’Hush！’saidthePhoenix；’howcanyou？Don’ttrampleonitsfeelingsjustbecauseit’sonlyacarpet。’
’Buthowcanitdoit——unlessoneofusisonittodothewishing？’askedRobert。HespokewitharisinghopethatitMIGHT
benecessaryforonetogoandwhynotRobert？ButthePhoenixquicklythrewcoldwateronhisnew-borndream。
’Why，youjustwriteyourwishonapaper，andpinitonthecarpet。’
SoaleafwastornfromAnthea’sarithmeticbook，andonitCyrilwroteinlargeround-handthefollowing：
Wewishyoutogotoyourdearnativehome，andbringbackthemostbeautifulanddelightfulproductionsofityoucan——andnottobegonelong，please。
（Signed）CYRIL。
ROBERT。
ANTHEA。
JANE。
Thenthepaperwaslaidonthecarpet。
’Writingdown，please，’saidthePhoenix；’thecarpetcan’treadapaperwhosebackisturnedtoit，anymorethanyoucan。’
Itwaspinnedfast，andthetableandchairshavingbeenmoved，thecarpetsimplyandsuddenlyvanished，ratherlikeapatchofwateronahearthunderafiercefire。Theedgesgotsmallerandsmaller，andthenitdisappearedfromsight。
’Itmaytakeitsometimetocollectthebeautifulanddelightfulthings，’saidthePhoenix。’Ishouldwashup——Imeanwashdown。’
Sotheydid。Therewasplentyofhotwaterleftinthekettle，andeveryonehelped——eventhePhoenix，whotookupcupsbytheirhandleswithitscleverclawsanddippedtheminthehotwater，andthenstoodthemonthetablereadyforAntheatodrythem。Butthebirdwasratherslow，because，asitsaid，thoughitwasnotaboveanysortofhonestwork，messingaboutwithdish-waterwasnotexactlywhatithadbeenbroughtupto。Everythingwasnicelywashedup，anddried，andputinitsproperplace，andthedish-clothwashedandhungontheedgeofthecoppertodry，andthetea-clothwashungonthelinethatgoesacrossthescullery。
（Ifyouareaduchess’schild，oraking’s，orapersonofhighsocialposition’schild，youwillperhapsnotknowthedifferencebetweenadish-clothandatea-cloth；butinthatcaseyournursehasbeenbetterinstructedthanyou，andshewilltellyouallaboutit。）Andjustaseighthandsandonepairofclawswerebeingdriedontheroller-towelbehindthescullerydoortherecameastrangesoundfromtheothersideofthekitchenwall——thesidewherethenurserywas。Itwasaverystrangesound，indeed——mostodd，andunlikeanyothersoundsthechildrenhadeverheard。Atleast，theyhadheardsoundsasmuchlikeitasatoyengine’swhistleislikeasteamsiren’s。
’Thecarpet’scomeback，’saidRobert；andtheothersfeltthathewasright。
’Butwhathasitbroughtwithit？’askedJane。’ItsoundslikeLeviathan，thatgreatbeast。’
’Itcouldn’thavebeenmadeinIndia，andhavebroughtelephants？
Evenbabyoneswouldberatherawfulinthatroom，’saidCyril。’I
votewetakeitinturnstosquintthroughthekeyhole。’
Theydid——intheorderoftheirages。ThePhoenix，beingtheeldestbysomethousandsofyears，wasentitledtothefirstpeep。
But——
’Excuseme，’itsaid，rufflingitsgoldenfeathersandsneezingsoftly；’lookingthroughkeyholesalwaysgivesmeacoldinmygoldeneyes。’
SoCyrillooked。
’Iseesomethinggreymoving，’saidhe。
’It’sazoologicalgardenofsomesort，Ibet，’saidRobert，whenhehadtakenhisturn。Andthesoftrustling，bustling，ruffling，scuffling，shuffling，flufflingnoisewentoninside。
’_I_can’tseeanything，’saidAnthea，’myeyeticklesso。’
ThenJane’sturncame，andsheputhereyetothekeyhole。
’It’sagiantkitty-cat，’shesaid；’andit’sasleepalloverthefloor。’
’Giantcatsaretigers——fathersaidso。’
’No，hedidn’t。Hesaidtigersweregiantcats。It’snotatallthesamething。’
’It’snousesendingthecarpettofetchpreciousthingsforyouifyou’reafraidtolookatthemwhentheycome，’saidthePhoenix，sensibly。AndCyril，beingtheeldest，said——
’Comeon，’andturnedthehandle。
Thegashadbeenleftfullonaftertea，andeverythingintheroomcouldbeplainlyseenbytheteneyesatthedoor。Atleast，noteverything，forthoughthecarpetwasthereitwasinvisible，becauseitwascompletelycoveredbythehundredandninety-ninebeautifulobjectswhichithadbroughtfromitsbirthplace。
’Myhat！’Cyrilremarked。’IneverthoughtaboutitsbeingaPERSIANcarpet。’
Yetitwasnowplainthatitwasso，forthebeautifulobjectswhichithadbroughtbackwerecats——Persiancats，greyPersiancats，andtherewere，asIhavesaid，199ofthem，andtheyweresittingonthecarpetascloseastheycouldgettoeachother。
Butthemomentthechildrenenteredtheroomthecatsroseandstretched，andspreadandoverflowedfromthecarpettothefloor，andinaninstantthefloorwasaseaofmoving，mewingpussishness，andthechildrenwithoneaccordclimbedtothetable，andgathereduptheirlegs，andthepeoplenextdoorknockedonthewall——and，indeed，nowonder，forthemewswerePersianandpiercing。
’Thisisprettypoorsport，’saidCyril。’What’sthematterwiththebounders？’
’Iimaginethattheyarehungry，’saidthePhoenix。’Ifyouweretofeedthem——’
’Wehaven’tanythingtofeedthemwith，’saidAntheaindespair，andshestrokedthenearestPersianback。’Oh，pussies，dobequiet——wecan’thearourselvesthink。’
Shehadtoshoutthisentreaty，forthemewsweregrowingdeafening，’anditwouldtakepounds’andpounds’worthofcat’s-meat。’
’Let’saskthecarpettotakethemaway，’saidRobert。Butthegirlssaid’No。’
’Theyaresosoftandpussy，’saidJane。
’Andvaluable，’saidAnthea，hastily。’Wecansellthemforlotsandlotsofmoney。’
’Whynotsendthecarpettogetfoodforthem？’suggestedthePhoenix，anditsgoldenvoicecameharshandcrackedwiththeeffortithadtobemaketobeheardabovetheincreasingfiercenessofthePersianmews。
Soitwaswrittenthatthecarpetshouldbringfoodfor199Persiancats，andthepaperwaspinnedtothecarpetasbefore。
Thecarpetseemedtogatheritselftogether，andthecatsdroppedoffit，asraindropsdofromyourmackintoshwhenyoushakeit。
Andthecarpetdisappeared。
