’Butit’snotsoextraprecious，’saidRoberthastily。’YoucangetthemgiventoyoufornothingifyoubuyfishinFarringdonMarket。’
’Oh，’saidthePsammeadverycrosslyindeed，’soyoupresumeonmysublimeindifferencetothethingsofthisdisgustingmodernworld，tofobmeoffwithatravellingequipagethatcostsyounothing。Verywell，Ishallgotosand。Pleasedon’twakeme。’
Anditwentthenandtheretosand，which，asyouknow，meanttobed。TheboyswenttoStJames’sParktofeedtheducks，buttheywentalone。
AntheaandJanesatsewingalltheafternoon。TheycutoffhalfayardfromeachoftheirbestgreenLibertysashes。Atowelcutintwoformedalining；andtheysatandsewedandsewedandsewed。WhattheyweremakingwasabagforthePsammead。Eachworkedatahalfofthebag。jane’shalfhadfour—leavedshamrocksembroideredonit。Theyweretheonlythingsshecoulddo（becauseshehadbeentaughthowatschool，and，fortunately，someofthesilkshehadbeentaughtwithwasleftover）。Andevenso，Antheahadtodrawthepatternforher。Anthea’ssideofthebaghadlettersonit——workedhastilybutaffectionatelyinchainstitch。Theyweresomethinglikethis：
PSAMSTRAVELCAR
Shewouldhaveput’travellingcarriage’，butshemadetheletterstoobig，sotherewasnoroom。ThebagwasmadeINTOabagwitholdNurse’ssewingmachine，andthestringsofitwereAnthea’sandJane’sbestredhairribbons。Attea—time，whentheboyshadcomehomewithamostunfavourablereportoftheStjames’sParkducks，AntheaventuredtoawakenthePsammead，andtoshowititsnewtravellingbag。
’Humph，’itsaid，sniffingalittlecontemptuously，yetatthesametimeaffectionately，’it’snotsodusty。’
ThePsammeadseemedtopickupveryeasilythekindofthingsthatpeoplesaidnowadays。ForacreaturethathadinitstimeassociatedwithMegatheriumsandPterodactyls，itsquicknesswasreallywonderful。
’It’smoreworthyofme，’itsaid，’thanthekindofbagthat’sgivenawaywithapoundofplaice。Whendoyouproposetotakemeoutinit？’
’Ishouldlikearestfromtakingyouorusanywhere，’saidCyril。ButJanesaid——
’IwanttogotoEgypt。IdidlikethatEgyptianPrincessthatcametomarrytheKinginBabylon。ShetoldmeaboutthelarkstheyhaveinEgypt。Andthecats。Dolet’sgothere。AndI
toldherwhatthebirdthingsontheAmuletwerelike。AndshesaiditwasEgyptianwriting。’
TheothersexchangedlooksofsilentrejoicingatthethoughtoftheirclevernessinhavingconcealedfromJanetheterrorstheyhadsufferedinthedungeonbelowtheEuphrates。
’Egypt’ssonicetoo，’Janewenton，’becauseofDoctorBrewer’sScriptureHistory。IwouldliketogotherewhenJosephwasdreamingthosecuriousdreams，orwhenMoseswasdoingwonderfulthingswithsnakesandsticks。’
’Idon’tcareaboutsnakes，’saidAntheashuddering。
’Well，weneedn’tbeinatthatpart，butBabylonwaslovely！Wehadcreamandsweet，stickystuff。AndIexpectEgypt’sthesame。’
Therewasagooddealofdiscussion，butitallendedineverybody’sagreeingtoJane’sidea。Andnextmorningdirectlyafterbreakfast（whichwaskippersandverynice）thePsammeadwasinvitedtogetintohistravellingcarriage。
Themomentafterithaddoneso，withstiff，furryreluctance，likethatofacatwhenyouwanttonurseit，anditsideasarenotthesameasyours，oldNursecamein。
’Well，chickies，’shesaid，’areyoufeelingverydull？’
’Oh，no，Nursedear，’saidAnthea；’we’rehavingalovelytime。
We’rejustgoingofftoseesomeoldancientrelics。’
’Ah，’saidoldNurse，’theRoyalAcademy，Isuppose？Don’tgowastingyourmoneytooreckless，that’sall。’
Sheclearedawaythekipperbonesandthetea—things，andwhenshehadsweptupthecrumbsandremovedthecloth，theAmuletwasheldupandtheordergiven——justasDuchesses（andotherpeople）
giveittotheircoachmen。
’ToEgypt，please！’saidAnthea，whenCyrilhadutteredthewonderfulNameofPower。
’WhenMoseswasthere，’addedJane。
Andthere，inthedingyFitzroyStreetdining—room，theAmuletgrewbig，anditwasanarch，andthroughittheysawablue，blueskyandarunningriver。
’No，stop！’saidCyril，andpulleddownjane’shandwiththeAmuletinit。
’Whatsillycuckoosweallare，’hesaid。’Ofcoursewecan’tgo。Wedaren’tleavehomeforasingleminutenow，forfearthatminuteshouldbeTHEminute。’
’WhatminutebeWHATminute？’askedJaneimpatiently，tryingtogetherhandawayfromCyril。
’TheminutewhentheQueenofBabyloncomes，’saidCyril。Andtheneveryonesawit。
Forsomedayslifeflowedinaveryslow，dusty，uneventfulstream。
Thechildrencouldnevergooutallatonce，becausetheyneverknewwhentheKingofBabylonwouldgooutlionhuntingandleavehisQueenfreetopaythemthatsurprisevisittowhichshewas，withoutdoubt，eagerlylookingforward。
Sotheytookitinturns，twoandtwo，togooutandtostayin。
Thestay—at—homeswouldhavebeenmuchdullerthantheywerebutforthenewinteresttakeninthembythelearnedgentleman。
