第7章

Whendinnerwasfinishedtothelastgrapeandthelastpaddleinthefingerglasses——foritwasareallytrulygrown-updinner——thechildrenweretakentothetheatre，guidedtoaboxclosetothestage，andleft。

Father’spartingwordswere：’Now，don’tyoustiroutofthisbox，whateveryoudo。Ishallbebackbeforetheendoftheplay。Begoodandyouwillbehappy。Isthiszonetorridenoughfortheabandonmentofgreat-coats，Bobs？No？Well，then，Ishouldsayyouweresickeningforsomething——mumpsormeaslesorthrushorteething。Goodbye。’

Hewent，andRobertwasatlastabletoremovehiscoat，mophisperspiringbrow，andreleasethecrushedanddishevelledPhoenix。

Roberthadtoarrangehisdamphairatthelooking-glassatthebackofthebox，andthePhoenixhadtopreenitsdisorderedfeathersforsometimebeforeeitherofthemwasfittobeseen。

Theywerevery，veryearly。Whenthelightswentupfully，thePhoenix，balancingitselfonthegildedbackofachair，swayedinecstasy。

’Howfairasceneisthis！’itmurmured；’howfarfairerthanmytemple！OrhaveIguessedaright？Haveyoubroughtmehithertoliftupmyheartwithemotionsofjoyoussurprise？Tellme，myRobert，isitnotthatthis，THISismytruetemple，andtheotherwasbutahumbleshrinefrequentedbyoutcasts？’

’Idon’tknowaboutoutcasts，’saidRobert，’butyoucancallthisyourtempleifyoulike。Hush！themusicisbeginning。’

Iamnotgoingtotellyouabouttheplay。AsIsaidbefore，onecan’ttelleverything，andnodoubtyousaw’TheWaterBabies’

yourselves。Ifyoudidnotitwasashame，or，rather，apity。

WhatImusttellyouisthat，thoughCyrilandJaneandRobertandAntheaenjoyeditasmuchasanychildrenpossiblycould，thepleasureofthePhoenixwasfar，fargreaterthantheirs。

’Thisisindeedmytemple，’itsaidagainandagain。’Whatradiantrites！Andalltodohonourtome！’

Thesongsintheplayittooktobehymnsinitshonour。Thechoruseswerechoricsongsinitspraise。Theelectriclights，itsaid，weremagictorcheslightedforitssake，anditwassocharmedwiththefootlightsthatthechildrencouldhardlypersuadeittositstill。Butwhenthelimelightwasshownitcouldcontainitsapprovalnolonger。Itflappeditsgoldenwings，andcriedinavoicethatcouldbeheardalloverthetheatre：

’Welldone，myservants！Yehavemyfavourandmycountenance！’

LittleTomonthestagestoppedshortinwhathewassaying。A

deepbreathwasdrawnbyhundredsoflungs，everyeyeinthehouseturnedtotheboxwherethelucklesschildrencringed，andmostpeoplehissed，orsaid’Shish！’or’Turnthemout！’

Thentheplaywenton，andanattendantpresentlycametotheboxandspokewrathfully。

’Itwasn’tus，indeeditwasn’t，’saidAnthea，earnestly；’itwasthebird。’

Themansaidwell，then，theymustkeeptheirbirdveryquiet。

’Disturbingeveryonelikethis，’hesaid。

’Itwon’tdoitagain，’saidRobert，glancingimploringlyatthegoldenbird；’I’msureitwon’t。’

’Youhavemyleavetodepart，’saidthePhoenixgently。

’Well，heisabeauty，andnomistake，’saidtheattendant，’onlyI’dcoverhimupduringtheacts。Itupsetstheperformance。’

Andhewent。

’Don’tspeakagain，there’sadear，’saidAnthea；’youwouldn’tliketointerferewithyourowntemple，wouldyou？’

SonowthePhoenixwasquiet，butitkeptwhisperingtothechildren。Itwantedtoknowwhytherewasnoaltar，nofire，noincense，andbecamesoexcitedandfretfulandtiresomethatfouratleastofthepartyoffivewisheddeeplythatithadbeenleftathome。

WhathappenednextwasentirelythefaultofthePhoenix。Itwasnotintheleastthefaultofthetheatrepeople，andnoonecouldeverunderstandafterwardshowitdidhappen。Noone，thatis，excepttheguiltybirditselfandthefourchildren。ThePhoenixwasbalancingitselfonthegiltbackofthechair，swayingbackwardsandforwardsandupanddown，asyoumayseeyourowndomesticparrotdo。Imeanthegreyonewiththeredtail。Alleyeswereonthestage，wherethelobsterwasdelightingtheaudiencewiththatgemofasong，’Ifyoucan’twalkstraight，walksideways！’whenthePhoenixmurmuredwarmly——

’Noaltar，nofire，noincense！’andthen，beforeanyofthechildrencouldevenbegintothinkofstoppingit，itspreaditsbrightwingsandsweptroundthetheatre，brushingitsgleamingfeathersagainstdelicatehangingsandgildedwoodwork。

Itseemedtohavemadebutonecircularwing-sweep，suchasyoumayseeagullmakeovergreywateronastormyday。Nextmomentitwasperchedagainonthechair-back——andallroundthetheatre，whereithadpassed，littlesparksshoneliketinselseeds，thenlittlesmokewreathscurleduplikegrowingplants——littleflamesopenedlikeflower-buds。Peoplewhispered——thenpeopleshrieked。

