The Phoenix And The Carpet, Chapter 4

Join the children as they set off on another adventure on the magic carpet, this time without the phoenix. The journey takes them to India, to buy pretty things for their mother's stall at the Schools' Bazaar.

Transcript

Hello,

It's Mandy here.

Welcome back to The World of the Phoenix and the Carpet by E.

Nesbitt.

Tonight,

We're going to be reading chapter four,

And chapter four is called Two Bazaars.

But before we start,

Please go on right ahead and make yourself really comfortable.

Okay,

Then I'll begin.

Mother was really a great dear.

She was pretty and she was loving and most rightfully good when you were ill and always kind,

Almost always just.

That is,

She was just when she understood things.

But of course,

She didn't always understand things.

No one understands everything,

And mothers are not angels,

Although a good many of them come pretty close to it.

The children knew that mother always wanted to do what was best for them,

Even if she wasn't clever enough to know exactly what was the best.

That was why all of them,

But much more particularly Anthea,

Felt rather uncomfortable at keeping the great secret from her of the Wishing Carpet and the Phoenix.

And Anthea,

Whose inside mind was made so that she was able to be much more uncomfortable than the others,

Had decided that she must tell her mother the truth,

However little likely it was that her mother would believe it.

Then I shall have done what's right,

Said she to the Phoenix,

And if she doesn't believe me,

It won't be my fault,

Will it?

Not in the least,

Said the golden bird,

And she won't,

So you're quite safe.

Anthea chose a time when she was doing her home lessons.

They were algebra and Latin,

German,

English,

And Euclid,

And she asked her mother whether she might come and do them in the drawing room.

So as to be quiet,

She said to her mother.

And to herself,

She said,

And that's not the real reason,

I hope I shan't grow up a liar.

Mother said,

Of course,

Dearie.

And Anthea started swimming through a sea of Xs and Ys and Zs.

Mother was sitting at the mahogany bureau,

Writing letters.

Mother,

Dear,

Said Anthea.

Yes,

Lover Duck,

Said Mother.

About Cook,

Said Anthea.

I know where she is.

Do you,

Dear,

Said Mother.

Well,

I wouldn't take her back after the way she has behaved.

But it's not her fault,

Said Anthea.

May I tell you about it from the beginning?

Mother laid down her pen,

And her nice face had a resigned expression.

As you know,

A resigned expression always makes you want not to tell anybody anything.

It's like this,

Said Anthea.

The egg,

You know,

That egg that came in the carpet,

We put it in the fire,

And it hatched into a phoenix,

And the carpet was a wishing carpet.

And a very nice game,

Darling,

Said Mother,

Taking up her pen.

Now,

Do be quiet.

I've got a lot of letters to write.

I'm going to Bournemouth tomorrow with the lamb,

And there's that bazaar.

Anthea went back to X,

Y,

Z,

And Mother's pen scratched busily.

But Mother,

Said Anthea,

When Mother put down the pen to lick an envelope,

The carpet takes us wherever we like.

I wish it would take you where you could get a few nice Eastern things for my bazaar,

Said Mother.

I promised them,

And I've no time to go to Liberties now.

It shall,

Said Anthea,

But Mother.

Well,

Dear,

Said Mother,

A little impatiently,

For she had taken up her pen again.

The carpet took us to a place where you couldn't have whooping cough,

And the lamb hasn't whooped since,

And we took cook because she was so tiresome.

They thought her cap was a crown,

And,

Darling one,

Said Mother,

You know I love to hear the things you make up,

But I am most awfully busy.

But it's true,

Said Anthea,

Desperately.

You shouldn't say that,

My sweet,

Said Mother,

Gently.

And then,

Anthea knew,

It was hopeless.

Are you going away for long,

Asked Anthea.

I've got a cold,

Said Mother,

And Daddy's anxious about it,

And the lamb's cough.

But he hasn't coughed since Saturday,

The lamb's eldest sister interrupted.

I wish I could think so,

Mother replied,

And Daddy's got to go to Scotland.

I do hope you'll be good children.

We will,

We will,

Said Anthea,

Fervently.

When's the bazaar?

On Saturday,

Said Mother,

At the schools.

Oh,

Don't talk any more,

There's a treasure.

My head's going round,

And I've forgotten how to spell whooping cough.

