We ought to practise doing it so as to be ready for
mysterious occasions. We're talking about THAT,' she said to Jane
and Robert, frowning, and nodding towards the cupboard where the
Phoenix was. Then Robert and Jane understood, and each opened its
mouth to speak.
'Wait a minute,' said Anthea quickly; 'the game is to twist up what
you want to say so that no one can understand what you're saying
except the people you want to understand it, and sometimes not
them.'
'The ancient philosophers,' said a golden voice, 'Well understood
the art of which you speak.'
Of course it was the Phoenix, who had not been in the cupboard at
all, but had been cocking a golden eye at them from the cornice
during the whole conversation.
'Pretty dickie!' remarked the Lamb. 'CANARY dickie!'
'Poor misguided infant,' said the Phoenix.
There was a painful pause; the four could not but think it likely
that the Phoenix had understood their very veiled allusions,
accompanied as they had been by gestures indicating the cupboard.
For the Phoenix was not wanting in intelligence.
'We were just saying--' Cyril began, and I hope he was not going to
say anything but the truth. Whatever it was he did not say it, for
the Phoenix interrupted him, and all breathed more freely as it
spoke.
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