’Fire！Fire！’Thecurtainwentdown——thelightswentup。

’Fire！’criedeveryone，andmadeforthedoors。

’Amagnificentidea！’saidthePhoenix，complacently。’Anenormousaltar——firesuppliedfreeofcharge。Doesn’ttheincensesmelldelicious？’

Theonlysmellwasthestiflingsmellofsmoke，ofburningsilk，orscorchingvarnish。

Thelittleflameshadopenednowintogreatflame-flowers。Thepeopleinthetheatrewereshoutingandpressingtowardsthedoors。

’Oh，howCOULDyou！’criedJane。’Let’sgetout。’

’Fathersaidstayhere，’saidAnthea，verypale，andtryingtospeakinherordinaryvoice。

’Hedidn’tmeanstayandberoasted，’saidRobert。’Noboysonburningdecksforme，thankyou。’

’Notmuch，’saidCyril，andheopenedthedoorofthebox。

Butafiercewaftofsmokeandhotairmadehimshutitagain。Itwasnotpossibletogetoutthatway。

Theylookedoverthefrontofthebox。Couldtheyclimbdown？

Itwouldbepossible，certainly；butwouldtheybemuchbetteroff？

’Lookatthepeople，’moanedAnthea；’wecouldn’tgetthrough。’

And，indeed，thecrowdroundthedoorslookedasthickasfliesinthejam-makingseason。

’Iwishwe’dneverseenthePhoenix，’criedJane。

EvenatthatawfulmomentRobertlookedroundtoseeifthebirdhadoverheardaspeechwhich，howevernatural，washardlypoliteorgrateful。

ThePhoenixwasgone。

’Lookhere，’saidCyril，’I’vereadaboutfiresinpapers；I’msureit’sallright。Let’swaithere，asfathersaid。’

’Wecan’tdoanythingelse，’saidAntheabitterly。

’Lookhere，’saidRobert，’I’mNOTfrightened——no，I’mnot。ThePhoenixhasneverbeenaskunkyet，andI’mcertainit’llseeusthroughsomehow。IbelieveinthePhoenix！’

’ThePhoenixthanksyou，ORobert，’saidagoldenvoiceathisfeet，andtherewasthePhoenixitself，ontheWishingCarpet。

’Quick！’itsaid。’Standonthoseportionsofthecarpetwhicharetrulyantiqueandauthentic——and——’

Asuddenjetofflamestoppeditswords。Alas！thePhoenixhadunconsciouslywarmedtoitssubject，andintheunintentionalheatofthemomenthadsetfiretotheparaffinwithwhichthatmorningthechildrenhadanointedthecarpet。Itburnedmerrily。Thechildrentriedinvaintostampitout。Theyhadtostandbackandletitburnitselfout。WhentheparaffinhadburnedawayitwasfoundthatithadtakenwithitallthedarnsofScotchheather-mixturefingering。Onlythefabricoftheoldcarpetwasleft——andthatwasfullofholes。

’Come，’saidthePhoenix，’I’mcoolnow。’

Thefourchildrengotontowhatwasleftofthecarpet。Verycarefultheywerenottoleavealegorahandhangingoveroneoftheholes。Itwasveryhot——thetheatrewasapitoffire。Everyoneelsehadgotout。

JanehadtositonAnthea’slap。

’Home！’saidCyril，andinstantlythecooldraughtfromunderthenurserydoorplayedupontheirlegsastheysat。Theywereallonthecarpetstill，andthecarpetwaslyinginitsproperplaceonthenurseryfloor，ascalmandunmovedasthoughithadneverbeentothetheatreortakenpartinafireinitslife。

Fourlongbreathsofdeepreliefwereinstantlybreathed。Thedraughtwhichtheyhadneverlikedbeforewasforthemomentquitepleasant。Andtheyweresafe。Andeveryoneelsewassafe。Thetheatrehadbeenquiteemptywhentheyleft。Everyonewassureofthat。

Theypresentlyfoundthemselvesalltalkingatonce。Somehownoneoftheiradventureshadgiventhemsomuchtotalkabout。Noneotherhadseemedsoreal。

’Didyounotice——？’theysaid，and’Doyouremember——？’

WhensuddenlyAnthea’sfaceturnedpaleunderthedirtwhichithadcollectedonitduringthefire。

’Oh，’shecried，’motherandfather！Oh，howawful！They’llthinkwe’reburnedtocinders。Oh，let’sgothisminuteandtellthemwearen’t。’

’Weshouldonlymissthem，’saidthesensibleCyril。

’Well——YOUgothen，’saidAnthea，’orIwill。Onlydowashyourfacefirst。Motherwillbesuretothinkyouareburnttoacinderifsheseesyouasblackasthat，andshe’llfaintorbeillorsomething。Oh，Iwishwe’dnevergottoknowthatPhoenix。’

’Hush！’saidRobert；’it’snousebeingrudetothebird。I

supposeitcan’thelpitsnature。Perhapswe’dbetterwashtoo。

NowIcometothinkofitmyhandsarerather——’

NoonehadnoticedthePhoenixsinceithadbiddenthemtosteponthecarpet。Andnoonenoticedthatnoonehadnoticed。

Allwerepartiallyclean，andCyrilwasjustplungingintohisgreat-coattogoandlookforhisparents——he，andnotunjustly，calleditlookingforaneedleinabundleofhay——whenthesoundoffather’slatchkeyinthefrontdoorsenteveryoneboundingupthestairs。

