'Good old BEAUTIFUL Phoenix, then. Come along, come along,' said
Robert, impatiently, with his hand still held out.

The Phoenix fluttered at once on to his wrist.

'This amiable youth,' it said to the others, 'has miraculously been
able to put the whole meaning of the seven thousand lines of Greek
invocation into one English hexameter--a little misplaced some of
the words--but

'Oh, come along, come along, good old beautiful Phoenix!'

'Not perfect, I admit--but not bad for a boy of his age.'

'Well, now then,' said Robert, stepping back on to the carpet with
the golden Phoenix on his wrist.

'You look like the king's falconer,' said Jane, sitting down on the
carpet with the baby on her lap.

Robert tried to go on looking like it. Cyril and Anthea stood on
the carpet.

'We shall have to get back before dinner,' said Cyril, 'or cook
will blow the gaff.'

'She hasn't sneaked since Sunday,' said Anthea.

'She--' Robert was beginning, when the door burst open and the
cook, fierce and furious, came in like a whirlwind and stood on the