HecalledAntheainonedaytoshowherabeautifulnecklaceofpurpleandgoldbeads。
’Isawonelikethat，’shesaid，’in——’
’IntheBritishMuseum，perhaps？’
’IliketocalltheplacewhereIsawitBabylon，’saidAntheacautiously。
’Aprettyfancy，’saidthelearnedgentleman，’andquitecorrecttoo，because，asamatteroffact，thesebeadsdidcomefromBabylon。’Theotherthreewerealloutthatday。TheboyshadbeengoingtotheZoo，andJanehadsaidsoplaintively，’I’msureIamfonderofrhinocerosesthaneitherofyouare，’thatAntheahadtoldhertorunalongthen。Andshehadrun，catchingtheboysbeforethatpartoftheroadwhereFitzroyStreetsuddenlybecomesFitzroySquare。
’IthinkBabylonismostfrightfullyinteresting，’saidAnthea。
’Idohavesuchinterestingdreamsaboutit——atleast，notdreamsexactly，butquiteaswonderful。’
’Dositdownandtellme，’saidhe。Soshesatdownandtold。
Andheaskedheralotofquestions，andsheansweredthemaswellasshecould。
’Wonderful——wonderful！’hesaidatlast。’One’sheardofthought—transference，butIneverthought_I_hadanypowerofthatsort。Yetitmustbethat，andverybadforYOU，Ishouldthink。Doesn’tyourheadacheverymuch？’
Hesuddenlyputacold，thinhandonherforehead。
’Nothankyou，notatall，’saidshe。
’Iassureyouitisnotdoneintentionally，’hewenton。’OfcourseIknowagooddealaboutBabylon，andIunconsciouslycommunicateittoyou；you’veheardofthought—reading，butsomeofthethingsyousay，Idon’tunderstand；theyneverentermyhead，andyetthey’resoastoundinglyprobable。’
’It’sallright，’saidAntheareassuringly。’_I_understand。
Anddon’tworry。It’sallquitesimplereally。’
ItwasnotquitesosimplewhenAnthea，havingheardtheotherscomein，wentdown，andbeforeshehadhadtimetoaskhowtheyhadlikedtheZoo，heardanoiseoutside，comparedtowhichthewildbeasts’noisesweregentleassingingbirds。
’Goodgracious！’criedAnthea，’what’sthat？’
Theloudhumofmanyvoicescamethroughtheopenwindow。Wordscouldbedistinguished。
’’Ere’saguy！’
’Thisain’tNovember。Thatain’tnoguy。It’saballetlady，that’swhatitis。’
’Notit——it’sabloomin’looney，Itellyou。’
Thencameaclearvoicethattheyknew。
’Retire，slaves！’itsaid。
’What’ssheasayingof？’criedadozenvoices。’Someblamedforeignlingo，’onevoicereplied。
Thechildrenrushedtothedoor。Acrowdwasontheroadandpavement。
Inthemiddleofthecrowd，plainlytobeseenfromthetopofthesteps，werethebeautifulfaceandbrightveiloftheBabylonianQueen。
’Jimminy！’criedRobert，andrandownthesteps，’heresheis！’
’Here！’hecried，’lookout——lettheladypass。She’safriendofours，comingtoseeus。’
’Nicefriendforarespectablehouse，’snortedafatwomanwithmarrowsonahandcart。
Allthesamethecrowdmadewayalittle。TheQueenmetRobertonthepavement，andCyriljoinedthem，thePsammeadbagstillonhisarm。
’Here，’hewhispered；’here’sthePsammead；youcangetwishes。’
’_I_wishyou’dcomeinadifferentdress，ifyouHADtocome，’
saidRobert；’butit’snousemywishinganything。’
’No，’saidtheQueen。’IwishIwasdressed——no，Idon’t——IwishTHEYweredressedproperly，thentheywouldn’tbesosilly。’
ThePsammeadblewitselfouttillthebagwasaverytightfitforit；andsuddenlyeveryman，woman，andchildinthatcrowdfeltthatithadnotenoughclotheson。For，ofcourse，theQueen’sideaofproperdresswasthedressthathadbeenproperfortheworking—classes3，000yearsagoinBabylon——andtherewasnotmuchofit。
’Lawkyme！’saidthemarrow—sellingwoman，’whatevercoulda—tookmetocomeoutthisfigure？’andshewheeledhercartawayveryquicklyindeed。
’Someone’smadeaprettyguyofyou——talkofguys，’saidamanwhosoldbootlaces。
’Well，don’tyoutalk，’saidthemannexttohim。’Lookatyourownsillylegs；andwhere’syourboots？’
’Inevercomeoutlikethis，I’lltakemysacred，’saidthebootlace—seller。’Iwasn’tquitemyselflastnight，I’llown，butnottodressuplikeacircus。’
Thecrowdwasalltalkingatonce，andgettingratherangry。ButnooneseemedtothinkofblamingtheQueen。
Antheaboundeddownthestepsandpulledherup；theothersfollowed，andthedoorwasshut。’BlowedifIcanmakeitout！’
theyheard。’I’moffhome，Iam。’
Andthecrowd，comingslowlytothesamemind，dispersed，followedbyanothercrowdofpersonswhowerenotdressedinwhattheQueenthoughtwastheproperway。
’Weshallhavethepoliceheredirectly，’saidAntheainthetonesofdespair。’Oh，whydidyoucomedressedlikethat？’
TheQueenleanedagainstthearmofthehorse—hairsofa。
’HowelsecanaqueendressIshouldliketoknow？’shequestioned。
’OurQueenwearsthingslikeotherpeople，’saidCyril。
’Well，Idon’t。AndImustsay，’sheremarkedinaninjuredtone，’thatyoudon’tseemverygladtoseemenowIHAVEcome。