Unlessyouhavehadone-hundredandninety-ninewell-grownPersiancatsinonesmallroom，allhungry，andallsayingsoinunmistakablemews，youcanformbutapoorideaofthenoisethatnowdeafenedthechildrenandthePhoenix。Thecatsdidnotseemtohavebeenatallproperlybroughtup。Theyseemedtohavenoideaofitsbeingamistakeinmannerstoaskformealsinastrangehouse——letalonetohowlforthem——andtheymewed，andtheymewed，andtheymewed，andtheymewed，tillthechildrenpokedtheirfingersintotheirearsandwaitedinsilentagony，wonderingwhythewholeofCamdenTowndidnotcomeknockingatthedoortoaskwhatwasthematter，andonlyhopingthatthefoodforthecatswouldcomebeforetheneighboursdid——andbeforeallthesecretofthecarpetandthePhoenixhadtobegivenawaybeyondrecalltoanindignantneighbourhood。
ThecatsmewedandmewedandtwistedtheirPersianformsinandoutandunfoldedtheirPersiantails，andthechildrenandthePhoenixhuddledtogetheronthetable。
ThePhoenix，Robertnoticedsuddenly，wastrembling。
’Somanycats，’itsaid，’andtheymightnotknowIwasthePhoenix。Theseaccidentshappensoquickly。Itquiteun-mansme。’
Thiswasadangerofwhichthechildrenhadnotthought。
’Creepin，’criedRobert，openinghisjacket。
AndthePhoenixcreptin——onlyjustintime，forgreeneyeshadglared，pinknoseshadsniffed，whitewhiskershadtwitched，andasRobertbuttonedhiscoathedisappearedtothewaistinawaveofeagergreyPersianfur。Andontheinstantthegoodcarpetslappeditselfdownonthefloor。Anditwascoveredwithrats——threehundredandninety-eightofthem，Ibelieve，twoforeachcat。
’Howhorrible！’criedAnthea。’Oh，takethemaway！’
’Takeyourselfaway，’saidthePhoenix，’andme。’
’Iwishwe’dneverhadacarpet，’saidAnthea，intears。
Theyhustledandcrowdedoutofthedoor，andshutit，andlockedit。Cyril，withgreatpresenceofmind，litacandleandturnedoffthegasatthemain。
’Therats’llhaveabetterchanceinthedark，’hesaid。
Themewinghadceased。Everyonelistenedinbreathlesssilence。
Weallknowthatcatseatrats——itisoneofthefirstthingswereadinourlittlebrownreadingbooks；butallthosecatseatingallthoserats——itwouldn’tbearthinkingof。
SuddenlyRobertsniffed，inthesilenceofthedarkkitchen，wheretheonlycandlewasburningallononeside，becauseofthedraught。
’Whatafunnyscent！’hesaid。
Andashespoke，alanternflasheditslightthroughthewindowofthekitchen，afacepeeredin，andavoicesaid——
’What’sallthisrowabout？Youletmein。’
Itwasthevoiceofthepolice！
Roberttip-toedtothewindow，andspokethroughthepanethathadbeenalittlecrackedsinceCyrilaccidentallyknockeditwithawalking-stickwhenhewasplayingatbalancingitonhisnose。（Itwasaftertheyhadbeentoacircus。）
’Whatdoyoumean？’hesaid。’There’snorow。Youlisten；
everything’sasquietasquiet。’Andindeeditwas。
Thestrangesweetscentgrewstronger，andthePhoenixputoutitsbeak。
Thepolicemanhesitated。
’They’reMUSK-rats，’saidthePhoenix。’Isupposesomecatseatthem——butneverPersianones。Whatamistakeforawell-informedcarpettomake！Oh，whatanightwe’rehaving！’
’Dogoaway，’saidRobert，nervously。’We’rejustgoingtobed——that’sourbedroomcandle；thereisn’tanyrow。
Everything’sasquietasamouse。’
Awildchorusofmewsdrownedhiswords，andwiththemewsweremingledtheshrieksofthemusk-rats。Whathadhappened？Hadthecatstastedthembeforedecidingthattheydislikedtheflavour？
’I’ma-comingin，’saidthepoliceman。’You’vegotacatshutupthere。’
’Acat，’saidCyril。’Oh，myonlyaunt！Acat！’
’Comein，then，’saidRobert。’It’syourownlookout。Iadviseyounot。Waitashake，andI’llundothesidegate。’
Heundidthesidegate，andthepoliceman，verycautiously，camein。Andthereinthekitchen，bythelightofonecandle，withthemewingandthescreaminggoinglikeadozensteamsirens，twentywaitingonmotor-cars，andhalfahundredsqueakingpumps，fouragitatedvoicesshoutedtothepolicemanfourmixedandwhollydifferentexplanationsoftheverymixedeventsoftheevening。
Didyouevertrytoexplainthesimplestthingtoapoliceman？
CHAPTER8
THECATS，THECOW，ANDTHEBURGLAR
ThenurserywasfullofPersiancatsandmusk-ratsthathadbeenbroughttherebythewishingcarpet。Thecatsweremewingandthemusk-ratsweresqueakingsothatyoucouldhardlyhearyourselfspeak。Inthekitchenwerethefourchildren，onecandle，aconcealedPhoenix，andaveryvisiblepoliceman。
’Nowthen，lookhere，’saidthePoliceman，veryloudly，andhepointedhislanternateachchildinturn，’what’sthemeaningofthishereyellingandcaterwauling。Itellyouyou’vegotacathere，andsomeone’saill-treatingofit。Whatdoyoumeanbyit，eh？’
Itwasfivetoone，countingthePhoenix；butthepoliceman，whowasone，wasofunusuallyfinesize，andthefive，includingthePhoenix，weresmall。Themewsandthesqueaksgrewsofter，andinthecomparativesilence，Cyrilsaid——
’It’strue。Thereareafewcatshere。Butwe’venothurtthem。
It’squitetheopposite。We’vejustfedthem。’
’Itdon’tsoundlikeit，’saidthepolicemangrimly。
’Idaresaythey’renotREALcats，’saidJanemadly，perhapsthey’reonlydream-cats。’
’I’lldream-catyou，mylady，’wasthebriefresponseoftheforce。
’Ifyouunderstoodanythingexceptpeoplewhodomurdersandstealingsandnaughtythingslikethat，I’dtellyouallaboutit，’
saidRobert；’butI’mcertainyoudon’t。You’renotmeanttoshoveyouroarintopeople’sprivatecat-keepings。You’reonlysupposedtointerferewhenpeopleshout\"murder\"and\"stopthief\"inthestreet。Sothere！’
Thepolicemanassuredthemthatheshouldseeaboutthat；andatthispointthePhoenix，whohadbeenmakingitselfsmallonthepot-shelfunderthedresser，amongthesaucepanlidsandthefish-
kettle，walkedontip-toedclawsinanoiselessandmodestmanner，andlefttheroomunnoticedbyanyone。
’Oh，don’tbesohorrid，’Antheawassaying，gentlyandearnestly。
’WeLOVEcats——dearpussy-softthings。Wewouldn’thurtthemforworlds。Wouldwe，Pussy？’
AndJaneansweredthatofcoursetheywouldn’t。Andstillthepolicemanseemedunmovedbytheireloquence。
’Now，lookhere，’hesaid，’I’ma-goingtoseewhat’sinthatroombeyondthere，and——’