’Areyouallsafe？’criedmother’svoice；’areyouallsafe？’andthenextmomentshewaskneelingonthelinoleumofthehall，tryingtokissfourdampchildrenatonce，andlaughingandcryingbyturns，whilefatherstoodlookingonandsayinghewasblessedorsomething。

’Buthowdidyouguesswe’dcomehome，’saidCyril，later，wheneveryonewascalmenoughfortalking。

’Well，itwasratherarumthing。WeheardtheGarrickwasonfire，andofcoursewewentstraightthere，’saidfather，briskly。

’Wecouldn’tfindyou，ofcourse——andwecouldn’tgetin——butthefirementolduseveryonewassafelyout。AndthenIheardavoiceatmyearsay，"Cyril，Anthea，Robert，andJane"——andsomethingtouchedmeontheshoulder。Itwasagreatyellowpigeon，anditgotinthewayofmyseeingwho’dspoken。Itflutteredoff，andthensomeonesaidintheotherear，"They’resafeathome"；andwhenIturnedagain，toseewhoitwasspeaking，hangediftherewasn’tthatconfoundedpigeononmyothershoulder。Dazedbythefire，Isuppose。Yourmothersaiditwasthevoiceof——’

’Isaiditwasthebirdthatspoke，’saidmother，’andsoitwas。

OratleastIthoughtsothen。Itwasn’tapigeon。Itwasanorange-colouredcockatoo。Idon’tcarewhoitwasthatspoke。Itwastrueandyou’resafe。’

Motherbegantocryagain，andfathersaidbedwasagoodplaceafterthepleasuresofthestage。

Soeveryonewentthere。

RoberthadatalktothePhoenixthatnight。

’Oh，verywell，’saidthebird，whenRoberthadsaidwhathefelt，’didn’tyouknowthatIhadpoweroverfire？Donotdistressyourself。I，likemyhighpriestsinLombardStreet，canundotheworkofflames。Kindlyopenthecasement。’

Itflewout。

Thatwaswhythepaperssaidnextdaythatthefireatthetheatrehaddonelessdamagethanhadbeenanticipated。Asamatteroffactithaddonenone，forthePhoenixspentthenightinputtingthingsstraight。Howthemanagementaccountedforthis，andhowmanyofthetheatreofficialsstillbelievethattheyweremadonthatnightwillneverbeknown。

Nextdaymothersawtheburntholesinthecarpet。

’Itcaughtwhereitwasparaffiny，’saidAnthea。

’Imustgetridofthatcarpetatonce，’saidmother。

Butwhatthechildrensaidinsadwhisperstoeachother，astheyponderedoverlastnight’sevents，was——

’WemustgetridofthatPhoenix。’

CHAPTER12

THEENDOFTHEEND

’Egg，toast，tea，milk，tea-cupandsaucer，egg-spoon，knife，butter——that’sall，Ithink，’remarkedAnthea，assheputthelasttouchestomother’sbreakfast-tray，andwent，verycarefullyupthestairs，feelingforeverystepwithhertoes，andholdingontothetraywithallherfingers。Shecreptintomother’sroomandsetthetrayonachair。Thenshepulledoneoftheblindsupverysoftly。

’Isyourheadbetter，mammydear？’sheasked，inthesoftlittlevoicethatshekeptexpresslyformother’sheadaches。’I’vebroughtyourbrekkie，andI’veputthelittleclothwithclover-leavesonit，theoneImadeyou。’

’That’sverynice，’saidmothersleepily。

Antheaknewexactlywhattodoformotherswithheadacheswhohadbreakfastinbed。ShefetchedwarmwaterandputjustenougheaudeCologneinit，andbathedmother’sfaceandhandswiththesweet-scentedwater。Thenmotherwasabletothinkaboutbreakfast。

’Butwhat’sthematterwithmygirl？’sheasked，whenhereyesgotusedtothelight。

’Oh，I’msosorryyou’reill，’Antheasaid。’It’sthathorriblefireandyoubeingsofrightened。Fathersaidso。Andweallfeelasifitwasourfaults。Ican’texplain，but——’

’Itwasn’tyourfaultabit，youdarlinggoosie，’mothersaid。

’Howcoulditbe？’

’That’sjustwhatIcan’ttellyou，’saidAnthea。’Ihaven’tgotafutilebrainlikeyouandfather，tothinkofwaysofexplainingeverything。’

Motherlaughed。

’Myfutilebrain——ordidyoumeanfertile？——anyway，itfeelsverystiffandsorethismorning——butIshallbequiteallrightbyandby。Anddon’tbeasillylittlepetgirl。Thefirewasn’tyourfaults。No；Idon’twanttheegg，dear。I’llgotosleepagain，Ithink。Don’tyouworry。Andtellcooknottobothermeaboutmeals。Youcanorderwhatyoulikeforlunch。’

Antheaclosedthedoorverymousily，andinstantlywentdownstairsandorderedwhatshelikedforlunch。Sheorderedapairofturkeys，alargeplum-pudding，cheese-cakes，andalmondsandraisins。

Cooktoldhertogoalong，do。Andshemightaswellnothaveorderedanything，forwhenlunchcameitwasjusthashedmuttonandsemolinapudding，andcookhadforgottenthesippetsforthemuttonhashandthesemolinapuddingwasburnt。

WhenAnthearejoinedtheothersshefoundthemallplungedinthegloomwhereshewasherself。Foreveryoneknewthatthedaysofthecarpetwerenownumbered。Indeed，sowornwasitthatyoucouldalmosthavenumbereditsthreads。