So,

Mother and the lamb went away,

And Father went away,

And there was a new cook who looked so like a frightened rabbit that no one had the heart to do anything to frighten her any more than seemed natural to her.

The phoenix begged to be excused.

It said it wanted a week's rest,

And asked that it might not be disturbed,

And it hid its golden gleaming self,

And nobody could find it.

That when Wednesday afternoon brought an unexpected holiday,

And everyone decided to go somewhere on the carpet,

The journey had to be undertaken without the phoenix.

They were debarred from any carpet excursions in the evening by a sudden promise to Mother,

Exacted in the agitation of parting,

That they would not be out after six at night,

Except on Saturday,

When they were to go to the bazaar,

And they were pledged to put on their best clothes,

To wash themselves to the uttermost,

And to clean their nails,

Not with scissors,

Which are scratchy and bad,

But with flat,

Sharpened ends of wooden matches,

Which do no harm to anyone's nails.

"'Let's go and see the lamb,

' said Jane.

But everyone agreed that if they appeared suddenly in Bournemouth,

It would frighten Mother out of her wits,

If not into a fit.

So they sat on the carpet,

And thought,

And thought,

And thought,

Till they almost began to squint.

"'Look here,

' said Cyril.

"'I know.

"'Please,

Carpet,

Take us somewhere "'where we can see the lamb and Mother,

"'and no one can see us.

' "'Except the lamb,

' said Jane quickly.

And the next moment,

They found themselves recovering from the upside-down movement,

And there they were,

Sitting on the carpet,

And the carpet was laid out over another thick,

Soft carpet of brown pine needles.

There were green pine trees overhead,

And a swift,

Clear little stream was running as fast as ever it could be between steep banks,

And there,

Sitting on the pine-needle carpet,

Was Mother,

Without her hat,

And the sun was shining brightly,

Although it was November,

And there was the lamb,

As jolly as jolly,

And not hooping at all.

"'The carpets deceived us,

' said Robert,

Gloomily.

"'Mother will see us directly,

She turns her head.

' But the faithful carpet had not deceived them.

Mother turned her dear head,

And looked straight at them,

And didn't see them.

"'We're invisible,

' Cyril whispered.

"'What awful larks!

' But to the girls,

It wasn't larks at all.

"'It was horrible to have Mother looking straight at them,

"'and her face keeping the same,

"'just as though they weren't there.

' "'I don't like it,

' said Jane.

"'Mother never looked at us like that before.

"'Just as if she didn't love us,

"'as if we were somebody else's children,

"'and not very nice ones either,

"'as if she didn't care whether she saw us or not.

"'It is horrid,

' said I.

"'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' "'It is horrible to have Mother looking at us like that.

' And now the thoughts of all four dwelt fondly on the dear greenish face of Mother.

"'I wish she hadn't gone away,

' said Jane.

"'The house is simply beastly without her.

' "'I think we ought to do what she said,

' Anthea put in.

"'I saw something in a book the other day "'about the wishes of the departed being sacred.

' "'That means when they've departed farther off,

' said Cyril.

"'India's coral or Greenland's icy,

Don't you know?

"'Not Bournemouth.

"'Besides,

We don't know what her wishes are.

' "'She said,

' Anthea was very much inclined to cry,

"'she said,

Get Indian things for my bazaar.

"'But I know she thought we couldn't,

And it was only play.

' "'Let's get them all the same,

' said Robert.

"'We'll go first thing on Saturday morning.

' "'And on Saturday morning,

First thing,

They went.

' "'There was no finding the phoenix,

"'so they sat on the beautiful wishing carpet and said,

"'We want Indian things for Mother's bazaar.

"'Will you please take us where people "'will give us heaps of Indian things?

' "'The docile carpet swirled their senses away "'and restored them on the outskirts "'of a gleaming white Indian town.

"'They knew it was Indian at once "'by the shape of the domes and roofs.

"'And besides,

A man went by on an elephant "'and two English soldiers went along the road,

"'talking like in Mr Kipling's books.

"'So after that,

No one could have any doubt "'as to where they were.

"'They rolled up the carpet and Robert carried it "'and they walked bodily into the town.

"'It was very warm,

And once more,

"'they had to take off their London in November coats "'and carry them on their arms.

