When the joyful emotions of reunion had calmed down a little, they
all went out and spent what was left of Uncle Reginald's sovereign
in presents for mother. They bought her a pink silk handkerchief,
a pair of blue and white vases, a bottle of scent, a packet of
Christmas candles, and a cake of soap shaped and coloured like a
tomato, and one that was so like an orange that almost any one you
had given it to would have tried to peel it--if they liked
oranges, of course. Also they bought a cake with icing on, and the
rest of the money they spent on flowers to put in the vases.
When they had arranged all the things on a table, with the candles
stuck up on a plate ready to light the moment mother's cab was
heard, they washed themselves thoroughly and put on tidier clothes.
Then Robert said, 'Good old Psammead,' and the others said so too.
'But, really, it's just as much good old Phoenix,' said Robert.
'Suppose it hadn't thought of getting the wish!'
'Ah!' said the Phoenix, 'it is perhaps fortunate for you that I am
such a competent bird.'
'There's mother's cab,' cried Anthea, and the Phoenix hid and they
lighted the candles, and next moment mother was home again.
She liked her presents very much, and found their story of Uncle
Reginald and the sovereign easy and even pleasant to believe.
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