Martha merely dratted Cyril's impudence and tried to shut the door in
his face.

"I know we _look_ different, but I'm Anthea, and we're so tired, and
it's long past dinner-time."

"Then go home to your dinners, whoever you are; and if our children put
you up to this play-acting you can tell them from me they'll catch it,
so they know what to expect!" With that she did bang the door. Cyril
rang the bell violently. No answer. Presently cook put her head out of a
bedroom window and said--

"If you don't take yourselves off, and that precious sharp, I'll go and
fetch the police." And she slammed down the window.

"It's no good," said Anthea. "Oh, do, do come away before we get sent to
prison!"

The boys said it was nonsense, and the law of England couldn't put you
in prison for just being as beautiful as the day, but all the same they
followed the others out into the lane.

"We shall be our proper selves after sunset, I suppose," said Jane.

"I don't know," Cyril said sadly; "it mayn't be like that now--things
have changed a good deal since Megatherium times."

"Oh," cried Anthea suddenly, "perhaps we shall turn into stone at
sunset, like the Megatheriums did, so that there mayn't be any of us
left over for the next day."