"'The streets were narrow and strange "'and the clothes of the people in the streets were strange "'and the talk of the people was strange.

"'I can't understand a word,

' said Cyril.

"'How on earth are we to ask for things for our bazaar?

' "'And they're poor people,

Too,

' said Jane.

"'I'm sure they are.

"'What we want is a ra-jar or something.

' "'Robert was beginning to unroll the carpet,

"'but the others stopped him,

"'imploring him not to waste a wish.

"'We asked the carpet to take us "'where we could get Indian things for bazaars,

' "'said Anthea.

"'And it will.

' "'Her faith was justified.

"'Just as she finished speaking,

"'a gentleman in a turban came up to them and bowed deeply.

"'He spoke and they thrilled to the sound of English words.

"'My Rani,

She thinks you very nice child.

"'She asks,

Do you lose yourselves "'and do you desire to sell carpet?

"'She see you from her palki.

"'You come to see her,

Yes?

' "'They followed the stranger "'and he led them through crooked streets "'to the Rani's palace.

' "'I'm not going to describe the Rani's palace "'because I really have never seen the palace of a Rani,

"'and Mr Kipling has,

"'so you can read about it in his books.

"'But I know exactly what happened there.

"'The old Rani sat on a low-cushioned seat "'and there were a lot of other ladies with her,

"'all in trousers and veils "'and sparkling with tinsel and gold and jewels.

"'And the turbaned gentleman "'stood behind a sort of carved screen "'and interpreted what the children said "'and what the queen said.

"'And when the queen asked to buy the carpet,

"'the children said,

No.

"'Why?

' asked the Rani.

"'And Jane briefly said,

Why,

"'and the interpreter interpreted.

"'The queen spoke and then the interpreter said,

"'My mistress says it is a good story "'and you tell it all through without thought of time.

"'And they had to.

"'It made a long story,

"'especially as it all had to be told twice,

"'once by Cyril and once by the interpreter.

"'Cyril rather enjoyed himself.

"'He warmed to his work "'and told the tale of the phoenix and the carpet "'and the lone tower and the queen cook "'in language that grew insensibly "'more and more Arabian Nazi.

"'And the Rani and her ladies "'listened to the interpreter "'and rolled about on their cushions with laughter.

"'When the story was ended,

She spoke "'and the interpreter explained that she'd said,

"'Little one,

Thou art a heaven-born teller of tales.

"'And she threw him a string of turquoises "'from around her neck.

"'Oh,

How lovely!

' cried Jane and Anthea.

"'Cyril bowed several times "'and then cleared his throat and said,

"'Thank her very,

Very much,

"'but I would much rather she gave me "'some of the cheap things in the bazaar.

"'Tell her I want to sell again "'and give the money to buy clothes "'for poor people who haven't any.

"'Tell him he has my leave to sell my gifts "'and clothe the naked with its price,

' "'said the queen when this was translated.

"'But Cyril said very firmly,

"'No,

Thank you.

"'The things have got to be sold today at our bazaar "'and no one would buy a turquoise necklace "'at an English bazaar.

"'They'd think it was sham "'or else they'd want to know where we got it.

' "'So the queen sent out for little pretty things "'and her servants piled the carpet with them.

"'I must needs lend you an elephant "'to carry them away,

' she said,

Laughing.

"'But Anthea said,

"'If the queen will lend us a comb "'and let us wash our hands and faces,

"'she shall see a magic thing.

"'We and the carpet and all these brass trays "'and pots and carved things and stuffs and things "'will vanish away like smoke.

' "'The queen clapped her hands at this idea "'and lent the children a sandalwood comb "'inlaid with ivory lotus flowers,

"'and they washed their faces and hands in silver basins.

"'Then Cyril made a very polite farewell speech "'and quite suddenly he ended with the words,

"'And I wish we were at the bazaar at our schools.

' "'And of course they were.

"'And the queen and her ladies "'were left with their mouths open,

"'gazing at the bare space on the inlaid marble floor "'where the carpet and the children had been.

"'That is magic,

If ever magic was,

' said the queen,

"'delighted with the incident,

"'which,

Indeed,

Has given the ladies of that court "'something to talk about on wet days ever since.

' "'Cyril's stories had taken some time.

"'So had the meal of strange sweet foods "'that they'd had while the little pretty things "'were being brought,

"'and the gas in the schoolroom was already lighted.