Butperhapsit’sthesurprisethatmakesyoubehavelikethis。
Yetyououghttobeusedtosurprises。Thewayyouvanished！I
shallneverforgetit。ThebestmagicI’veeverseen。Howdidyoudoit？’
’Oh，nevermindaboutthatnow，’saidRobert。’Youseeyou’vegoneandupsetallthosepeople，andIexpectthey’llfetchthepolice。Andwedon’twanttoseeyoucollaredandputinprison。’
’Youcan’tputqueensinprison，’shesaidloftily。’Oh，can’tyou？’saidCyril。’Wecutoffaking’sheadhereonce。’
’Inthismiserableroom？Howfrightfullyinteresting。’
’No，no，notinthisroom；inhistory。’
’Oh，inTHAT，’saidtheQueendisparagingly。’Ithoughtyou’ddoneitwithyourownhands。’
Thegirlsshuddered。
’Whatahideouscityyoursis，’theQueenwentonpleasantly，’andwhathorrid，ignorantpeople。Doyouknowtheyactuallycan’tunderstandasinglewordIsay。’
’Canyouunderstandthem？’askedJane。
’Ofcoursenot；theyspeaksomevulgar，Northerndialect。IcanunderstandYOUquitewell。’
IreallyamnotgoingtoexplainAGAINhowitwasthatthechildrencouldunderstandotherlanguagesthantheirownsothoroughly，andtalkthem，too，sothatitfeltandsounded（tothem）justasthoughtheyweretalkingEnglish。
’Well，’saidCyrilbluntly，’nowyou’veseenjusthowhorriditis，don’tyouthinkyoumightaswellgohomeagain？’’Why，I’veseensimplynothingyet，’saidtheQueen，arrangingherstarryveil。’Iwishedtobeatyourdoor，andIwas。NowImustgoandseeyourKingandQueen。’
’Nobody’sallowedto，’saidAntheainhaste；’butlookhere，we’lltakeyouandshowyouanythingyou’dliketosee——anythingyouCANsee，’sheaddedkindly，becausesherememberedhownicetheQueenhadbeentotheminBabylon，evenifshehadbeenalittledeceitfulinthematterofJaneandPsammead。
’There’stheMuseum，’saidCyrilhopefully；’therearelotsofthingsfromyourcountrythere。Ifonlywecoulddisguiseyoualittle。’
’Iknow，’saidAntheasuddenly。’Mother’soldtheatrecloak，andtherearealotofheroldhatsinthebigbox。’
Thebluesilk，lace—trimmedcloakdidindeedhidesomeoftheQueen’sstartlingsplendours，butthehatfittedverybadly。Ithadpinkrosesinit；andtherewassomethingaboutthecoatorthehatortheQueen，thatmadeherlooksomehownotveryrespectable。
’Oh，nevermind，’saidAnthea，whenCyrilwhisperedthis。’ThethingistogetheroutbeforeNursehasfinishedherfortywinks。Ishouldthinkshe’saboutgottothethirty—ninthwinkbynow。’
’Comeonthen，’saidRobert。’Youknowhowdangerousitis。
Let’smakehasteintotheMuseum。Ifanyofthosepeopleyoumadeguysofdofetchthepolice，theywon’tthinkoflookingforyouthere。’
Thebluesilkcoatandthepink—rosedhatattractedalmostasmuchattentionastheroyalcostumehaddone；andthechildrenwereuncommonlygladtogetoutofthenoisystreetsintothegreyquietoftheMuseum。
’Parcelsandumbrellastobelefthere，’saidamanatthecounter。
Thepartyhadnoumbrellas，andtheonlyparcelwasthebagcontainingthePsammead，whichtheQueenhadinsistedshouldbebrought。
’I’Mnotgoingtobeleft，’saidthePsammeadsoftly，’sodon’tyouthinkit。’
’I’llwaitoutsidewithyou，’saidAntheahastily，andwenttositontheseatnearthedrinkingfountain。
’Don’tsitsonearthatnastyfountain，’saidthecreaturecrossly；’Imightgetsplashed。’
Antheaobedientlymovedtoanotherseatandwaited。Indeedshewaited，andwaited，andwaited，andwaited，andwaited。ThePsammeaddroppedintoanuneasyslumber。Antheahadlongceasedtowatchtheswing—doorthatalwaysletoutthewrongperson，andshewasherselfalmostasleep，andstilltheothersdidnotcomeback。
ItwasquiteastartwhenAntheasuddenlyrealizedthattheyHAD
comeback，andthattheywerenotalone。Behindthemwasquiteacrowdofmeninuniform，andseveralgentlemenwerethere。
Everyoneseemedveryangry。
’Nowgo，’saidthenicestoftheangrygentlemen。’Takethepoor，dementedthinghomeandtellyourparentssheoughttobeproperlylookedafter。’
’Ifyoucan’tgethertogowemustsendforthepolice，’saidthenastiestgentleman。
’Butwedon’twishtouseharshmeasures，’addedtheniceone，whowasreallyveryniceindeed，andseemedtobeoveralltheothers。
’MayIspeaktomysisteramomentfirst？’askedRobert。
Thenicestgentlemannodded，andtheofficialsstoodroundtheQueen，theothersformingasortofguardwhileRobertcrossedovertoAnthea。
’Everythingyoucanthinkof，’herepliedtoAnthea’sglanceofinquiry。’Kickedupthemostfrightfulshineinthere。Saidthosenecklacesandearringsandthingsintheglasscaseswereallhers——wouldhavethemoutofthecases。Triedtobreaktheglass——shedidbreakonebit！Everybodyintheplacehasbeenather。Nogood。Ionlygotheroutbytellingherthatwastheplacewheretheycutqueens’headsoff。’
’Oh，Bobs，whatawhacker！’
