'I myself,' the Phoenix went on, 'am willing to help in any way
possible. I will go personally--either by carpet or on the
wing--and fetch you anything you can think of to amuse you during
the evening. In order to waste no time I could go while you wash
up.--Why,' it went on in a musing voice, 'does one wash up teacups
and wash down the stairs?'
'You couldn't wash stairs up, you know,' said Anthea, 'unless you
began at the bottom and went up feet first as you washed. I wish
cook would try that way for a change.'
'I don't,' said Cyril, briefly. 'I should hate the look of her
elastic-side boots sticking up.'
'This is mere trifling,' said the Phoenix. 'Come, decide what I
shall fetch for you. I can get you anything you like.'
But of course they couldn't decide. Many things were suggested--a
rocking-horse, jewelled chessmen, an elephant, a bicycle, a
motor-car, books with pictures, musical instruments, and many other
things. But a musical instrument is agreeable only to the player,
unless he has learned to play it really well; books are not
sociable, bicycles cannot be ridden without going out of doors, and
the same is true of motor-cars and elephants. Only two people can
play chess at once with one set of chessmen (and anyway it's very
much too much like lessons for a game), and only one can ride on a
rocking-horse.
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