The children hurried towards her as quickly as the water would let
them.

'What on earth did you come out here for?' Robert shouted; 'and
where on earth's the carpet?'

'It's not on earth, bless you,' replied the cook, happily; 'it's
UNDER ME--in the water. I got a bit warm setting there in the sun,
and I just says, "I wish I was in a cold bath"--just like that--and
next minute here I was! It's all part of the dream.'

Every one at once saw how extremely fortunate it was that the
carpet had had the sense to take the cook to the nearest and
largest bath--the sea, and how terrible it would have been if the
carpet had taken itself and her to the stuffy little bath-room of
the house in Camden Town!

'Excuse me,' said the Phoenix's soft voice, breaking in on the
general sigh of relief, 'but I think these brown people want your
cook.'

'To--to eat?' whispered Jane, as well as she could through the
water which the plunging Lamb was dashing in her face with happy
fat hands and feet.

'Hardly,' rejoined the bird. 'Who wants cooks to EAT? Cooks are
ENGAGED, not eaten. They wish to engage her.'

'How can you understand what they say?' asked Cyril, doubtfully.