'
Anthea was now ready to deceive her mother for as long as ever she
could. Deceit is very wrong, we know, but it seemed to Anthea that
it was her plain duty to keep her mother from being frightened
about the Lamb as long as possible. And the Phoenix might help.
'It always has helped,' Robert said; 'it got us out of the tower,
and even when it made the fire in the theatre it got us out all
right. I'm certain it will manage somehow.'
Mother's bell rang again.
'Oh, Eliza's never answered it,' cried Anthea; 'she never does.
Oh, I must go.'
And she went.
Her heart beat bumpingly as she climbed the stairs. Mother would
be certain to notice her eyes--well, her hand would account for
that. But the Lamb--
'No, I must NOT think of the Lamb, she said to herself, and bit her
tongue till her eyes watered again, so as to give herself something
else to think of. Her arms and legs and back, and even her
tear-reddened face, felt stiff with her resolution not to let
mother be worried if she could help it.
She opened the door softly.
'Yes, mother?' she said.
'Dearest,' said mother, 'the Lamb--'
Anthea tried to be brave. She tried to say that the Lamb and
Robert were out. Perhaps she tried too hard. Anyway, when she
opened her mouth no words came.
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