，oneundereacharm。Shesaidhesentherouttobuyblueribbontoputroundtheirbeastlynecks，andshesaidifhegotthreemonths’harditwasherdyingwordthathe’dgottheblueribbontothankforit；that，andhisownsillythievingways，takingcatsthatanybodywouldknowhecouldn’thavecomebyinthewayofbusiness，insteadofthingsthatwouldn’thavebeenmissed，whichLordknowsthereareplentysuch，and——’

’Oh，STOP！’criedJane。Andindeeditwastime，forCyrilseemedlikeaclockthathadbeenwoundup，andcouldnothelpgoingon。

’Whereishenow？’

’Atthepolice-station，’saidRobert，forCyrilwasoutofbreath。

’Theboytoldusthey’dputhiminthecells，andwouldbringhimupbeforetheBeakinthemorning。Ithoughtitwasajollylarklastnight——gettinghimtotakethecats——butnow——’

’Theendofalark，’saidthePhoenix，’istheBeak。’

’Let’sgotohim，’criedboththegirlsjumpingup。’Let’sgoandtellthetruth。TheyMUSTbelieveus。’

’TheyCAN’T，’saidCyril。’Justthink！Ifanyonecametoyouwithsuchatale，youcouldn’tbelieveit，howevermuchyoutried。

Weshouldonlymixthingsupworseforhim。’

’Theremustbesomethingwecoulddo，’saidJane，sniffingverymuch——’myowndearpetburglar！Ican’tbearit。Andhewassonice，thewayhetalkedabouthisfather，andhowhewasgoingtobesoextrahonest。DearPhoenix，youMUSTbeabletohelpus。

You’resogoodandkindandprettyandclever。Do，dotelluswhattodo。’

ThePhoenixrubbeditsbeakthoughtfullywithitsclaw。

’Youmightrescuehim，’itsaid，’andconcealhimhere，tillthelaw-supportershadforgottenabouthim。’

’Thatwouldbeagesandages，’saidCyril，’andwecouldn’tconcealhimhere。Fathermightcomehomeatanymoment，andifhefoundtheburglarhereHEwouldn’tbelievethetruetruthanymorethanthepolicewould。That’stheworstofthetruth。Nobodyeverbelievesit。Couldn’twetakehimsomewhereelse？’

Janeclappedherhands。

’Thesunnysouthernshore！’shecried，’wherethecookisbeingqueen。Heandshewouldbecompanyforeachother！’

Andreallytheideadidnotseembad，ifonlyhewouldconsenttogo。

So，alltalkingatonce，thechildrenarrangedtowaittillevening，andthentoseekthedearburglarinhislonelycell。

MeantimeJaneandAntheadarnedawayashardastheycould，tomakethecarpetasstrongaspossible。Forallfelthowterribleitwouldbeifthepreciousburglar，whilebeingcarriedtothesunnysouthernshore，weretotumblethroughaholeinthecarpet，andbelostforeverinthesunnysouthernsea。

TheservantsweretiredafterMrsWigson’sparty，soeveryonewenttobedearly，andwhenthePhoenixreportedthatbothservantsweresnoringinaheartfeltandcandidmanner，thechildrengotup——theyhadneverundressed；justputtingtheirnightgownsonovertheirthingshadbeenenoughtodeceiveElizawhenshecametoturnoutthegas。Sotheywerereadyforanything，andtheystoodonthecarpetandsaid——

’Iwishwewereinourburglar’slonelycell。’andinstantlytheywere。

Ithinkeveryonehadexpectedthecelltobethe’deepestdungeonbelowthecastlemoat’。Iamsurenoonehaddoubtedthattheburglar，chainedbyheavyfetterstoaringinthedampstonewall，wouldbetossinguneasilyonabedofstraw，withapitcherofwaterandamoulderingcrust，untasted，besidehim。Robert，rememberingtheundergroundpassageandthetreasure，hadbroughtacandleandmatches，butthesewerenotneeded。