Sothatnow，afternearlyamonthofmagichappenings，thetimewasathandwhenlifewouldhavetogooninthedull，ordinarywayandJane，Robert，Anthea，andCyrilwouldbejustinthesamepositionastheotherchildrenwholiveinCamdenTown，thechildrenwhomthesefourhadsooftenpitied，andperhapsalittledespised。

’Weshallbejustlikethem，’Cyrilsaid。

’Except，’saidRobert，’thatweshallhavemorethingstorememberandbesorrywehaven’tgot。’

’Mother’sgoingtosendawaythecarpetassoonasshe’swellenoughtoseeaboutthatcoconutmatting。Fancyuswithcoconut-matting——us！Andwe’vewalkedunderlivecoconut-treesontheislandwhereyoucan’thavewhooping-cough。’

’Prettyisland，’saidtheLamb；’paint-boxsandsandseaallshinysparkly。’

Hisbrothersandsistershadoftenwonderedwhetherherememberedthatisland。Nowtheyknewthathedid。

’Yes，’saidCyril；’nomorecheapreturntripsbycarpetforus——that’sadeadcert。’

Theywerealltalkingaboutthecarpet，butwhattheywereallthinkingaboutwasthePhoenix。

Thegoldenbirdhadbeensokind，sofriendly，sopolite，soinstructive——andnowithadsetfiretoatheatreandmademotherill。

Nobodyblamedthebird。Ithadactedinaperfectlynaturalmanner。Buteveryonesawthatitmustnotbeaskedtoprolongitsvisit。Indeed，inplainEnglishitmustbeaskedtogo！

Thefourchildrenfeltlikebasespiesandtreacherousfriends；andeachinitsmindwassayingwhooughtnottobetheonetotellthePhoenixthattherecouldnolongerbeaplaceforitinthathappyhomeinCamdenTown。Eachchildwasquitesurethatoneofthemoughttospeakoutinafairandmanlyway，butnobodywantedtobetheone。

Theycouldnottalkthewholethingoverastheywouldhavelikedtodo，becausethePhoenixitselfwasinthecupboard，amongtheblackbeetlesandtheoddshoesandthebrokenchessmen。

ButAntheatried。

’It’sveryhorrid。Idohatethinkingthingsaboutpeople，andnotbeingabletosaythethingsyou’rethinkingbecauseofthewaytheywouldfeelwhentheythoughtwhatthingsyouwerethinking，andwonderedwhatthey’ddonetomakeyouthinkthingslikethat，andwhyyouwerethinkingthem。’

AntheawassoanxiousthatthePhoenixshouldnotunderstandwhatshesaidthatshemadeaspeechcompletelybafflingtoall。ItwasnottillshepointedtothecupboardinwhichallbelievedthePhoenixtobethatCyrilunderstood。

’Yes，’hesaid，whileJaneandRobertweretryingtotelleachotherhowdeeplytheydidn’tunderstandwhatAntheaweresaying；

’butafterrecenteventfulnessesanewleafhastobeturnedover，and，afterall，motherismoreimportantthanthefeelingsofanyofthelowerformsofcreation，howeverunnatural。’

’Howbeautifullyyoudodoit，’saidAnthea，absentlybeginningtobuildacard-housefortheLamb——’mixingupwhatyou’resaying，I

mean。Weoughttopractisedoingitsoastobereadyformysteriousoccasions。We’retalkingaboutTHAT，’shesaidtoJaneandRobert，frowning，andnoddingtowardsthecupboardwherethePhoenixwas。ThenRobertandJaneunderstood，andeachopeneditsmouthtospeak。

’Waitaminute，’saidAntheaquickly；’thegameistotwistupwhatyouwanttosaysothatnoonecanunderstandwhatyou’resayingexceptthepeopleyouwanttounderstandit，andsometimesnotthem。’

’Theancientphilosophers，’saidagoldenvoice，’Wellunderstoodtheartofwhichyouspeak。’

OfcourseitwasthePhoenix，whohadnotbeeninthecupboardatall，buthadbeencockingagoldeneyeatthemfromthecorniceduringthewholeconversation。

’Prettydickie！’remarkedtheLamb。’CANARYdickie！’

’Poormisguidedinfant，’saidthePhoenix。

Therewasapainfulpause；thefourcouldnotbutthinkitlikelythatthePhoenixhadunderstoodtheirveryveiledallusions，accompaniedastheyhadbeenbygesturesindicatingthecupboard。

ForthePhoenixwasnotwantinginintelligence。

’Wewerejustsaying——’Cyrilbegan，andIhopehewasnotgoingtosayanythingbutthetruth。Whateveritwashedidnotsayit，forthePhoenixinterruptedhim，andallbreathedmorefreelyasitspoke。

’Igather，’itsaid，’thatyouhavesometidingsofafatalnaturetocommunicatetoourdegradedblackbrotherswhoruntoandfroforeveryonder。’Itpointedaclawatthecupboard，wheretheblackbeetleslived。

’CanaryTALK，’saidtheLambjoyously；’goandshowmammy。’

HewriggledoffAnthea’slap。

’Mammy’sasleep，’saidJane，hastily。’Comeandbewildbeastsinacageunderthetable。’

ButtheLambcaughthisfeetandhands，andevenhishead，sooftenandsodeeplyintheholesofthecarpetthatthecage，ortable，hadtobemovedontothelinoleum，andthecarpetlaybaretosightwithallitshorridholes。