’You’dhavetoldawhackingeronetogetherout。Besides，itwasn’t。ImeantMUMMYqueens。Howdoyouknowtheydon’tcutoffmummies’headstoseehowtheembalmingisdone？WhatIwanttosayis，can’tyougethertogowithyouquietly？’
’I’lltry，’saidAnthea，andwentuptotheQueen。
’Docomehome，’shesaid；’thelearnedgentlemaninourhousehasamuchnicernecklacethananythingthey’vegothere。Comeandseeit。’
TheQueennodded。
’Yousee，’saidthenastiestgentleman，’shedoesunderstandEnglish。’
’IwastalkingBabylonian，Ithink，’saidAntheabashfully。
’Mygoodchild，’saidthenicegentleman，’whatyou’retalkingisnotBabylonian，butnonsense。Youjustgohomeatonce，andtellyourparentsexactlywhathashappened。’
AntheatooktheQueen’shandandgentlypulledheraway。Theotherchildrenfollowed，andtheblackcrowdofangrygentlemenstoodonthestepswatchingthem。Itwaswhenthelittlepartyofdisgracedchildren，withtheQueenwhohaddisgracedthem，hadreachedthemiddleofthecourtyardthathereyesfellonthebagwherethePsammeadwas。Shestoppedshort。
’Iwish，’shesaid，veryloudandclear，’thatallthoseBabylonianthingswouldcomeouttomehere——slowly，sothatthosedogsandslavescanseetheworkingofthegreatQueen’smagic。’
’Oh，youAREatiresomewoman，’saidthePsammeadinitsbag，butitpuffeditselfout。
Nextmomenttherewasacrash。Theglassswingdoorsandalltheirframeworkweresmashedsuddenlyandcompletely。Thecrowdofangrygentlemensprangasidewhentheysawwhathaddonethis。
Butthenastiestofthemwasnotquickenough，andhewasroughlypushedoutofthewaybyanenormousstonebullthatwasfloatingsteadilythroughthedoor。ItcameandstoodbesidetheQueeninthemiddleofthecourtyard。
Itwasfollowedbymorestoneimages，bygreatslabsofcarvedstone，bricks，helmets，tools，weapons，fetters，wine—jars，bowls，bottles，vases，jugs，saucers，seals，andtheroundlongthings，somethinglikerollingpinswithmarksonthemliketheprintoflittlebird—feet，necklaces，collars，rings，armlets，earrings——heapsandheapsandheapsofthings，farmorethananyonehadtimetocount，oreventoseedistinctly。
AlltheangrygentlemenhadabruptlysatdownontheMuseumstepsexcepttheniceone。HestoodwithhishandsinhispocketsjustasthoughhewasquiteusedtoseeinggreatstonebullsandallsortsofsmallBabylonishobjectsfloatoutintotheMuseumyard。
Buthesentamantoclosethebigirongates。
Ajournalist，whowasjustleavingthemuseum，spoketoRobertashepassed。
’Theosophy，Isuppose？’hesaid。’IssheMrsBesant？’
’YES，’saidRobertrecklessly。
Thejournalistpassedthroughthegatesjustbeforetheywereshut。
HerushedofftoFleetStreet，andhispapergotoutaneweditionwithinhalfanhour。
MRSBESANTANDTHEOSOPHY
IMPERTINENTMIRACLEATTHEBRITISHMUSEUM。
Peoplesawitinfat，blacklettersontheboardscarriedbythesellersofnewspapers。SomefewpeoplewhohadnothingbettertodowentdowntotheMuseumonthetopsofomnibuses。Butbythetimetheygottheretherewasnothingtobeseen。FortheBabylonianQueenhadsuddenlyseentheclosedgates，hadfeltthethreatofthem，andhadsaid——
’Iwishwewereinyourhouse。’
And，ofcourse，instantlytheywere。
ThePsammeadwasfurious。
’Lookhere，’itsaid，’they’llcomeafteryou，andthey’llfindME。There’llbeaNationalCagebuiltformeatWestminster，andIshallhavetoworkatpolitics。Whywouldn’tyouleavethethingsintheirplaces？’
’Whatatemperyouhave，haven’tyou？’saidtheQueenserenely。
’Iwishallthethingswerebackintheirplaces。WillTHATdoforyou？’
ThePsammeadswelledandshrankandspokeveryangrily。
’Ican’trefusetogiveyourwishes，’itsaid，’butIcanBite。
AndIwillifthisgoeson。Nowthen。’
’Ah，don’t，’whisperedAntheaclosetoitsbristlingear；’it’sdreadfulforustoo。Don’tYOUdesertus。Perhapsshe’llwishherselfathomeagainsoon。’
’Notshe，’saidthePsammeadalittlelesscrossly。
’TakemetoseeyourCity，’saidtheQueen。
Thechildrenlookedateachother。
’Ifwehadsomemoneywecouldtakeheraboutinacab。Peoplewouldn’tnoticehersomuchthen。Butwehaven’t。’
’Sellthis，’saidtheQueen，takingaringfromherfinger。
’They’donlythinkwe’dstolenit，’saidCyrilbitterly，’andputusinprison。’
’Allroadsleadtoprisonwithyou，itseems，’saidtheQueen。
’Thelearnedgentleman！’saidAnthea，andranuptohimwiththeringinherhand。
’Lookhere，’shesaid，’willyoubuythisforapound？’
’Oh！’hesaidintonesofjoyandamazement，andtooktheringintohishand。’It’smyveryown，’saidAnthea；’itwasgiventometosell。’
’I’lllendyouapound，’saidthelearnedgentleman，’withpleasure；andI’lltakecareoftheringforyou。Whodidyousaygaveittoyou？’
’Wecallher，’saidAntheacarefully，’theQueenofBabylon。’
’Isitagame？’heaskedhopefully。
’It’llbeaprettygameifIdon’tgetthemoneytopayforcabsforher，’saidAnthea。
