'The rest of us made the fire of sweet-scented woods and gums,
though,' said Cyril.
'And--and it was an accident my putting you on the fire,' said
Robert, telling the truth with some difficulty, for he did not know
how the Phoenix might take it. It took it in the most unexpected
manner.
'Your candid avowal,' it said, 'removes my last scruple. I will
tell you my story.'
'And you won't vanish, or anything sudden will you?, asked Anthea,
anxiously.
'Why?' it asked, puffing out the golden feathers, 'do you wish me
to stay here?'
'Oh YES,' said every one, with unmistakable sincerity.
'Why?' asked the Phoenix again, looking modestly at the
table-cloth.
'Because,' said every one at once, and then stopped short; only
Jane added after a pause, 'you are the most beautiful person we've
ever seen.'
'You are a sensible child,' said the Phoenix, 'and I will NOT
vanish or anything sudden. And I will tell you my tale. I had
resided, as your book says, for many thousand years in the
wilderness, which is a large, quiet place with very little really
good society, and I was becoming weary of the monotony of my
existence. But I acquired the habit of laying my egg and burning
myself every five hundred years--and you know how difficult it is
to break yourself of a habit.
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