"'Outside,

The winter dusk "'was stealing down among the Camden townhouses.

"'I'm glad we got washed in India,

' said Cyril.

"'We should have been awfully late "'if we'd had to go home and scrub.

"'Besides,

' Robert said,

"'it's much warmer washing in India.

"'I shouldn't mind it so much if we lived there.

' "'The thoughtful carpet had dumped the children down "'in a dusky space behind the point "'where the corner of two stalls met.

"'The floor was littered with string and brown paper,

"'and baskets and boxes were heaped along the wall.

"'The children crept out under a stall "'covered with all sorts of table covers and mats and things,

"'embroidered beautifully by idle ladies "'with no real work to do.

"'They got out at the end,

"'displacing a sideboard cloth "'adorned with a tasteful pattern of blue geraniums.

"'The girls got out unobserved,

And so did Cyril,

"'but Robert,

As he cautiously emerged,

"'was actually walked on by Mrs Biddle,

"'who kept the stall.

"'Her large,

Solid foot stood firmly "'on the small,

Solid hand of Robert,

"'and who can blame Robert if he did yell a little?

"'A crowd instantly collected.

"'Yells are very unusual at bazaars,

"'and everyone was intensely interested.

"'It was several seconds "'before the three free children "'could make Mrs Biddle understand "'that what she was walking on "'was not the schoolroom floor,

"'or even,

As she presently supposed,

"'a dropped pincushion,

"'but the living hand of a suffering child.

"'When she became aware "'that she really had hurt him,

"'she grew very angry indeed.

"'When people have hurt other people by accident,

"'the one who does the hurting "'is always much the angriest.

"'I wonder why.

"'I'm very sorry,

I'm sure,

' said Mrs Biddle,

"'but she spoke more in anger than in sorrow.

"'Come out,

Whatever do you mean "'by creeping about under the stalls like earwigs?

"'We were looking at the things in the corner.

' "'Such nasty,

Prying ways,

' said Mrs Biddle,

"'will never make you successful in life.

"'There's nothing there but packing and dust.

' "'Oh,

Isn't there?

' said Jane.

"'That's all you know.

' "'Little girl,

Don't be rude,

' said Mrs Biddle,

"'flushing violet.

' "'She doesn't mean to be,

"'but there are some nice things there,

"'all the same,

' said Cyril,

"'who suddenly felt how impossible it was "'to inform the listening crowd "'that all the treasures piled on the carpet "'were Mother's contributions to the bazaar.

"'No one would believe it,

"'and if they did and wrote to thank Mother,

"'she would think,

"'well,

Goodness only knew what she would think.

"'The other three children felt the same.

' "'I should like to see them,

' said a very nice lady "'whose friends had disappointed her "'and who hoped that these might be "'belated contributions to her poorly furnished stall.

"'She looked inquiringly at Robert,

"'who said,

"'With pleasure,

Don't mention it,

' "'and dived back under Mrs Biddle's stall.

"'I wonder you encourage such behaviour,

' "'said Mrs Biddle.

"'I always speak my mind,

As you know,

Miss Peasmarsh,

"'and I must say I am surprised.

' "'She turned to the crowd.

"'There is no entertainment here,

' "'she said sternly.

"'A very naughty little boy "'has accidentally hurt himself,

"'but only slightly.

"'Will you please disperse?

"'It will only encourage him in naughtiness "'if he finds himself the centre of attention.

' "'The crowd slowly dispersed.

"'Anthea,

Speechless with fury,

"'heard a nice curate say,

"'Poor little beggar,

' "'and loved the curate at once and forever.

"'Then Robert wriggled out from under the stall "'with some Benares brass "'and some inlaid sandalwood boxes.

"'Liberty!

' cried Miss Peasmarsh.

"'Then Charles has not forgotten after all.

' "'Excuse me,

' said Mrs Biddle,

"'with fierce politeness.

"'These objects are deposited behind my stall.

"'Some unknown donor who does good by stealth "'and would blush if he could hear you claim the things.

"'Of course they are for me.

' "'My stall touches yours at the corner,

' "'said poor Miss Peasmarsh timidly,

"'and my cousin did promise.

' "'The children sidled away from the unequal contest "'and mingled with the crowd.