’Isometimesthink，’hesaidslowly，’thatIambecominginsane，orthat——’
’OrthatIam；butI’mnot，andyou’renot，andshe’snot。’
’DoessheSAYthatshe’stheQueenofBabylon？’heuneasilyasked。
’Yes，’saidAnthearecklessly。
’Thisthought—transferenceismorefar—reachingthanIimagined，’
hesaid。’IsupposeIhaveunconsciouslyinfluencedHER，too。I
neverthoughtmyBabylonishstudieswouldbearfruitlikethis。
Horrible！Therearemorethingsinheavenandearth——’
’Yes，’saidAnthea，’heapsmore。Andthepoundisthething_I_
wantmorethananythingonearth。’
Heranhisfingersthroughhisthinhair。
’Thisthought—transference！’hesaid。’It’sundoubtedlyaBabylonianring——oritseemssotome。ButperhapsIhavehypnotizedmyself。IwillseeadoctorthemomentIhavecorrectedthelastproofsofmybook。’
’Yes，do！’saidAnthea，’andthankyousoverymuch。’
Shetookthesovereignandrandowntotheothers。
Andnowfromthewindowofafour—wheeledcabtheQueenofBabylonbeheldthewondersofLondon。BuckinghamPalaceshethoughtuninteresting；WestminsterAbbeyandtheHousesofParliamentlittlebetter。ButshelikedtheTower，andtheRiver，andtheshipsfilledherwithwonderanddelight。
’Buthowbadlyyoukeepyourslaves。Howwretchedandpoorandneglectedtheyseem，’shesaid，asthecabrattledalongtheMileEndRoad。
’Theyaren’tslaves；they’reworking—people，’saidJane。
’Ofcoursethey’reworking。That’swhatslavesare。Don’tyoutellme。DoyousupposeIdon’tknowaslave’sfacewhenIseeit？
Whydon’ttheirmastersseethatthey’rebetterfedandbetterclothed？Tellmeinthreewords。’
Nooneanswered。Thewage—systemofmodernEnglandisalittledifficulttoexplaininthreewordsevenifyouunderstandit——whichthechildrendidn’t。
’You’llhavearevoltofyourslavesifyou’renotcareful，’saidtheQueen。
’Oh，no，’saidCyril；’youseetheyhavevotes——thatmakesthemsafenottorevolt。Itmakesallthedifference。Fathertoldmeso。’
’Whatisthisvote？’askedtheQueen。’Isitacharm？Whatdotheydowithit？’
’Idon’tknow，’saidtheharassedCyril；’it’sjustavote，that’sall！Theydon’tdoanythingparticularwithit。’
’Isee，’saidtheQueen；’asortofplaything。Well，Iwishthatalltheseslavesmayhaveintheirhandsthismomenttheirfilloftheirfavouritemeatanddrink。’
InstantlyallthepeopleintheMileEndRoad，andinalltheotherstreetswherepoorpeoplelive，foundtheirhandsfullofthingstoeatanddrink。Fromthecabwindowcouldbeseenpersonscarryingeverykindoffood，andbottlesandcansaswell。Roastmeat，fowls，redlobsters，greatyellowycrabs，friedfish，boiledpork，beef—steakpuddings，bakedonions，muttonpies；mostoftheyoungpeoplehadorangesandsweetsandcake。ItmadeanenormouschangeinthelookoftheMileEndRoad——brighteneditup，sotospeak，andbrightenedup，morethanyoucanpossiblyimagine，thefacesofthepeople。
’Makesadifference，doesn’tit？’saidtheQueen。
’That’sthebestwishyou’vehadyet，’saidJanewithcordialapproval。
justbytheBankthecabmanstopped。
’Iain’tagoin’todriveyounofurther，’hesaid。’Outyougets。’
Theygotoutratherunwillingly。
’Iwantsmytea，’hesaid；andtheysawthatontheboxofthecabwasamoundofcabbage，withporkchopsandapplesauce，aduck，andaspottedcurrantpudding。Alsoalargecan。
’Youpaymemyfare，’hesaidthreateningly，andlookeddownatthemound，mutteringagainabouthistea。
’We’lltakeanothercab，’saidCyrilwithdignity。’Givemechangeforasovereign，ifyouplease。’
Butthecabman，asitturnedout，wasnotatallanicecharacter。Hetookthesovereign，whippeduphishorse，anddisappearedinthestreamofcabsandomnibusesandwagons，withoutgivingthemanychangeatall。
Alreadyalittlecrowdwascollectingroundtheparty。
’Comeon，’saidRobert，leadingthewrongway。
Thecrowdroundthemthickened。Theywereinanarrowstreetwheremanygentlemeninblackcoatsandwithouthatswerestandingaboutonthepavementtalkingveryloudly。
’Howuglytheirclothesare，’saidtheQueenofBabylon。’They’dberatherfinemen，someofthem，iftheyweredresseddecently，especiallytheoneswiththebeautifullong，curvednoses。I
wishtheyweredressedliketheBabyloniansofmycourt。’
Andofcourse，itwasso。
ThemomentthealmostfaintingPsammeadhadblownitselfouteverymaninThrogmortonStreetappearedabruptlyinBabylonianfulldress。
Allwerecarefullypowdered，theirhairandbeardswerescentedandcurled，theirgarmentsrichlyembroidered。Theyworeringsandarmlets，flatgoldcollarsandswords，andimpossible—lookinghead—dresses。
Astupefiedsilencefellonthem。
’Isay，’ayouthwhohadalwaysbeenfair—hairedbrokethatsilence，’it’sonlyfancyofcourse——somethingwrongwithmyeyes——butyouchapsdolooksorum。’
’Rum，’saidhisfriend。’LookatYOU。Youinasash！Myhat！
