prophecy said that the queen would arise from the waves with a
white crown and surrounded by white dream-children. That's about
what they think YOU are!'

'And what about dinner?' said Robert, abruptly.

'There won't be any dinner, with no cook and no pudding-basin,'
Anthea reminded him; 'but there's always bread-and-butter.'

'Let's get home,' said Cyril.

The Lamb was furiously unwishful to be dressed in his warm clothes
again, but Anthea and Jane managed it, by force disguised as
coaxing, and he never once whooping-coughed.

Then every one put on its own warm things and took its place on the
carpet.

A sound of uncouth singing still came from beyond the trees where
the copper-coloured natives were crooning songs of admiration and
respect to their white-crowned queen. Then Anthea said 'Home,'
just as duchesses and other people do to their coachmen, and the
intelligent carpet in one whirling moment laid itself down in its
proper place on the nursery floor. And at that very moment Eliza
opened the door and said--

'Cook's gone! I can't find her anywhere, and there's no dinner
ready. She hasn't taken her box nor yet her outdoor things. She
just ran out to see the time, I shouldn't wonder--the kitchen clock
never did give her satisfaction--and she's got run over or fell