Hisvoicewasdrownedinawildburstofmewingandsqueaking。Andassoonasitdieddownallfourchildrenbegantoexplainatonce；
andthoughthesqueakingandmewingwerenotattheirveryloudest，yettherewasquiteenoughofbothtomakeitveryhardforthepolicemantounderstandasinglewordofanyofthefourwhollydifferentexplanationsnowpouredouttohim。
’Stowit，’hesaidatlast。’I’ma-goin’intothenextroomintheexecutionofmyduty。I’ma-goin’tousemyeyes——myearshavegoneofftheirchumps，whatwithyouandthemcats。’
AndhepushedRobertaside，andstrodethroughthedoor。
’Don’tsayIdidn’twarnyou，’saidRobert。
’It’stigersREALLY，’saidJane。’Fathersaidso。Iwouldn’tgoin，ifIwereyou。’
Butthepolicemanwasquitestony；nothinganyonesaidseemedtomakeanydifferencetohim。Somepolicemenarelikethis，I
believe。Hestrodedownthepassage，andinanothermomenthewouldhavebeenintheroomwithallthecatsandalltherats（musk），butatthatveryinstantathin，sharpvoicescreamedfromthestreetoutside——
’Murder——murder！Stopthief！’
Thepolicemanstopped，withoneregulationbootheavilypoisedintheair。
’Eh？’hesaid。
Andagaintheshriekssoundedshrillyandpiercinglyfromthedarkstreetoutside。
’Comeon，’saidRobert。’Comeandlookaftercatswhilesomebody’sbeingkilledoutside。’ForRoberthadaninsidefeelingthattoldhimquiteplainlyWHOitwasthatwasscreaming。
’Youyoungrip，’saidthepoliceman，’I’llsettleupwithyoubimeby。’
Andherushedout，andthechildrenheardhisbootsgoingweightilyalongthepavement，andthescreamsalsogoingalong，ratheraheadofthepoliceman；andboththemurder-screamsandthepoliceman’sbootsfadedawayintheremotedistance。
ThenRobertsmackedhisknickerbockerloudlywithhispalm，andsaid——
’GoodoldPhoenix！Ishouldknowitsgoldenvoiceanywhere。’
AndtheneveryoneunderstoodhowcleverlythePhoenixhadcaughtatwhatRoberthadsaidabouttherealworkofapolicemanbeingtolookaftermurderersandthieves，andnotaftercats，andallheartswerefilledwithadmiringaffection。
’Buthe’llcomeback，’saidAnthea，mournfully，’assoonasitfindsthemurdererisonlyabrightvisionofadream，andthereisn’toneatallreally。’
’Nohewon’t，’saidthesoftvoiceofthecleverPhoenix，asitflewin。’HEDOESNOTKNOWWHEREYOURHOUSEIS。Iheardhimownasmuchtoafellowmercenary。Oh！whatanightwearehaving！
Lockthedoor，andletusridourselvesofthisintolerablesmelloftheperfumepeculiartothemusk-ratandtothehouseofthetrimmersofbeards。Ifyou’llexcuseme，Iwillgotobed。Iamwornout。’
ItwasCyrilwhowrotethepaperthattoldthecarpettotakeawaytheratsandbringmilk，becausethereseemedtobenodoubtinanybreastthat，howeverPersiancatsmaybe，theymustlikemilk。
’Let’shopeitwon’tbemusk-milk，’saidAnthea，ingloom，asshepinnedthepaperface-downwardsonthecarpet。’Istheresuchathingasamusk-cow？’sheaddedanxiously，asthecarpetshrivelledandvanished。’Idohopenot。PerhapsreallyitWOULDhavebeenwisertoletthecarpettakethecatsaway。It’sgettingquitelate，andwecan’tkeepthemallnight。’
’Oh，can’twe？’wasthebitterrejoinderofRobert，whohadbeenfasteningthesidedoor。’Youmighthaveconsultedme，’hewenton。’I’mnotsuchanidiotassomepeople。’
’Why，whatever——’
’Don’tyousee？We’vejollywellGOTtokeepthecatsallnight——oh，getdown，youfurrybeasts！——becausewe’vehadthreewishesoutoftheoldcarpetnow，andwecan’tgetanymoretillto-morrow。’
ThelivelinessofPersianmewsalonepreventedtheoccurrenceofadismalsilence。
Antheaspokefirst。
’Nevermind，’shesaid。’Doyouknow，Ireallydothinkthey’requietingdownabit。Perhapstheyheardussaymilk。’
’Theycan’tunderstandEnglish，’saidJane。’Youforgetthey’rePersiancats，Panther。’
’Well，’saidAnthea，rathersharply，forshewastiredandanxious，’whotoldyou\"milk\"wasn’tPersianformilk。LotsofEnglishwordsarejustthesameinFrench——atleastIknow\"miaw\"is，and\"croquet\"，and\"fiance\"。Oh，pussies，dobequiet！Let’sstrokethemashardaswecanwithbothhands，andperhapsthey’llstop。’
Soeveryonestrokedgreyfurtilltheirhandsweretired，andassoonasacathadbeenstrokedenoughtomakeitstopmewingitwaspushedgentlyaway，andanothermewingmouserwasapproachedbythehandsofthestrokers。Andthenoisewasreallymorethanhalfpurrwhenthecarpetsuddenlyappearedinitsproperplace，andonit，insteadofrowsofmilk-cans，orevenofmilk-jugs，therewasaCOW。NotaPersiancow，either，nor，mostfortunately，amusk-cow，ifthereissuchathing，butasmooth，sleek，dun-colouredJerseycow，whoblinkedlargesofteyesatthegas-lightandmooedinanamiableifratherinquiringmanner。
Antheahadalwaysbeenafraidofcows；butnowshetriedtobebrave。
’Anyway，itcan’trunafterme，’shesaidtoherself’Thereisn’troomforiteventobegintorun。’
Thecowwasperfectlyplacid。Shebehavedlikeastrayedduchesstillsomeonebroughtasaucerforthemilk，andsomeoneelsetriedtomilkthecowintoit。Milkingisverydifficult。Youmaythinkitiseasy，butitisnot。Allthechildrenwerebythistimestrunguptoapitchofheroismthatwouldhavebeenimpossibletothemintheirordinarycondition。RobertandCyrilheldthecowbythehorns；andJane，whenshewasquitesurethattheirendofthecowwasquitesecure，consentedtostandby，readytoholdthecowbythetailshouldoccasionarise。Anthea，holdingthesaucer，nowadvancedtowardsthecow。Sherememberedtohaveheardthatcows，whenmilkedbystrangers，aresusceptibletothesoothinginfluenceofthehumanvoice。So，clutchinghersaucerverytight，shesoughtforwordstowhosesoothinginfluencethecowmightbesusceptible。Andhermemory，troubledbytheeventsofthenight，whichseemedtogoonandonforeverandever，refusedtohelpherwithanyformofwordssuitabletoaddressaJerseycowin。
’Poorpussy，then。Liedown，then，gooddog，liedown！’wasallthatshecouldthinkoftosay，andshesaidit。