Andyourhair’sgoneblackandyou’vegotabeard。It’smybeliefwe’vebeenpoisoned。Youdolookajackape。’
’OldLevinsteindon’tlooksobad。ButhowwasitDONE——that’swhatIwanttoknow。Howwasitdone？Isitconjuring，orwhat？’
’Ithinkitischustaver’badtream，’saidoldLevinsteintohisclerk；’allalongBishopsgateIhafseenthegommonpeoplehavetheirhantsfulloffood——GOOTfood。Ohyes，withoutdoubtaverybadtream！’
’ThenI’mdreamingtoo，Sir，’saidtheclerk，lookingdownathislegswithanexpressionofloathing。’Iseemyfeetinbeastlysandalsasplainasplain。’
’Allthatgootfoodwasted，’saidoldMrLevinstein。Abadtream——abadtream。’
TheMembersoftheStockExchangearesaidtobeatalltimesanoisylot。ButthenoisetheymadenowtoexpresstheirdisgustatthecostumesofancientBabylonwasfarlouderthantheirordinaryrow。Onehadtoshoutbeforeonecouldhearoneselfspeak。
’Ionlywish，’saidtheclerkwhothoughtitwasconjuring——hewasquiteclosetothechildrenandtheytrembled，becausetheyknewthatwhateverhewishedwouldcometrue。’Ionlywishweknewwho’ddoneit。’
And，ofcourse，instantlytheydidknow，andtheypressedroundtheQueen。
’Scandalous！Shameful！Oughttobeputdownbylaw。Giveherincharge。Fetchthepolice，’twoorthreevoicesshoutedatonce。
TheQueenrecoiled。
’Whatisit？’sheasked。’Theysoundlikecagedlions——lionsbythethousand。Whatisitthattheysay？’
’Theysay\"Police！\"，’saidCyrilbriefly。’Iknewtheywouldsoonerorlater。AndIdon’tblamethem，mindyou。’
’Iwishmyguardswerehere！’criedtheQueen。TheexhaustedPsammeadwaspantingandtrembling，buttheQueen’sguardsinredandgreengarments，andbrassandirongear，chokedThrogmortonStreet，andbaredweaponsflashedroundtheQueen。
’I’mmad，’saidaMrRosenbaum；’dat’swhatitis——mad！’
’It’sajudgementonyou，Rosy，’saidhispartner。’IalwayssaidyouweretoohardinthatmatterofFlowerdew。It’sajudgement，andI’minittoo。’
ThemembersoftheStockExchangehadedgedcarefullyawayfromthegleamingblades，themailedfigures，thehard，cruelEasternfaces。
ButThrogmortonStreetisnarrow，andthecrowdwastoothickforthemtogetawayasquicklyastheywished。
’Killthem，’criedtheQueen。’Killthedogs！’
Theguardsobeyed。
’ItISalladream，’criedMrLevinstein，coweringinadoorwaybehindhisclerk。
’Itisn’t，’saidtheclerk。’Itisn’t。Oh，mygoodgracious！
thoseforeignbrutesarekillingeverybody。HenryHirshisdownnow，andPrenticeiscutintwo——oh，Lord！andHuth，andtheregoesLionelCohenwithhisheadoff，andGuyNickallshaslosthisheadnow。Adream？Iwishtogoodnessitwasalladream。’
And，ofcourse，instantlyitwas！TheentireStockExchangerubbeditseyesandwentbacktoclose，toover，andeithersideofseven—eights，andTrunks，andKaffirs，andSteelCommon，andContangoes，andBackwardations，DoubleOptions，andalltheinterestingsubjectsconcerningwhichtheytalkintheStreetwithoutceasing。
Noonesaidawordaboutittoanyoneelse。IthinkIhaveexplainedbeforethatbusinessmendonotlikeittobeknownthattheyhavebeendreaminginbusinesshours。Especiallymaddreamsincludingsuchdreadfulthingsashungrypeoplegettingdinners，andthedestructionoftheStockExchange。
Thechildrenwereinthedining—roomat300，FitzroyStreet，paleandtrembling。ThePsammeadcrawledoutoftheembroideredbag，andlayflatonthetable，itslegstretchedout，lookingmorelikeadeadharethananythingelse。
’ThankGoodnessthat’sover，’saidAnthea，drawingadeepbreath。
’Shewon’tcomeback，willshe？’askedJanetremulously。
’No，’saidCyril。’She’sthousandsofyearsago。Butwespentawholepreciouspoundonher。It’lltakeallourpocket—moneyforagestopaythatback。’
’NotifitwasALLadream，’saidRobert。
’ThewishsaidALLadream，youknow，Panther；youcutupandaskifhelentyouanything。’
’Ibegyourpardon，’saidAntheapolitely，followingthesoundofherknockintothepresenceofthelearnedgentleman，’I’msosorrytotroubleyou，butDIDyoulendmeapoundtoday？’
’No，’saidhe，lookingkindlyatherthroughhisspectacles。
’Butit’sextraordinarythatyoushouldaskme，forIdozedforafewmomentsthisafternoon，athingIveryrarelydo，andI
dreamedquitedistinctlythatyoubroughtmearingthatyousaidbelongedtotheQueenofBabylon，andthatIlentyouasovereignandthatyouleftoneoftheQueen’sringshere。Theringwasamagnificentspecimen。’Hesighed。’Iwishithadn’tbeenadream，’hesaidsmiling。Hewasreallylearningtosmilequitenicely。
AntheacouldnotbetoothankfulthatthePsammeadwasnottheretogranthiswish。
CHAPTER9
ATLANTIS
YouwillunderstandthattheadventureoftheBabylonianqueeninLondonwastheonlyonethathadoccupiedanytimeatall。Butthechildren’stimewasveryfullytakenupbytalkingoverallthewonderfulthingsseenanddoneinthePast，where，bythepoweroftheAmulet，theyseemedtospendhoursandhours，onlytofindwhentheygotbacktoLondonthatthewholethinghadbeenbrieferthanalightningflash。
