No, indeed! It has lived in chests of cedarwood, inlaid with
pearl and ivory, wrapped in priceless tissues of cloth of gold,
embroidered with gems of fabulous value. It has reposed in the
sandal-wood caskets of princesses, and in the rose-attar-scented
treasure-houses of kings. Never, never, had any one degraded it by
walking on it--except in the way of business, when wishes were
required, and then they always took their shoes off. And YOU--'
'Oh, DON'T!' said Jane, very near tears. 'You know you'd never
have been hatched at all if it hadn't been for mother wanting a
carpet for us to walk on.'
'You needn't have walked so much or so hard!' said the bird, 'but
come, dry that crystal tear, and I will relate to you the story of
the Princess Zulieka, the Prince of Asia, and the magic carpet.'
'Relate away,' said Anthea--'I mean, please do.'
'The Princess Zulieka, fairest of royal ladies,' began the bird,
'had in her cradle been the subject of several enchantments. Her
grandmother had been in her day--'
But what in her day Zulieka's grandmother had been was destined
never to be revealed, for Cyril and Robert suddenly burst into the
room, and on each brow were the traces of deep emotion. On Cyril's
pale brow stood beads of agitation and perspiration, and on the
scarlet brow of Robert was a large black smear.
Pages:
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203