Andnobodylaughed。Thesituation，fullofgreymewingcats，wastooseriousforthat。ThenAnthea，withabeatingheart，triedtomilkthecow。Nextmomentthecowhadknockedthesauceroutofherhandandtrampledonitwithonefoot，whilewiththeotherthreeshehadwalkedonafooteachofRobert，Cyril，andJane。
Janeburstintotears。’Oh，howmuchtoohorrideverythingis！’
shecried。’Comeaway。Let’sgotobedandleavethehorridcatswiththehatefulcow。Perhapssomebodywilleatsomebodyelse。
Andservethemright。’
Theydidnotgotobed，buttheyhadashiveringcouncilinthedrawing-room，whichsmeltofsoot——and，indeed，aheapofthislayinthefender。Therehadbeennofireintheroomsincemotherwentaway，andallthechairsandtableswereinthewrongplaces，andthechrysanthemumsweredead，andthewaterinthepotnearlydriedup。AntheawrappedtheembroideredwoollysofablanketroundJaneandherself，whileRobertandCyrilhadastruggle，silentandbrief，butfierce，forthelargershareofthefurhearthrug。
’Itismosttrulyawful，’saidAnthea，’andIamsotired。Let’sletthecatsloose。’
’Andthecow，perhaps？’saidCyril。’Thepolicewouldfindusatonce。Thatcowwouldstandatthegateandmew——Imeanmoo——tocomein。Andsowouldthecats。No；Iseequitewellwhatwe’vegottodo。Wemustputtheminbasketsandleavethemonpeople’sdoorsteps，likeorphanfoundlings。’
’We’vegotthreebaskets，countingmother’sworkone，’saidJanebrightening。
’Andtherearenearlytwohundredcats，’saidAnthea，’besidesthecow——anditwouldhavetobeadifferent-sizedbasketforher；andthenIdon’tknowhowyou’dcarryit，andyou’dneverfindadoorstepbigenoughtoputiton。Exceptthechurchone——and——’
’Oh，well，’saidCyril，’ifyousimplyMAKEdifficulties——’
’I’mwithyou，’saidRobert。’Don’tfussaboutthecow，Panther。
It’ssimplyGOTtostaythenight，andI’msureI’vereadthatthecowisaremuneratingcreature，andthatmeansitwillsitstillandthinkforhours。Thecarpetcantakeitawayinthemorning。
Andasforthebaskets，we’lldothemupindusters，orpillow-cases，orbath-towels。Comeon，Squirrel。Yougirlscanbeoutofitifyoulike。’
Histonewasfullofcontempt，butJaneandAntheaweretootiredanddesperatetocare；evenbeing’outofit’，whichatothertimestheycouldnothaveborne，nowseemedquiteacomfort。Theysnuggleddowninthesofablanket，andCyrilthrewthefurhearthrugoverthem。
’Ah，hesaid，’that’sallwomenarefitfor——tokeepsafeandwarm，whilethemendotheworkandrundangersandrisksandthings。’
’I’mnot，’saidAnthea，’youknowI’mnot。’ButCyrilwasgone。
Itwaswarmundertheblanketandthehearthrug，andJanesnuggledupclosetohersister；andAntheacuddledJanecloselyandkindly，andinasortofdreamtheyheardtheriseofawaveofmewingasRobertopenedthedoorofthenursery。Theyheardthebootedsearchforbasketsinthebackkitchen。Theyheardthesidedooropenandclose，andtheyknewthateachbrotherhadgoneoutwithatleastonecat。Anthea’slastthoughtwasthatitwouldtakeatleastallnighttogetridofonehundredandninety-ninecatsbytwos。Therewouldbeninety-ninejourneysoftwocatseach，andonecatover。
’Ialmostthinkwemightkeeptheonecatover，’saidAnthea。’I
don’tseemtocareforcatsjustnow，butIdaresayIshallagainsomeday。’Andshefellasleep。Janealsowassleeping。
ItwasJanewhoawokewithastart，tofindAntheastillasleep。
As，intheactofawakening，shekickedhersister，shewonderedidlywhytheyshouldhavegonetobedintheirboots；butthenextmomentsherememberedwheretheywere。
Therewasasoundofmuffled，shuffledfeetonthestairs。Liketheheroineoftheclassicpoem，Jane’thoughtitwastheboys’，andasshefeltquitewideawake，andnotnearlysotiredasbefore，shecreptgentlyfromAnthea’ssideandfollowedthefootsteps。Theywentdownintothebasement；thecats，whoseemedtohavefallenintothesleepofexhaustion，awokeatthesoundoftheapproachingfootstepsandmewedpiteously。Janewasatthefootofthestairsbeforeshesawitwasnotherbrotherswhosecominghadrousedherandthecats，butaburglar。Sheknewhewasaburglaratonce，becauseheworeafurcapandaredandblackcharity-checkcomforter，andhehadnobusinesswherehewas。
Ifyouhadbeenstoodinjane’sshoesyouwouldnodoubthaverunawayinthem，appealingtothepoliceandneighbourswithhorridscreams。ButJaneknewbetter。Shehadreadagreatmanynicestoriesaboutburglars，aswellassomeaffectingpiecesofpoetry，andsheknewthatnoburglarwilleverhurtalittlegirlifhemeetsherwhenburgling。Indeed，inallthecasesJanehadreadof，hisburglarishnesswasalmostatonceforgottenintheinteresthefeltinthelittlegirl’sartlessprattle。SoifJanehesitatedforamomentbeforeaddressingtheburglar，itwasonlybecauseshecouldnotatoncethinkofanyremarksufficientlyprattlingandartlesstomakeabeginningwith。Inthestoriesandtheaffectingpoetrythechildcouldneverspeakplainly，thoughitalwayslookedoldenoughtointhepictures。AndJanecouldnotmakeuphermindtolispand’talkbaby’，eventoaburglar。Andwhileshehesitatedhesoftlyopenedthenurserydoorandwentin。
Janefollowed——justintimetoseehimsitdownflatonthefloor，scatteringcatsasastonethrownintoapoolsplasheswater。
Sheclosedthedoorsoftlyandstoodthere，stillwonderingwhethersheCOULDbringherselftosay，’What’s’oodoinghere，MithterWobber？’andwhetheranyotherkindoftalkwoulddo。
Thensheheardtheburglardrawalongbreath，andhespoke。
’It’sajudgement，’hesaid，’sohelpmebobifitain’t。Oh，’ere’sathingto’appentoachap！Makesitcome’ometoyou，don’titneither？Catsan’catsan’cats。Therecouldn’tbeallthemcats。Letalonethecow。Ifsheain’tthemoraloftheoldman’sDaisy。She’sadreamoutofwhenIwasalad——Idon’tmind’ersomuch。’Ere，Daisy，Daisy？’
Thecowturnedandlookedathim。
’SHE’Sallright，’hewenton。’Sortofcompany，too。Thoughthemaboveknowshowshegotintothisdownstairsparlour。Butthemcats——oh，take’emaway，take’emaway！I’llchuckthe’oleshow——Oh，take’emaway。’
’Burglar，’saidJane，closebehindhim，andhestartedconvulsively，andturnedonherablankface，whosepalelipstrembled。’Ican’ttakethosecatsaway。’