’Ah，’saidthebird，’itisn’tlongforthisworld。’

’No，’saidRobert；’everythingcomestoanend。It’sawful。’

’Sometimestheendispeace，’remarkedthePhoenix。’Iimaginethatunlessitcomessoontheendofyourcarpetwillbepieces。’

’Yes，’saidCyril，respectfullykickingwhatwasleftofthecarpet。ThemovementofitsbrightcolourscaughttheeyeoftheLamb，whowentdownonallfoursinstantlyandbegantopullattheredandbluethreads。

’Aggedydaggedygaggedy，’murmuredtheLamb；’daggedyagagag！’

Andbeforeanyonecouldhavewinked（eveniftheyhadwantedto，anditwouldnothavebeenoftheslightestuse）themiddleofthefloorshowedbare，anislandofboardssurroundedbyaseaoflinoleum。Themagiccarpetwasgone，ANDSOWASTHELAMB！

Therewasahorriblesilence。TheLamb——thebaby，allalone——hadbeenwaftedawayonthatuntrustworthycarpet，sofullofholesandmagic。Andnoonecouldknowwherehewas。Andnoonecouldfollowhimbecausetherewasnownocarpettofollowon。

Janeburstintotears，butAnthea，thoughpaleandfrantic，wasdry-eyed。

’ItMUSTbeadream，’shesaid。

’That’swhattheclergymansaid，’remarkedRobertforlornly；’butitwasn’t，anditisn’t。’

’ButtheLambneverwished，’saidCyril；’hewasonlytalkingBosh。’

’Thecarpetunderstandsallspeech，’saidthePhoenix，’evenBosh。

IknownotthisBoshland，butbeassuredthatitstongueisnotunknowntothecarpet。’

’Doyoumean，then，’saidAnthea，inwhiteterror，’thatwhenhewassaying"Aggletydag，"orwhateveritwas，thathemeantsomethingbyit？’

’Allspeechhasmeaning，’saidthePhoenix。

’ThereIthinkyou’rewrong，’saidCyril；’evenpeoplewhotalkEnglishsometimessaythingsthatdon’tmeananythinginparticular。’

’Oh，nevermindthatnow，’moanedAnthea；’youthink"Aggetydag"

meantsomethingtohimandthecarpet？’

’Beyonddoubtitheldthesamemeaningtothecarpetastothelucklessinfant，’thePhoenixsaidcalmly。

’AndWHATdiditmean？OhWHAT？’

’Unfortunately，’thebirdrejoined，’IneverstudiedBosh。’

Janesobbednoisily，buttheotherswerecalmwithwhatissometimescalledthecalmnessofdespair。TheLambwasgone——theLamb，theirownpreciousbabybrother——whohadneverinhishappylittlelifebeenforamomentoutofthesightofeyesthatlovedhim——hewasgone。Hehadgonealoneintothegreatworldwithnoothercompanionandprotectorthanacarpetwithholesinit。Thechildrenhadneverreallyunderstoodbeforewhatanenormouslybigplacetheworldis。AndtheLambmightbeanywhereinit！

’Andit’snousegoingtolookforhim。’Cyril，inflatandwretchedtones，onlysaidwhattheotherswerethinking。

’Doyouwishhimtoreturn？’thePhoenixasked；itseemedtospeakwithsomesurprise。

’Ofcoursewedo！’criedeverybody。

’Isn’themoretroublethanhe’sworth？’askedthebirddoubtfully。

’No，no。Oh，wedowanthimback！Wedo！’

’Then，’saidthewearerofgoldplumage，’ifyou’llexcuseme，I’lljustpopoutandseewhatIcando。’

Cyrilflungopenthewindow，andthePhoenixpoppedout。

’Oh，ifonlymothergoesonsleeping！Oh，supposeshewakesupandwantstheLamb！Oh，supposetheservantscome！Stopcrying，Jane。

It’snoearthlygood。No，I’mnotcryingmyself——atleastIwasn’ttillyousaidso，andIshouldn’tanywayif——iftherewasanymortalthingwecoulddo。Oh，oh，oh！’

CyrilandRobertwereboys，andboysnevercry，ofcourse。Still，thepositionwasaterribleone，andIdonotwonderthattheymadefacesintheireffortstobehaveinareallymanlyway。

Andatthisawfulmomentmother’sbellrang。

Abreathlessstillnessheldthechildren。ThenAntheadriedhereyes。Shelookedroundherandcaughtupthepoker。ShehelditouttoCyril。

’Hitmyhandhard，’shesaid；’Imustshowmothersomereasonformyeyesbeingliketheyare。Harder，’shecriedasCyrilgentlytappedherwiththeironhandle。AndCyril，agitatedandtrembling，nervedhimselftohitharder，andhitverymuchharderthanheintended。

Antheascreamed。

’Oh，Panther，Ididn’tmeantohurt，really，’criedCyril，clatteringthepokerbackintothefender。

’It’s——all——right，’saidAntheabreathlessly，claspingthehurthandwiththeonethatwasn’thurt；’it’s——getting——red。’

Itwas——aroundredandbluebumpwasrisingonthebackofit。

’Now，Robert，’shesaid，tryingtobreathemoreevenly，’yougoout——oh，Idon’tknowwhere——ontothedustbin——anywhere——andI

shalltellmotheryouandtheLambareout。’

