He spoke more heartily and kindly than
usual, because he remembered how Anthea had refrained from snarking
him about tearing the carpet.
'Yes,' said the Phoenix, 'you certainly are. And you have to
remember that if you take a thing out it doesn't stay in.'
No one paid any attention to this remark at the time, but
afterwards every one thought of it.
'Do hurry up, Panther,' said Robert; and that was why Anthea did
hurry up, and why the big darn in the middle of the carpet was all
open and webby like a fishing net, not tight and close like woven
cloth, which is what a good, well-behaved darn should be.
Then every one put on its outdoor things, the Phoenix fluttered on
to the mantelpiece and arranged its golden feathers in the glass,
and all was ready. Every one got on to the carpet.
'Please go slowly, dear carpet,' Anthea began; we like to see where
we're going.' And then she added the difficult wish that had been
decided on.
Next moment the carpet, stiff and raftlike, was sailing over the
roofs of Kentish Town.
'I wish--No, I don't mean that. I mean it's a PITY we aren't
higher up,' said Anthea, as the edge of the carpet grazed a
chimney-pot.
'That's right. Be careful,' said the Phoenix, in warning tones.
'If you wish when you're on a wishing carpet, you DO wish, and
there's an end of it.
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