’Lor’lumme！’exclaimedtheman；’if’ereain’tanotheron’em。
Areyoureal，miss，orsomethingI’llwakeupfrompresently？’
’Iamquitereal，’saidJane，relievedtofindthatalispwasnotneededtomaketheburglarunderstandher。’Andso，’sheadded，’arethecats。’
’Thensendforthepolice，sendforthepolice，andI’llgoquiet。
Ifyouain’tnoreallerthanthemcats，I’mdone，spunchuck——outoftime。Sendforthepolice。I’llgoquiet。Onething，there’dnotberoomfor’arfthemcatsinnocellasever_I_see。’
Heranhisfingersthroughhishair，whichwasshort，andhiseyeswanderedwildlyroundtheroomfulofcats。
’Burglar，’saidJane，kindlyandsoftly，’ifyoudidn’tlikecats，whatdidyoucomeherefor？’
’Sendforthepolice，’wastheunfortunatecriminal’sonlyreply。
’I’dratheryouwould——honest，I’drather。’
’Idaren’t，’saidJane，’andbesides，I’venoonetosend。Ihatethepolice。Iwishhe’dneverbeenborn。’
’You’veafeeling’art，miss，’saidtheburglar；’butthemcatsisreallyalittlebittoothick。’
’Lookhere，’saidJane，’Iwon’tcallthepolice。AndIamquiteareallittlegirl，thoughItalkolderthanthekindyou’vemetbeforewhenyou’vebeendoingyourburglings。Andtheyarerealcats——andtheywantrealmilk——and——Didn’tyousaythecowwaslikesomebody’sDaisythatyouusedtoknow？’
’WishImaydieifsheain’ttheveryspitofher，’repliedtheman。
’Well，then，’saidJane——andathrillofjoyfulprideranthroughher——’perhapsyouknowhowtomilkcows？’
’PerhapsIdoes，’wastheburglar’scautiousrejoinder。
’Then，’saidJane，’ifyouwillONLYmilkours——youdon’tknowhowweshallalwaysloveyou。’
Theburglarrepliedthatlovingwasallverywell。
’Ifthosecatsonlyhadagoodlong，wet，thirstydrinkofmilk，’
Janewentonwitheagerpersuasion，’they’dliedownandgotosleepaslikelyasnot，andthenthepolicewon’tcomeback。Butiftheygoonmewinglikethishewill，andthenIdon’tknowwhat’llbecomeofus，oryoueither。’
Thisargumentseemedtodecidethecriminal。Janefetchedthewash-bowlfromthesink，andhespatonhishandsandpreparedtomilkthecow。Atthisinstantbootswereheardonthestairs。
’It’sallup，’saidtheman，desperately，’this’ere’saplant。
’ERE’Sthepolice。’Hemadeasiftoopenthewindowandleapfromit。
’It’sallright，Itellyou，’whisperedJane，inanguish。’I’llsayyou’reafriendofmine，orthegoodclergymancalledin，ormyuncle，orANYTHIING——onlydo，do，domilkthecow。Oh，DON’T
go——oh——oh，thankgoodnessit’sonlytheboys！’
Itwas；andtheirentrancehadawakenedAnthea，who，withherbrothers，nowcrowdedthroughthedoorway。Themanlookedabouthimlikearatlooksroundatrap。
’Thisisafriendofmine，’saidJane；’he’sjustcalledin，andhe’sgoingtomilkthecowforus。ISN’Titgoodandkindofhim？’
Shewinkedattheothers，andthoughtheydidnotunderstandtheyplayeduployally。
’Howdo？’saidCyril，’Verygladtomeetyou。Don’tletusinterruptthemilking。’
’Ishall’avea’eadanda’arfinthemorning，andnobloomin’
error，’remarkedtheburglar；buthebegantomilkthecow。
Robertwaswinkedattostayandseethathedidnotleaveoffmilkingortrytoescape，andtheotherswenttogetthingstoputthemilkin；foritwasnowspurtingandfoaminginthewash-bowl，andthecatshadceasedfrommewingandwerecrowdingroundthecow，withexpressionsofhopeandanticipationontheirwhiskeredfaces。
’Wecan’tgetridofanymorecats，’saidCyril，asheandhissisterspiledatrayhighwithsaucersandsoup-platesandplattersandpie-dishes，’thepolicenearlygotusasitwas。Notthesameone——amuchstrongersort。Hethoughtitreallywasafoundlingorphanwe’dgot。Ifithadn’tbeenformethrowingthetwobagsofcatslapinhiseyeandhaulingRobertoverarailing，andlyinglikemiceunderalaurel-bush——Well，it’sjollyluckyI’magoodshot，that’sall。Heprancedoffwhenhe’dgotthecat-bagsoffhisface——thoughtwe’dbolted。Andhereweare。’
Thegentlesamishnessofthemilkswishingintothehand-bowlseemedtohavesoothedtheburglarverymuch。Hewentonmilkinginasortofhappydream，whilethechildrengotacapandladledthewarmmilkoutintothepie-dishesandplates，andplattersandsaucers，andsetthemdowntothemusicofPersianpurrsandlappings。
’Itmakesmethinkofoldtimes，’saidtheburglar，smearinghisraggedcoat-cuffacrosshiseyes——’abouttheapplesintheorchardathome，andtheratsatthreshingtime，andtherabbitsandtheferrets，andhowprettyitwasseeingthepigskilled。’
Findinghiminthissoftenedmood，Janesaid——
’Iwishyou’dtellushowyoucametochooseourhouseforyourburglaringto-night。Iamawfullygladyoudid。Youhavebeensokind。Idon’tknowwhatweshouldhavedonewithoutyou，’sheaddedhastily。’Weallloveyoueverso。Dotellus。’
Theothersaddedtheiraffectionateentreaties，andatlasttheburglarsaid——
’Well，it’smyfirstjob，andIdidn’texpecttobemadesowelcome，andthat’sthetruth，younggentsandladies。AndIdon’tknowbutwhatitwon’tbemylast。Forthis’erecow，sheremindsmeofmyfather，andIknow’ow’e’d’ave’idedmeifI’dlaid’andsona’a’pennyaswasn’tmyown。’
’I’msurehewould，’Janeagreedkindly；’butwhatmadeyoucomehere？’
’Well，miss，’saidtheburglar，’youknowbest’owyoucomebythemcats，andwhyyoudon’tlikethepolice，soI’llgivemyselfawayfree，andtrusttoyournoble’earts。（You’dbestbaleoutabit，thepan’sgettingfullish。）Iwasa-sellingorangesoffofmybarrow——forIain’taburglarbytrade，thoughyou’aveusedthenamesofree——an’therewasaladyboughtthree’a’porthoffme。
An’whileshewasa-pickin’ofthemout——verycarefulindeed，andI’malwaysgladwhenthemsortgetsafewover-ripeones——therewastwootherladiestalkin’overthefence。An’oneon’emsaidtotheotheron’emjustlikethis——
\"’I’vetoldbothgellstocome，andtheycandossinwithM’riaandJane，’causetheirbossandhismissisismilesawayandthekidstoo。Sotheycanjustlockupthe’ouseandleavethegasa-burning，so’snoonewon’tknow，andgetbackbrightan’earlyby’leveno’clock。Andwe’llmakeanightofit，MrsProsser，sowewill。I’mjusta-goingtorunouttopoptheletterinthepost。\"