"'Their feelings were too deep for words "'till at last Robert said,

"'That stiff-starched pig!

' "'And after all our trouble,

"'I'm hoarse with gassing to that trousered lady in India.

' "'The pig lady's very,

Very nasty,

' said Jane.

"'It was Anthea who said in a hurried undertone,

"'She isn't very nice,

"'and Miss Peasmarsh is nice.

"'Who's got a pencil?

' "'It was a long crawl under three stalls,

"'but Anthea did it.

"'A large piece of pale blue paper "'lay among the rubbish in the corner.

"'She folded it to a square and wrote on it,

"'licking the pencil at every word "'to make it mark quite blackly.

"'All these Indian things "'are for nice Miss Peasmarsh's stall.

' "'She thought of adding,

"'There is nothing for Mrs Biddle.

' "'But she saw this might lead to suspicion,

"'so she wrote hastily,

"'From an unknown donner,

' "'and crept back among the boards and trestles "'to join the others.

"'So that when Mrs Biddle appealed "'to the bizarre committee "'and the corner of the stall was lifted and shifted "'so that stout clergymen and heavy ladies "'could get to the corner without creeping under stalls,

"'the blue paper was discovered "'and all the splendid shining Indian things "'were given over to Miss Peasmarsh "'and she sold them all and got £35 for them.

' "'I don't understand about that blue paper,

' "'said Mrs Biddle.

"'It looks to me like the work of a lunatic.

"'And saying you were nice,

"'it's not the work of a sane person.

' "'Anthea and Jane begged Miss Peasmarsh "'to let them help her to sell the things "'because it was their brother "'who had announced the good news "'that the things had come.

"'Miss Peasmarsh was very willing "'for now her stall that had been so neglected "'was surrounded by people who wanted to buy "'and she was glad to be helped.

' "'The children noted that Mrs Biddle "'had not more to do in the way of selling "'than she could manage quite well.

"'I hope they were not glad,

"'for you should forgive your enemies "'even if they walk on your hands,

"'then say it is all your naughty fault.

"'But I'm afraid they were not as sorry "'as they ought to have been.

' "'It took some time to arrange the things on the stall.

"'The carpet was spread over it "'and the dark colours showed up "'the brass and silver and ivory things.

"'It was a happy and busy afternoon "'and when Miss Peasmarsh and the girls "'had sold every single one "'of the little pretty things "'from the Indian bazaar far,

Far away,

"'Anthea and Jane went off with the boys "'to fish in the fish pond "'and dive into the bran pie "'and hear the cardboard band "'and the phonograph "'and the chorus of singing birds "'that was done behind a screen "'with glass tubes and glasses of water.

"'They had a beautiful tea,

"'suddenly presented to them by the nice curate,

"'and Miss Peasmarsh joined them "'before they'd had more than three cakes each.

"'It was a merry party "'and the curate was extremely pleasant to everyone.

"'We ought to get back to the stall,

' said Anthea,

"'where no one could possibly eat any more,

"'and the curate was talking in a low voice "'to Miss Peasmarsh about after Easter.

"'There's nothing much to go back for,

' said Miss Peasmarsh.

"'We've sold everything.

' "'There's the carpet,

' said Cyril.

"'Oh,

' said Miss Peasmarsh radiantly,

"'don't bother about the carpet.

"'I've sold even that.

"'Mrs Biddle gave me ten shillings for it.

"'She said it would do for her servant's bedroom.

"'Her servants don't have carpets.

"'We had cook from her and she told us so.

' "'No scandal about Queen Elizabeth,

If you please,

' "'said the curate cheerfully,

"'and Miss Peasmarsh laughed "'and looked at him as though she'd never dreamed "'that anyone could be so amusing.

"'But the others were struck dumb.

"'How could they say,

The carpet is ours?

"'For who brings carpets to bazaars?

' "'The children were now thoroughly wretched,

"'but I'm glad to say their wretchedness "'did not make them forget their manners,

"'as it does sometimes,

Even with grown-up people "'who ought to know ever so much better.

"'They said,

Thank you very much for the jolly tea "'and thanks for being so jolly "'and thanks awfully for giving us such a jolly time,

"'for the curate had stood fishponds "'and ram pies and phonographs "'and the chorus of singing birds "'and had stood them like a man.