TheytalkedofthePastattheirmeals，intheirwalks，inthedining—room，inthefirst—floordrawing—room，butmostofallonthestairs。Itwasanoldhouse；ithadoncebeenafashionableone，andwasafineonestill。Thebanisterrailsofthestairswereexcellentforslidingdown，andinthecornersofthelandingswerebigalcovesthathadonceheldgracefulstatues，andnowquiteoftenheldthegracefulformsofCyril，Robert，Anthea，andJane。
OnedayCyrilandRobertintightwhiteunderclothinghadspentapleasanthourinreproducingtheattitudesofstatuesseeneitherintheBritishMuseum，orinFather’sbigphotographbook。ButtheshowendedabruptlybecauseRobertwantedtobetheVenusofMilo，andforthispurposepulledatthesheetwhichservedfordraperyattheverymomentwhenCyril，lookingreallyquiteliketheDiscobolos——withagoldandwhitesaucerforthedisc——wasstandingononefoot，andunderthatonefootwasthesheet。
OfcoursetheDiscobolosandhisdiscandthewould—beVenuscamedowntogether，andeveryonewasagooddealhurt，especiallythesaucer，whichwouldneverbethesameagain，howeverneatlyonemightjoinitsunevenbitswithSeccotineorthewhiteofanegg。
’Ihopeyou’resatisfied，’saidCyril，holdinghisheadwherealargelumpwasrising。
’Quite，thanks，’saidRobertbitterly。Histhumbhadcaughtinthebanistersandbentitselfbackalmosttobreakingpoint。
’IAMsosorry，poor，dearSquirrel，’saidAnthea；’andyouwerelookingsolovely。I’llgetawetrag。Bobs，goandholdyourhandunderthehot—watertap。It’swhatballetgirlsdowiththeirlegswhentheyhurtthem。Isawitinabook。’
’Whatbook？’saidRobertdisagreeably。Buthewent。
WhenhecamebackCyril’sheadhadbeenbandagedbyhissisters，andhehadbeenbroughttothestateofmindwherehewasablereluctantlytoadmitthathesupposedRoberthadn’tdoneitonpurpose。
Robertreplyingwithequalsuavity，Antheahastenedtoleadthetalkawayfromtheaccident。
’Isupposeyoudon’tfeellikegoinganywherethroughtheAmulet，’shesaid。
’Egypt！’saidJanepromptly。’Iwanttoseethepussycats。’
’Notme——toohot，’saidCyril。’It’saboutasmuchasIcanstandhere——letaloneEgypt。’Itwasindeed，hot，evenonthesecondlanding，whichwasthecoolestplaceinthehouse。’Let’sgototheNorthPole。’
’Idon’tsupposetheAmuletwaseverthere——andwemightgetourfingersfrost—bittensothatwecouldneverholdituptogethomeagain。Nothanks，’saidRobert。
’Isay，’saidJane，’let’sgetthePsammeadandaskitsadvice。
Itwilllikeusasking，evenifwedon’ttakeit。’
ThePsammeadwasbroughtupinitsgreensilkembroideredbag，butbeforeitcouldbeaskedanythingthedoorofthelearnedgentleman’sroomopenedandthevoiceofthevisitorwhohadbeenlunchingwithhimwasheardonthestairs。Heseemedtobespeakingwiththedoorhandleinhishand。
’Youseeadoctor，oldboy，’hesaid；’allthataboutthought—transferenceisjustsimplytwaddle。You’vebeenover—working。Takeaholiday。GotoDieppe。’
’I’drathergotoBabylon，’saidthelearnedgentleman。
’Iwishyou’dgotoAtlantissometime，whilewe’reaboutit，soastogivemesometipsformyNineteenthCenturyarticlewhenyoucomehome。’
’IwishIcould，’saidthevoiceofthelearnedgentleman。
’Goodbye。Takecareofyourself。’
Thedoorwasbanged，andthevisitorcamesmilingdownthestairs——astout，prosperous，bigman。Thechildrenhadtogetuptolethimpass。
’Hullo，Kiddies，’hesaid，glancingatthebandagesontheheadofCyrilandthehandofRobert，’beeninthewars？’
’It’sallright，’saidCyril。’Isay，whatwasthatAtlanticplaceyouwantedhimtogoto？Wecouldn’thelphearingyoutalk。’
’YoutalksoVERYloud，yousee，’saidJanesoothingly。
’Atlantis，’saidthevisitor，’thelostAtlantis，gardenoftheHesperides。Greatcontinent——disappearedinthesea。YoucanreadaboutitinPlato。’
’Thankyou，’saidCyrildoubtfully。
’WerethereanyAmuletsthere？’askedAnthea，madeanxiousbyasuddenthought。
’Hundreds，Ishouldthink。SoHE’Sbeentalkingtoyou？’
’Yes，often。He’sverykindtous。Welikehimawfully。’
’Well，whathewantsisaholiday；youpersuadehimtotakeone。
Whathewantsisachangeofscene。Yousee，hisheadiscrustedsothicklyinsidewithknowledgeaboutEgyptandAssyriaandthingsthatyoucan’thammeranythingintoitunlessyoukeephardatitalldaylongfordaysanddays。AndIhaven’ttime。
Butyouliveinthehouse。Youcanhammeralmostincessantly。
Justtryyourhands，willyou？Right。Solong！’
Hewentdownthestairsthreeatatime，andJaneremarkedthathewasaniceman，andshethoughthehadlittlegirlsofhisown。
’Ishouldliketohavethemtoplaywith，’sheaddedpensively。
Thethreeelderonesexchangedglances。Cyrilnodded。