Andthentheladywhathadchosenthethreeha’porthsocareful，shesaid：\"Lor，MrsWigson，Iwonderatyou，andyourhandsalloversuds。Thisgoodgentleman’llslipitintothepostforyer，I’llbebound，seeingI’macustomerofhis。\"Sotheygivemetheletter，andofcourseIreadthedirectionwhatwaswrittenonitaforeIshoveditintothepost。AndthenwhenI’dsoldmybarrowful，Iwasa-goin’’omewiththechinkinmypocket，andI’mblowedifsomebloomin’thievin’beggardidn’tnickthelotwhilstIwasjusta-wettin’ofmywhistle，forcallin’oforangesisdrywork。Nickedthebloomin’lot’edid——andmewithnotafardentotake’ometomybrotherandhismissus。’
’Howawful！’saidAnthea，withmuchsympathy。
’Horfulindeed，miss，Ibelieveyer，’theburglarrejoined，withdeepfeeling。’Youdon’tknowhertemperwhenshe’sroused。An’
I’msureI’opeyounevermay，neither。AndI’d’adallmyorangesoffof’em。Soitcamebacktomewhatwaswroteontheongverlope，andIsaystomyself，\"Whynot，seein’asI’vebeendonemyself，andiftheykeepstwoslaveystheremustbesomepickings？\"An’so’ereIam。Butthemcats，they’vebroughtmebacktothewaysofhonestness。Nevernomore。’
’Lookhere，’saidCyril，’thesecatsareveryvaluable——veryindeed。Andwewillgivethemalltoyou，ifonlyyouwilltakethemaway。’
’Iseethey’reabreedylot，’repliedtheburglar。’ButIdon’twantnobotherwiththecoppers。Didyoucomebythemhonestnow？
Straight？’
’Theyareallourveryown，’saidAnthea，’wewantedthem，buttheconfidement——’
’Consignment，’whisperedCyril。
’waslargerthanwewanted，andthey’reanawfulbother。Ifyougotyourbarrow，andsomesacksorbaskets，yourbrother’smissuswouldbeawfullypleased。MyfathersaysPersiancatsareworthpoundsandpoundseach。’
’Well，’saidtheburglar——andhewascertainlymovedbyherremarks——’Iseeyou’reinahole——andIdon’tmindlendingahelping’and。Idon’task’owyoucomebythem。ButI’vegotapal——’e’samarkoncats。I’llfetchhimalong，andifhethinksthey’dfetchanythingabovetheirskinsIdon’tminddoin’youakindness。’
’Youwon’tgoawayandnevercomeback，’saidJane，’becauseI
don’tthinkICOULDbearthat。’
Theburglar，quitetouchedbyheremotion，sworesentimentallythat，aliveordead，hewouldcomeback。
Thenhewent，andCyrilandRobertsentthegirlstobedandsatuptowaitforhisreturn。Itsoonseemedabsurdtoawaithiminastateofwakefulness，buthisstealthytaponthewindowawokethemreadilyenough。Forhedidreturn，withthepalandthebarrowandthesacks。Thepalapprovedofthecats，nowdormantinPersianrepletion，andtheywerebundledintothesacks，andtakenawayonthebarrow——mewing，indeed，butwithmewstoosleepytoattractpublicattention。
’I’mafence——that’swhatIam，’saidtheburglargloomily。’I
neverthoughtI’dcomedowntothis，andallacauseermykind’eart。’
Cyrilknewthatafenceisareceiverofstolengoods，andherepliedbriskly——
’Igiveyoumysacredthecatsaren’tstolen。Whatdoyoumakethetime？’
’Iain’tgotthetimeonme，’saidthepal——’butitwasjustaboutchucking-outtimeasIcomebythe\"BullandGate\"。Ishouldn’twonderifitwasnighupononenow。’
Whenthecatshadbeenremoved，andtheboysandtheburglarhadpartedwithwarmexpressionsoffriendship，thereremainedonlythecow。
’Shemuststayallnight，’saidRobert。’Cook’llhaveafitwhensheseesher。’
’Allnight？’saidCyril。’Why——it’stomorrowmorningifit’sone。
Wecanhaveanotherwish！’
Sothecarpetwasurged，inahastilywrittennote，toremovethecowtowherevershebelonged，andtoreturntoitsproperplaceonthenurseryfloor。Butthecowcouldnotbegottomoveontothecarpet。SoRobertgottheclotheslineoutofthebackkitchen，andtiedoneendveryfirmlytothecow’shorns，andtheotherendtoabunched-upcornerofthecarpet，andsaid’Fireaway。’
Andthecarpetandcowvanishedtogether，andtheboyswenttobed，tiredoutandonlytoothankfulthattheeveningatlastwasover。
Nextmorningthecarpetlaycalmlyinitsplace，butonecornerwasverybadlytorn。Itwasthecornerthatthecowhadbeentiedonto。
CHAPTER9
THEBURGLAR’SBRIDE
ThemorningaftertheadventureofthePersiancats，themusk-rats，thecommoncow，andtheuncommonburglar，allthechildrenslepttillitwasteno’clock；andthenitwasonlyCyrilwhowoke；butheattendedtotheothers，sothatbyhalfpastteneveryonewasreadytohelptogetbreakfast。Itwasshiverycold，andtherewasbutlittleinthehousethatwasreallywortheating。
Roberthadarrangedathoughtfullittlesurprisefortheabsentservants。Hehadmadeaneatanddelightfulboobytrapoverthekitchendoor，andassoonastheyheardthefrontdoorclickopenandknewtheservantshadcomeback，allfourchildrenhidinthecupboardunderthestairsandlistenedwithdelighttotheentrance——thetumble，thesplash，thescuffle，andtheremarksoftheservants。Theyheardthecooksayitwasajudgementonthemforleavingtheplacetoitself；sheseemedtothinkthataboobytrapwasakindofplantthatwasquitelikelytogrow，allbyitself，inadwellingthatwasleftshutup。Butthehousemaid，moreacute，judgedthatsomeonemusthavebeeninthehouse——aviewconfirmedbythesightofthebreakfastthingsonthenurserytable。
Thecupboardunderthestairswasverytightandparaffiny，however，andasilentstruggleforaplaceontopendedinthedoorburstingopenanddischargingJane，whorolledlikeafootballtothefeetoftheservants。
’Now，’saidCyril，firmly，whenthecook’shystericshadbecomequieter，andthehousemaidhadtimetosaywhatshethoughtofthem，’don’tyoubeginjawingus。Wearen’tgoingtostandit。Weknowtoomuch。You’llpleasemakeanextraspecialtreacleroleyfordinner，andwe’llhaveatinnedtongue。’
’Idaresay，’saidthehousemaid，indignant，stillinheroutdoorthingsandwithherhatverymuchononeside。’Don’tyoucomea-threateningme，MasterCyril，becauseIwon’tstandit，soItellyou。Youtellyourmaaboutusbeingout？MuchIcare！She’llbesorryformewhenshehearsaboutmydeargreat-auntbymarriageasbroughtmeupfromachildandwasamothertome。Shesentforme，shedid，shewasn’texpectedtolastthenight，fromthespasmsgoingtoherlegs——andcookwasthatkindandcarefulshecouldn’tletmegoalone，so——’