"'The girls hugged Miss Peasmarsh "'and as they went away they heard the curate say,

"'Jolly little kids,

Yes,

But what about you?

"'You will let it be directly after Easter?

"'Ah,

Do say you will.

' "'And Jane ran back and said,

"'before Anthea could drag her away,

"'What is it that you're going to do after Easter?

"'Miss Peasmarsh smiled and looked very pretty "'and the curate said,

"'I hope I'm going to take a trip to the Fortunate Islands.

"'I wish we could take you on the wishing carpet,

' said Jane.

"'Thank you,

' said the curate,

"'but I'm afraid I can't wait for that.

"'I must go to the Fortunate Islands "'before they make me a bishop.

"'I should have no time afterwards.

' "'I've always thought I should marry a bishop,

' said Jane.

"'His aprons would come in so useful.

"'Wouldn't you like to marry a bishop,

Miss Peasmarsh?

' "'It was then that they dragged her away.

' "'As it was Robert's hand that Mrs Biddle had walked on,

"'it was decided that he had better not recall the incident to her mind "'and make her angry again.

"'Anthea and Jane had helped to sell things at the rival stall,

"'so they were not likely to be popular either.

"'A hasty council of four decided "'that Mrs Biddle would hate Cyril less than she would hate the others,

"'so the others mingled with the crowd,

"'and it was he who said to her,

"'Mrs Biddle,

We meant to have that carpet.

"'Would you sell it to us?

"'We will give you.

.

.

' "'Certainly not,

' said Mrs Biddle.

"'Go away,

Little boy.

' "'There was that in her tone "'which showed Cyril all too plainly the hopelessness of persuasion.

"'He found the others and said,

"'It's no use.

"'She's like a lioness robbed of its puppies.

"'We must watch where it goes,

"'and,

Anthea,

I don't care what you say,

"'it's our carpet.

"'It wouldn't be burglary.

"'It would be a sort of forlorn hope rescue party,

"'heroic and daring and dashing,

"'and not wrong at all.

' "'The children still wandered among the crowd,

"'but there was no pleasure there for them any more.

"'The chorus of singing birds "'sounded just like glass tubes being blown through water,

"'and the phonograph simply made a horrid noise "'so that you could hardly hear yourself speak.

"'And the people were buying things they couldn't possibly want,

"'and it all seemed very stupid.

"'And Mrs Biddle had bought the wishing carpet for ten shillings,

"'and the whole of life was sad and grey and dusty "'and smelt of slight gas escapes and hot people and cake and crumbs,

"'and all the children were very tired indeed.

"'They found a corner within sight of the carpet,

"'and there they waited miserably "'till it was far beyond their proper bedtime.

"'And when it was ten,

"'the people who had bought things went away,

"'but the people who had been selling "'stayed to count up their money.

"'And to jaw about it,

' said Robert,

"'I'll never go to another bazaar as long as I ever live.

"'My hand is swollen as big as a pudding.

"'I expect the nails in her horrible boots were poisoned.

' "'Just then,

Someone,

Who seemed to have a right to interfere,

Said,

"'Everything is over now.

You had better go home.

' "'So they went,

And then they waited on the pavement.

"'Under the gas lamp,

Where ragged children "'have been standing all the evening to listen to the band.

"'And their feet slipped about in the greasy mud "'till Mrs Biddle came out and was driven away in a cab "'with the many things she hadn't sold "'and the few things she had bought,

Amongst others the carpet.

"'The other stallholders were leaving their things at school "'till Monday morning,

"'but Mrs Biddle was afraid someone would steal some of them,

"'so she took them in a cab.

"'The children,

Now too desperate to care for mud or appearances,

"'hung on behind the cab till it reached Mrs Biddle's house.

"'When she and the carpet had gone in and the door was shut,

"'Anthea said,

Don't let's burgle.

"'I mean do daring and dashing rescue acts "'till we've given her a chance.

"'Let's ring and ask to see her.

"'The others hated to do this,

But at last they agreed,

"'on condition that Anthea would not make any silly fuss "'about the burglary afterwards,

If it really had to come to that.

"'So they knocked and rang "'and a scared-looking parlour maid opened the front door.

"'While they were asking for Mrs Biddle,

They saw her.