Antheawasnowreadytodeceivehermotherforaslongasevershecould。Deceitisverywrong，weknow，butitseemedtoAntheathatitwasherplaindutytokeephermotherfrombeingfrightenedabouttheLambaslongaspossible。AndthePhoenixmighthelp。

’Italwayshashelped，’Robertsaid；’itgotusoutofthetower，andevenwhenitmadethefireinthetheatreitgotusoutallright。I’mcertainitwillmanagesomehow。’

Mother’sbellrangagain。

’Oh，Eliza’sneveransweredit，’criedAnthea；’sheneverdoes。

Oh，Imustgo。’

Andshewent。

Herheartbeatbumpinglyassheclimbedthestairs。Motherwouldbecertaintonoticehereyes——well，herhandwouldaccountforthat。ButtheLamb——

’No，ImustNOTthinkoftheLamb，shesaidtoherself，andbithertonguetillhereyeswateredagain，soastogiveherselfsomethingelsetothinkof。Herarmsandlegsandback，andevenhertear-reddenedface，feltstiffwithherresolutionnottoletmotherbeworriedifshecouldhelpit。

Sheopenedthedoorsoftly。

’Yes，mother？’shesaid。

’Dearest，’saidmother，’theLamb——’

Antheatriedtobebrave。ShetriedtosaythattheLambandRobertwereout。Perhapsshetriedtoohard。Anyway，whensheopenedhermouthnowordscame。Soshestoodwithitopen。Itseemedeasiertokeepfromcryingwithone’smouthinthatunusualposition。

’TheLamb，’motherwenton；’hewasverygoodatfirst，buthe’spulledthetoilet-coveroffthedressing-tablewithallthebrushesandpotsandthings，andnowhe’ssoquietI’msurehe’sinsomedreadfulmischief。AndIcan’tseehimfromhere，andifI’dgotoutofbedtoseeI’msureIshouldhavefainted。’

’Doyoumeanhe’sHERE？’saidAnthea。

’Ofcoursehe’shere，’saidmother，alittleimpatiently。’Wheredidyouthinkhewas？’

Antheawentroundthefootofthebigmahoganybed。Therewasapause。

’He’snothereNOW，’shesaid。

Thathehadbeentherewasplain，fromthetoilet-coveronthefloor，thescatteredpotsandbottles，thewanderingbrushesandcombs，allinvolvedinthetangleofribbonsandlaceswhichanopendrawerhadyieldedtothebaby’sinquisitivefingers。

’Hemusthavecreptout，then，’saidmother；’dokeephimwithyou，there’sadarling。IfIdon’tgetsomesleepIshallbeawreckwhenfathercomeshome。’

Antheaclosedthedoorsoftly。Thenshetoredownstairsandburstintothenursery，crying——

’Hemusthavewishedhewaswithmother。He’sbeenthereallthetime。"Aggetydag——"’

Theunusualwordwasfrozenonherlip，aspeoplesayinbooks。

Forthere，onthefloor，laythecarpet，andonthecarpet，surroundedbyhisbrothersandbyJane，sattheLamb。Hehadcoveredhisfaceandclotheswithvaselineandvioletpowder，buthewaseasilyrecognizableinspiteofthisdisguise。

’Youareright，’saidthePhoenix，whowasalsopresent；’itisevidentthat，asyousay，"Aggetydag"isBoshfor"Iwanttobewheremymotheris，"andsothefaithfulcarpetunderstoodit。’

’Buthow，’saidAnthea，catchinguptheLambandhugginghim——’howdidhegetbackhere？’

’Oh，’saidthePhoenix，’IflewtothePsammeadandwishedthatyourinfantbrotherwererestoredtoyourmidst，andimmediatelyitwasso。’

’Oh，Iamglad，Iamglad！’criedAnthea，stillhuggingthebaby。

’Oh，youdarling！Shutup，Jane！Idon’tcareHOWmuchhecomesoffonme！Cyril！YouandRobertrollthatcarpetupandputitinthebeetle-cupboard。Hemightsay"Aggetydag"again，anditmightmeansomethingquitedifferentnexttime。Now，myLamb，Panther’llcleanyoualittle。Comeon。’

’Ihopethebeetleswon’tgowishing，’saidCyril，astheyrolledupthecarpet。

Twodayslatermotherwaswellenoughtogoout，andthateveningthecoconutmattingcamehome。Thechildrenhadtalkedandtalked，andthoughtandthought，buttheyhadnotfoundanypolitewayoftellingthePhoenixthattheydidnotwantittostayanylonger。

Thedayshadbeendaysspentbythechildreninembarrassment，andbythePhoenixinsleep。

And，nowthemattingwaslaiddown，thePhoenixawokeandfluttereddownontoit。

Itshookitscrestedhead。

’Ilikenotthiscarpet，’itsaid；’itisharshandunyielding，andithurtsmygoldenfeet。’

’We’vejollywellgottogetusedtoitshurtingOURgoldenfeet，’

saidCyril。

’This，then，’saidthebird，’supersedestheWishingCarpet。’

’Yes，’saidRobert，’ifyoumeanthatit’sinsteadofit。’

’Andthemagicweb？’inquiredthePhoenix，withsuddeneagerness。

’It’stherag-and-bottleman’sdayto-morrow，’saidAnthea，inalowvoice；’hewilltakeitaway。’