’Don’t，’saidAnthea，inrealdistress。’Youknowwhereliarsgoto，Eliza——atleastifyoudon’t——’
’Liarsindeed！’saidEliza，’Iwon’tdemeanmyselftalkingtoyou。’
’How’sMrsWigson？’saidRobert，’andDIDyoukeepituplastnight？’
Themouthofthehousemaidfellopen。
’DidyoudosswithMariaorEmily？’askedCyril。
’HowdidMrsProsserenjoyherself？’askedJane。
’Forbear，’saidCyril，’they’vehadenough。Whetherwetellornotdependsonyourlaterlife，’hewenton，addressingtheservants。
’Ifyouaredecenttouswe’llbedecenttoyou。You’dbettermakethattreacleroley——andifIwereyou，Eliza，I’ddoalittlehouseworkandcleaning，justforachange。’
Theservantsgaveinonceandforall。
’There’snothinglikefirmness，’Cyrilwenton，whenthebreakfastthingswereclearedawayandthechildrenwerealoneinthenursery。’Peoplearealwaystalkingofdifficultieswithservants。
It’squitesimple，whenyouknowtheway。Wecandowhatwelikenowandtheywon’tpeach。Ithinkwe’vebrokenTHEIRproudspirit。
Let’sgosomewherebycarpet。’
’Iwouldn’tifIwereyou，’saidthePhoenix，yawning，asitswoopeddownfromitsroostonthecurtainpole。’I’vegivenyouoneortwohints，butnowconcealmentisatanend，andIseeI
mustspeakout。’
Itperchedonthebackofachairandswayedtoandfro，likeaparrotonaswing。
’What’sthematternow？’saidAnthea。Shewasnotquitesogentleasusual，becauseshewasstillwearyfromtheexcitementoflastnight’scats。’I’mtiredofthingshappening。Ishan’tgoanywhereonthecarpet。I’mgoingtodarnmystockings。’
’Darn！’saidthePhoenix，’darn！Fromthoseyounglipsthesestrangeexpressions——’
’Mend，then，’saidAnthea，’withaneedleandwool。’
ThePhoenixopenedandshutitswingsthoughtfully。
’Yourstockings，’itsaid，’aremuchlessimportantthantheynowappeartoyou。Butthecarpet——lookatthebarewornpatches，lookatthegreatrentatyondercorner。Thecarpethasbeenyourfaithfulfriend——yourwillingservant。Howhaveyourequiteditsdevotedservice？’
’DearPhoenix，’Antheaurged，’don’ttalkinthathorridlecturingtone。YoumakemefeelasifI’ddonesomethingwrong。Andreallyitisawishingcarpet，andwehaven’tdoneanythingelsetoit——onlywishes。’
’Onlywishes，’repeatedthePhoenix，rufflingitsneckfeathersangrily，’andwhatsortofwishes？Wishingpeopletobeinagoodtemper，forinstance。Whatcarpetdidyoueverhearofthathadsuchawishaskedofit？Butthisnoblefabric，onwhichyoutramplesorecklessly’（everyoneremoveditsbootsfromthecarpetandstoodonthelinoleum），’thiscarpetneverflinched。Itdidwhatyouasked，butthewearandtearmusthavebeenawful。Andthenlastnight——Idon’tblameyouaboutthecatsandtherats，forthosewereitsownchoice；butwhatcarpetcouldstandaheavycowhangingontoitatonecorner？’
’Ishouldthinkthecatsandratswereworse，’saidRobert，’lookatalltheirclaws。’
’Yes，’saidthebird，’eleventhousandninehundredandfortyofthem——Idaresayyounoticed？Ishouldbesurprisedifthesehadnotlefttheirmark。’
’Goodgracious，’saidJane，sittingdownsuddenlyonthefloor，andpattingtheedgeofthecarpetsoftly；’doyoumeanit’sWEARINGOUT？’
’Itslifewithyouhasnotbeenaluxuriousone，’saidthePhoenix。
’Frenchmudtwice。Sandofsunnyshorestwice。Soakinginsouthernseasonce。Indiaonce。GoodnessknowswhereinPersiaonce。musk-rat-landonce。Andonce，whereverthecowcamefrom。
Holdyourcarpetuptothelight，andwithcautioustenderness，ifYOUplease。’
Withcautioustendernesstheboysheldthecarpetuptothelight；
thegirlslooked，andashiverofregretranthroughthemastheysawhowthoseeleventhoousandninehundredandfortyclawshadrunthroughthecarpet。Itwasfulloflittleholes：thereweresomelargeones，andmorethanonethinplace。Atonecornerastripofitwastorn，andhungforlornly。
’Wemustmendit，’saidAnthea；’nevermindaboutmystockings。I
cansewthemupinlumpswithsewingcottonifthere’snotimetodothemproperly。Iknowit’sawfulandnogirlwouldwhorespectedherself，andallthat；butthepoordearcarpet’smoreimportantthanmysillystockings。Let’sgooutnowthisveryminute。’
Soouttheyallwent，andboughtwooltomendthecarpet；butthereisnoshopinCamdenTownwhereyoucanbuywishing-wool，no，norinKentishTowneither。However，ordinaryScotchheather-mixturefingeringseemedgoodenough，andthistheybought，andallthat-dayJaneandAntheadarnedanddarnedanddarned。Theboyswentoutforawalkintheafternoon，andthegentlePhoenixpacedupanddownthetable——forexercise，asitsaid——andtalkedtotheindustriousgirlsabouttheircarpet。
’Itisnotanordinary，ignorant，innocentcarpetfromKidderminster，’itsaid，’itisacarpetwithapast——aPersianpast。Doyouknowthatinhappieryears，whenthatcarpetwasthepropertyofcaliphs，viziers，kings，andsultans，itneverlayonafloor？’
’Ithoughtthefloorwastheproperhomeofacarpet，’Janeinterrupted。
’NotofaMAGICcarpet，’saidthePhoenix；’why，ifithadbeenallowedtolieaboutonfloorstherewouldn’tbemuchofitleftnow。No，indeed！Ithaslivedinchestsofcedarwood，inlaidwithpearlandivory，wrappedinpricelesstissuesofclothofgold，embroideredwithgemsoffabulousvalue。Ithasreposedinthesandal-woodcasketsofprincesses，andintherose-attar-scentedtreasure-housesofkings。Never，never，hadanyonedegradeditbywalkingonit——exceptinthewayofbusiness，whenwisheswererequired，andthentheyalwaystooktheirshoesoff。AndYOU——’
’Oh，DON’T！’saidJane，veryneartears。’Youknowyou’dneverhavebeenhatchedatallifithadn’tbeenformotherwantingacarpetforustowalkon。’
’Youneedn’thavewalkedsomuchorsohard！’saidthebird，’butcome，drythatcrystaltear，andIwillrelatetoyouthestoryofthePrincessZulieka，thePrinceofAsia，andthemagiccarpet。’
’Relateaway，’saidAnthea——’Imean，pleasedo。’