"'She was in the dining room and she had already pushed back the table "'and spread out the carpet to see how it looked on the floor.

"'I knew she didn't want it for her servant's bedroom,

' Jane muttered.

"'Anthea walked straight past the uncomfortable parlour maid "'and the others followed her.

"'Mrs Biddle had her back to them and was smoothing down the carpet "'with the same boot that had trampled on the hand of Robert.

"'So they were all in the room and Cyril,

With great presence of mind,

"'had shut the room door before she saw them.

"'Who is it,

Jane?

' she asked in a sour voice "'and then turning suddenly,

She saw who it was.

"'Once more her face grew violet,

A deep violet.

"'You wicked,

Daring little thing,

' she cried.

"'How dare you come here at this time of night,

Too!

"'Be off or I'll send for the police!

' "'Don't be angry,

' said Anthea soothingly.

"'We only wanted to ask you to let us have the carpet.

"'We have quite twelve shillings between us.

' "'How dare you!

' cried Mrs Biddle and her voice shook with angriness.

"'You do look horrid,

' said Jane suddenly.

"'Mrs Biddle actually stamped that booted foot of hers.

"'You rude,

Barefaced child,

' she said.

"'Anthea almost shook Jane,

But Jane pushed forward in spite of her.

"'It really is our nursery carpet,

' she said.

"'You ask anyone if it isn't.

' "'Let's wish ourselves home,

' said Cyril in a whisper.

"'No,

' Robert whispered back.

"'She'll be there,

Too,

And raving mad as likely as not.

' "'I wish Mrs Biddle was in an angelic good temper,

' cried Anthea suddenly.

"'It's worth trying,

' she said to herself.

"'Mrs Biddle's face grew from purple to violet "'and from violet to mauve and from mauve to pink.

"'Then she smiled,

Quite a jolly smile.

"'Why,

So I am,

' she said.

"'What a funny idea.

"'Why shouldn't I be in a good temper,

My dears?

' "'Once more the carpet had done its work,

And not on Mrs Biddle alone.

"'The children felt suddenly good and happy.

"'You're a jolly good sort,

' said Cyril.

"'I see that now.

"'I'm sorry we vexed you at the bazaar today.

' "'Not another word,

' said the changed Mrs Biddle.

"'Of course you shall have the carpet,

My dears,

"'if you've taken such a fancy to it.

"'No,

No,

I won't have more than the ten shillings I paid.

' "'It does seem hard to ask you for it "'after you brought it at the bazaar,

' said Anthea.

"'But it really is our nursery carpet.

"'It got to the bazaar by mistake with some other things.

' "'Did it really now?

How vexing,

' said Mrs Biddle kindly.

"'Well,

My dears,

I can very well give the extra ten shillings.

"'So you take your carpet and will say no more about it.

"'Have a piece of cake before you go.

"'I'm so sorry I stepped on your hand,

My boy.

"'Is it all right now?

' "'Yes,

Thank you,

' said Robert.

"'I say,

You are good.

' "'Not at all,

' said Mrs Biddle heartily.

"'I'm delighted to be able to give any little pleasure "'to you dear children.

' "'And she helped them to roll up the carpet "'and the boys carried it away between them.

"'You are a dear,

' said Anthea,

"'and she and Mrs Biddle kissed each other heartily.

"'Well,

' said Cyril.

"'Yes,

' said Robert.

"'And the odd part is that you feel just as if it was real,

"'her being so jolly,

I mean,

"'and not only the carpet making her nice.

' "'Perhaps it is real,

' said Anthea.

"'Only it was covered up with crossness and tiredness and things "'and the carpet took them away.

"'I hope it'll keep them away,

' said Jane.

"'She's lovely when she laughs.

"'A carpet has done many wonders in its day,

"'but the case of Mrs Biddle is,

I think,

The most wonderful,

"'for from that day she was never so disagreeable as she was before.

"'And she sent a lovely silver teapot and a kind letter "'to Miss Peasmarsh "'when the lovely lady married the nice curate,

"'just after Easter it was,

"'and they went to Italy for their honeymoon.

'" To be continued.

Reviews

I fell asleep first time listening so I had to listen again to find out what happened. Love this story! And I prefer no musical background, but that’s just one person’s opinion.

What a delightful crew! Thank you for all your reading❤️❤️❤️