ThePhoenixfluttereduptoitsfavouriteperchonthechair-back。

’Hearme！’itcried，’ohyouthfulchildrenofmen，andrestrainyourtearsofmiseryanddespair，forwhatmustbemustbe，andI

wouldnotrememberyou，thousandsofyearshence，asbaseingratesandcrawlingwormscompactoflowselfishness。’

’Ishouldhopenot，indeed，’saidCyril。

’Weepnot，’thebirdwenton；’Ireallydobegthatyouwon’tweep。

Iwillnotseektobreakthenewstoyougently。Lettheblowfallatonce。ThetimehascomewhenImustleaveyou。’

Allfourchildrenbreathedforthalongsighofrelief。

’Weneedn’thavebotheredsoabouthowtobreakthenewstoit，’

whisperedCyril。

’Ah，sighnotso，’saidthebird，gently。’Allmeetingsendinpartings。Imustleaveyou。Ihavesoughttoprepareyouforthis。Ah，donotgiveway！’

’Mustyoureallygo——sosoon？’murmuredAnthea。Itwaswhatshehadoftenheardhermothersaytocallingladiesintheafternoon。

’Imust，really；thankyousomuch，dear，’repliedthebird，justasthoughithadbeenoneoftheladies。

’Iamweary，’itwenton。’Idesiretorest——afterallthehappeningsofthislastmoonIdodesirereallytorest，andIaskofyouonelastboon。’

’Anylittlethingwecando，’saidRobert。

NowthatithadreallycometopartingwiththePhoenix，whosefavouritehehadalwaysbeen，RobertdidfeelalmostasmiserableasthePhoenixthoughttheyalldid。

’Iaskbuttherelicdesignedfortherag-and-bottleman。Givemewhatisleftofthecarpetandletmego。’

’Darewe？’saidAnthea。’Wouldmothermind？’

’Ihavedaredgreatlyforyoursakes，’remarkedthebird。

’Well，then，wewill，’saidRobert。

ThePhoenixfluffedoutitsfeathersjoyously。

’Norshallyouregretit，childrenofgoldenhearts，’itsaid。

’Quick——spreadthecarpetandleavemealone；butfirstpilehighthefire。Then，whileIamimmersedinthesacredpreliminaryrites，doyepreparesweet-smellingwoodsandspicesforthelastactofparting。’

Thechildrenspreadoutwhatwasleftofthecarpet。And，afterall，thoughthiswasjustwhattheywouldhavewishedtohavehappened，allheartsweresad。Thentheyputhalfascuttleofcoalonthefireandwentout，closingthedooronthePhoenix——left，atlast，alonewiththecarpet。

’Oneofusmustkeepwatch，’saidRobert，excitedly，assoonastheywerealloutoftheroom，’andtheotherscangoandbuysweetwoodsandspices。Gettheverybestthatmoneycanbuy，andplentyofthem。Don’tlet’sstandtoathreepenceorso。Iwantittohaveajollygoodsend-off。It’stheonlythingthat’llmakeusfeellesshorridinside。’

ItwasfeltthatRobert，asthepetofthePhoenix，oughttohavethelastmelancholypleasureofchoosingthematerialsforitsfuneralpyre。

’I’llkeepwatchifyoulike，’saidCyril。’Idon’tmind。And，besides，it’sraininghard，andmybootsletinthewet。Youmightcallandseeifmyotheronesare"reallyreliable"againyet。’

SotheyleftCyril，standinglikeaRomansentineloutsidethedoorinsidewhichthePhoenixwasgettingreadyforthegreatchange，andtheyallwentouttobuythepreciousthingsforthelastsadrites。

’Robertisright，’Antheasaid；’thisisnotimeforbeingcarefulaboutourmoney。Let’sgotothestationer’sfirst，andbuyawholepacketoflead-pencils。They’recheaperifyoubuythembythepacket。’

Thiswasathingthattheyhadalwayswantedtodo，butitneededthegreatexcitementofafuneralpyreandapartingfromabelovedPhoenixtoscrewthemuptotheextravagance。

Thepeopleatthestationer’ssaidthatthepencilswererealcedar-wood，soIhopetheywere，forstationersshouldalwaysspeakthetruth。Atanyratetheycostone-and-fourpence。Alsotheyspentsevenpencethree-farthingsonalittlesandal-woodboxinlaidwithivory。

’Because，’saidAnthea，’Iknowsandalwoodsmellssweet，andwhenit’sburneditsmellsverysweetindeed。’

’Ivorydoesn’tsmellatall，’saidRobert，’butIexpectwhenyouburnititsmellsmostawfulvile，likebones。’

Atthegrocer’stheyboughtallthespicestheycouldrememberthenamesof——shell-likemace，cloveslikebluntnails，peppercorns，thelongandtheroundkind；ginger，thedrysort，ofcourse；andthebeautifulbloom-coveredshellsoffragrantcinnamon。Allspicetoo，andcarawayseeds（carawayseedsthatsmeltmostdeadlywhenthetimecameforburningthem）。

Camphorandoiloflavenderwereboughtatthechemist’s，andalsoalittlescentsachetlabelled’ViolettesdeParme’。

TheytookthethingshomeandfoundCyrilstillonguard。WhentheyhadknockedandthegoldenvoiceofthePhoenixhadsaid’Comein，’theywentin。

Therelaythecarpet——orwhatwasleftofit——andonitlayanegg，exactlyliketheoneoutofwhichthePhoenixhadbeenhatched。

ThePhoenixwaswalkingroundandroundtheegg，cluckingwithjoyandpride。

’I’velaidit，yousee，’itsaid，’andasfineaneggaseverI

laidinallmyborndays。’