’ThePrincessZulieka，fairestofroyalladies，’beganthebird，’hadinhercradlebeenthesubjectofseveralenchantments。Hergrandmotherhadbeeninherday——’
ButwhatinherdayZulieka’sgrandmotherhadbeenwasdestinednevertoberevealed，forCyrilandRobertsuddenlyburstintotheroom，andoneachbrowwerethetracesofdeepemotion。OnCyril’spalebrowstoodbeadsofagitationandperspiration，andonthescarletbrowofRobertwasalargeblacksmear。
’Whatailsyeboth？’askedthePhoenix，anditaddedtartlythatstory-tellingwasquiteimpossibleifpeoplewouldcomeinterruptinglikethat。
’Oh，doshutup，foranysake！’saidCyril，sinkingintoachair。
Robertsmoothedtheruffledgoldenfeathers，addingkindly——
’Squirreldoesn’tmeantobeabeast。It’sonlythattheMOST
AWFULthinghashappened，andstoriesdon’tseemtomattersomuch。
Don’tbecross。Youwon’tbewhenyou’veheardwhat’shappened。’
’Well，whatHAShappened？’saidthebird，stillrathercrossly；andAntheaandJanepausedwithlongneedlespoisedinair，andlongneedlefulsofScotchheather-mixturefingeringwooldroopingfromthem。
’Themostawfulthingyoucanpossiblythinkof，’saidCyril。
’Thatnicechap——ourownburglar——thepolicehavegothim，onsuspicionofstolencats。That’swhathisbrother’smissistoldme。’
’Oh，beginatthebeginning！’criedAntheaimpatiently。
’Well，then，wewentout，anddownbywheretheundertaker’sis，withthechinaflowersinthewindow——youknow。Therewasacrowd，andofcoursewewenttohaveasquint。Anditwastwobobbiesandourburglarbetweenthem，andhewasbeingdraggedalong；andhesaid，\"ItellyouthemcatswasGIVEme。Igot’eminexchangeformemilkingacowinabasementparlourupCamdenTownway。\"
’Andthepeoplelaughed。Beasts！Andthenoneofthepolicemensaidperhapshecouldgivethenameandaddressofthecow，andhesaid，no，hecouldn’t；buthecouldtakethemthereifthey’donlyleavegoofhiscoatcollar，andgivehimachancetogethisbreath。Andthepolicemansaidhecouldtellallthattothemagistrateinthemorning。Hedidn’tseeus，andsowecameaway。’
’Oh，Cyril，howCOULDyou？’saidAnthea。
’Don’tbeapudding-head，’Cyriladvised。’Afatlotofgooditwouldhavedoneifwe’dlethimseeus。Noonewouldhavebelievedawordwesaid。They’dhavethoughtwewerekidding。Wedidbetterthanlethimseeus。Weaskedaboywherehelivedandhetoldus，andwewentthere，andit’salittlegreengrocer’sshop，andweboughtsomeBrazilnuts。Heretheyare。’ThegirlswavedawaytheBrazilnutswithloathingandcontempt。
’Well，wehadtobuySOMETHING，andwhileweweremakingupourmindswhattobuyweheardhisbrother’smissistalking。Shesaidwhenhecamehomewithallthemmiaoulersshethoughttherewasmoreinitthanmettheeye。ButheWOULDgooutthismorningwiththetwolikeliestofthem，oneundereacharm。Shesaidhesentherouttobuyblueribbontoputroundtheirbeastlynecks，andshesaidifhegotthreemonths’harditwasherdyingwordthathe’dgottheblueribbontothankforit；that，andhisownsillythievingways，takingcatsthatanybodywouldknowhecouldn’thavecomebyinthewayofbusiness，insteadofthingsthatwouldn’thavebeenmissed，whichLordknowsthereareplentysuch，and——’
’Oh，STOP！’criedJane。Andindeeditwastime，forCyrilseemedlikeaclockthathadbeenwoundup，andcouldnothelpgoingon。
’Whereishenow？’
’Atthepolice-station，’saidRobert，forCyrilwasoutofbreath。
’Theboytoldusthey’dputhiminthecells，andwouldbringhimupbeforetheBeakinthemorning。Ithoughtitwasajollylarklastnight——gettinghimtotakethecats——butnow——’
’Theendofalark，’saidthePhoenix，’istheBeak。’
’Let’sgotohim，’criedboththegirlsjumpingup。’Let’sgoandtellthetruth。TheyMUSTbelieveus。’
’TheyCAN’T，’saidCyril。’Justthink！Ifanyonecametoyouwithsuchatale，youcouldn’tbelieveit，howevermuchyoutried。
Weshouldonlymixthingsupworseforhim。’
’Theremustbesomethingwecoulddo，’saidJane，sniffingverymuch——’myowndearpetburglar！Ican’tbearit。Andhewassonice，thewayhetalkedabouthisfather，andhowhewasgoingtobesoextrahonest。DearPhoenix，youMUSTbeabletohelpus。
You’resogoodandkindandprettyandclever。Do，dotelluswhattodo。’
ThePhoenixrubbeditsbeakthoughtfullywithitsclaw。
’Youmightrescuehim，’itsaid，’andconcealhimhere，tillthelaw-supportershadforgottenabouthim。’
’Thatwouldbeagesandages，’saidCyril，’andwecouldn’tconcealhimhere。Fathermightcomehomeatanymoment，andifhefoundtheburglarhereHEwouldn’tbelievethetruetruthanymorethanthepolicewould。That’stheworstofthetruth。Nobodyeverbelievesit。Couldn’twetakehimsomewhereelse？’
Janeclappedherhands。
’Thesunnysouthernshore！’shecried，’wherethecookisbeingqueen。Heandshewouldbecompanyforeachother！’
Andreallytheideadidnotseembad，ifonlyhewouldconsenttogo。
So，alltalkingatonce，thechildrenarrangedtowaittillevening，andthentoseekthedearburglarinhislonelycell。
MeantimeJaneandAntheadarnedawayashardastheycould，tomakethecarpetasstrongaspossible。Forallfelthowterribleitwouldbeifthepreciousburglar，whilebeingcarriedtothesunnysouthernshore，weretotumblethroughaholeinthecarpet，andbelostforeverinthesunnysouthernsea。
TheservantsweretiredafterMrsWigson’sparty，soeveryonewenttobedearly，andwhenthePhoenixreportedthatbothservantsweresnoringinaheartfeltandcandidmanner，thechildrengotup——theyhadneverundressed；justputtingtheirnightgownsonovertheirthingshadbeenenoughtodeceiveElizawhenshecametoturnoutthegas。Sotheywerereadyforanything，andtheystoodonthecarpetandsaid——
’Iwishwewereinourburglar’slonelycell。’andinstantlytheywere。
Ithinkeveryonehadexpectedthecelltobethe’deepestdungeonbelowthecastlemoat’。Iamsurenoonehaddoubtedthattheburglar，chainedbyheavyfetterstoaringinthedampstonewall，wouldbetossinguneasilyonabedofstraw，withapitcherofwaterandamoulderingcrust，untasted，besidehim。Robert，rememberingtheundergroundpassageandthetreasure，hadbroughtacandleandmatches，butthesewerenotneeded。