Everyonesaidyes，itwasindeedabeauty。

Thethingswhichthechildrenhadboughtwerenowtakenoutoftheirpapersandarrangedonthetable，andwhenthePhoenixhadbeenpersuadedtoleaveitseggforamomentandlookatthematerialsforitslastfireitwasquiteovercome。

’Never，neverhaveIhadafinerpyrethanthiswillbe。Youshallnotregretit，’itsaid，wipingawayagoldentear。’Writequickly："GoandtellthePsammeadtofulfilthelastwishofthePhoenix，andreturninstantly"。’

ButRobertwishedtobepoliteandhewrote——

’PleasegoandaskthePsammeadtobesokindastofulfilthePhoenix’slastwish，andcomestraightback，ifyouplease。’

Thepaperwaspinnedtothecarpet，whichvanishedandreturnedintheflashofaneye。

Thenanotherpaperwaswrittenorderingthecarpettotaketheeggsomewherewhereitwouldn’tbehatchedforanothertwothousandyears。ThePhoenixtoreitselfawayfromitscherishedegg，whichitwatchedwithyearningtendernesstill，thepaperbeingpinnedon，thecarpethastilyrolleditselfuproundtheegg，andbothvanishedforeverfromthenurseryofthehouseinCamdenTown。

’Oh，dear！oh，dear！oh，dear！’saideverybody。

’Bearup，’saidthebird；’doyouthink_I_don’tsuffer，beingpartedfrommypreciousnew-laidegglikethis？Come，conqueryouremotionsandbuildmyfire。’

’OH！’criedRobert，suddenly，andwhollybreakingdown，’Ican’tBEARyoutogo！’

ThePhoenixperchedonhisshoulderandrubbeditsbeaksoftlyagainsthisear。

’Thesorrowsofyouthsoonappearbutasdreams，’itsaid。

’Farewell，Robertofmyheart。Ihavelovedyouwell。’

Thefirehadburnttoaredglow。Onebyonethespicesandsweetwoodswerelaidonit。Somesmeltniceandsome——thecarawayseedsandtheViolettesdeParmesachetamongthem——smeltworsethanyouwouldthinkpossible。

’Farewell，farewell，farewell，farewell！’saidthePhoenix，inafar-awayvoice。

’Oh，GOOD-BYE，’saideveryone，andnowallwereintears。

Thebrightbirdflutteredseventimesroundtheroomandsettledinthehotheartofthefire。Thesweetgumsandspicesandwoodsflaredandflickeredaroundit，butitsgoldenfeathersdidnotburn。Itseemedtogrowred-hottotheveryinsideheartofit——andthenbeforetheeighteyesofitsfriendsitfelltogether，aheapofwhiteashes，andtheflamesofthecedarpencilsandthesandal-woodboxmetandjoinedaboveit。

’Whateverhaveyoudonewiththecarpet？’askedmothernextday。

’Wegaveittosomeonewhowanteditverymuch。ThenamebeganwithaP，’saidJane。

Theothersinstantlyhushedher。

’Oh，well，itwasn’tworthtwopence，’saidmother。

’ThepersonwhobeganwithPsaidweshouldn’tlosebyit，’Janewentonbeforeshecouldbestopped。

’Idaresay！’saidmother，laughing。

Butthatverynightagreatboxcame，addressedtothechildrenbyalltheirnames。Elizanevercouldrememberthenameofthecarrierwhobroughtit。Itwasn’tCarterPatersonortheParcelsDelivery。

Itwasinstantlyopened。Itwasabigwoodenbox，andithadtobeopenedwithahammerandthekitchenpoker；thelongnailscamesqueakingout，andboardsscrunchedastheywerewrenchedoff。

Insidetheboxwassoftpaper，withbeautifulChinesepatternsonit——blueandgreenandredandviolet。Andunderthepaper——well，almosteverythinglovelythatyoucanthinkof。Everythingofreasonablesize，Imean；for，ofcourse，therewerenomotorsorflyingmachinesorthoroughbredchargers。Buttherereallywasalmosteverythingelse。Everythingthatthechildrenhadalwayswanted——toysandgamesandbooks，andchocolateandcandiedcherriesandpaint-boxesandphotographiccameras，andallthepresentstheyhadalwayswantedtogivetofatherandmotherandtheLamb，onlytheyhadneverhadthemoneyforthem。Attheverybottomoftheboxwasatinygoldenfeather。NoonesawitbutRobert，andhepickeditupandhiditinthebreastofhisjacket，whichhadbeensooftenthenesting-placeofthegoldenbird。Whenhewenttobedthefeatherwasgone。ItwasthelastheeversawofthePhoenix。

Pinnedtothelovelyfurcloakthatmotherhadalwayswantedwasapaper，anditsaid——

’Inreturnforthecarpet。Withgratitude。——P。’

Youmayguesshowfatherandmothertalkeditover。Theydecidedatlastthepersonwhohadhadthecarpet，andwhom，curiouslyenough，thechildrenwerequiteunabletodescribe，mustbeaninsanemillionairewhoamusedhimselfbyplayingatbeingarag-and-boneman。Butthechildrenknewbetter。

Theyknewthatthiswasthefulfilment，bythepowerfulPsammead，ofthelastwishofthePhoenix，andthatthisgloriousanddelightfulboxfuloftreasureswasreallythevery，very，veryendofthePhoenixandtheCarpet。