’Allright。LET’SgotoAtlantis，’hesaid。
’Let’sgotoAtlantisandtakethelearnedgentlemanwithus，’
saidAnthea；’he’llthinkit’sadream，afterwards，butit’llcertainlybeachangeofscene。’
’WhynottakehimtoniceEgypt？’askedJane。
’Toohot，’saidCyrilshortly。
’OrBabylon，wherehewantstogo？’
’I’vehadenoughofBabylon，’saidRobert，’atleastforthepresent。Andsohavetheothers。Idon’tknowwhy，’headded，forestallingthequestiononJane’slips，’butsomehowwehave。
Squirrel，let’stakeoffthesebeastlybandagesandgetintoflannels。Wecan’tgoinourunders。’
’HeWISHEDtogotoAtlantis，sohe’sgottogosometime；andhemightaswellgowithus，’saidAnthea。
Thiswashowitwasthatthelearnedgentleman，permittinghimselfafewmomentsofrelaxationinhischair，afterthefatigueoflisteningtoopinions（aboutAtlantisandmanyotherthings）withwhichhedidnotatallagree，openedhiseyestofindhisfouryoungfriendsstandinginfrontofhiminarow。
’Willyoucome，’saidAnthea，’toAtlantiswithus？’
’Toknowthatyouaredreamingshowsthatthedreamisnearlyatanend，’hetoldhimself；’orperhapsit’sonlyagame，like\"HowmanymilestoBabylon？\"。’Sohesaidaloud：’Thankyouverymuch，butIhaveonlyaquarterofanhourtospare。’
’Itdoesn’ttakeanytime，’saidCyril；’timeisonlyamodeofthought，youknow，andyou’vegottogosometime，sowhynotwithus？’
’Verywell，’saidthelearnedgentleman，nowquitecertainthathewasdreaming。
Antheaheldouthersoft，pinkhand。Hetookit。Shepulledhimgentlytohisfeet。JanehelduptheAmulet。
’TojustoutsideAtlantis，’saidCyril，andJanesaidtheNameofPower。
’Youowl！’saidRobert，’it’sanisland。Outsideanisland’sallwater。’
’Iwon’tgo。IWON’T，’saidthePsammead，kickingandstrugglinginitsbag。
ButalreadytheAmulethadgrowntoagreatarch。Cyrilpushedthelearnedgentleman，asundoubtedlythefirst—born，throughthearch——notintowater，butontoawoodenfloor，outofdoors。
Theothersfollowed。TheAmuletgrewsmalleragain，andtheretheyallwere，standingonthedeckofashipwhosesailorswerebusymakingherfastwithchainstoringsonawhitequay—side。
Theringsandthechainswereofametalthatshonered—yellowlikegold。
EveryoneontheshipseemedtoobusyatfirsttonoticethegroupofnewcomersfromFitzroyStreet。Thosewhoseemedtobeofficerswereshoutingorderstothemen。
Theystoodandlookedacrossthewidequaytothetownthatrosebeyondit。Whattheysawwasthemostbeautifulsightanyofthemhadeverseen——oreverdreamedof。
Theblueseasparkledinsoftsunlight；littlewhite—cappedwavesbrokesoftlyagainstthemarblebreakwatersthatguardedtheshippingofagreatcityfromthewildernessofwinterwindsandseas。Thequaywasofmarble，whiteandsparklingwithaveiningbrightasgold。Thecitywasofmarble，redandwhite。Thegreaterbuildingsthatseemedtobetemplesandpalaceswereroofedwithwhatlookedlikegoldandsilver，butmostoftheroofswereofcopperthatglowedgolden—redonthehousesonthehillsamongwhichthecitystood，andshadedintomarvelloustintsofgreenandblueandpurplewheretheyhadbeentouchedbythesaltseasprayandthefumesofthedyeingandsmeltingworksofthelowertown。
Broadandmagnificentflightsofmarblestairsledupfromthequaytoasortofterracethatseemedtorunalongformiles，andbeyondrosethetownbuiltonahill。
Thelearnedgentlemandrewalongbreath。’Wonderful！’hesaid，’wonderful！’
’Isay，Mr——what’syourname，’saidRobert。’Hemeans，’saidAnthea，withgentlepoliteness，’thatwenevercanrememberyourname。Iknowit’sMrDeSomething。’
’WhenIwasyourageIwascalledJimmy，’hesaidtimidly。
’Wouldyoumind？IshouldfeelmoreathomeinadreamlikethisifI——Anythingthatmademeseemmorelikeoneofyou。’
’Thankyou——Jimmy，’saidAntheawithaneffort。ItseemedsuchacheektobesayingJimmytoagrown—upman。’Jimmy，DEAR，’sheadded，withnoeffortatall。Jimmysmiledandlookedpleased。
Butnowtheshipwasmadefast，andtheCaptainhadtimetonoticeotherthings。Hecametowardsthem，andhewasdressedinthebestofallpossibledressesfortheseafaringlife。
’Whatareyoudoinghere？’heaskedratherfiercely。’Doyoucometoblessortocurse？’
’Tobless，ofcourse，’saidCyril。’I’msorryifitannoysyou，butwe’reherebymagic。Wecomefromthelandofthesun—rising，’hewentonexplanatorily。
’Isee，’saidtheCaptain；noonehadexpectedthathewould。’I
didn’tnoticeatfirst，butofcourseIhopeyou’reagoodomen。
It’sneeded。Andthis，’hepointedtothelearnedgentleman，’yourslave，Ipresume？’
’Notatall，’saidAnthea；’he’saverygreatman。Asage，don’ttheycallit？Andwewanttoseeallyourbeautifulcity，andyourtemplesandthings，andthenweshallgoback，andhewilltellhisfriend，andhisfriendwillwriteabookaboutit。’
’What，’askedtheCaptain，fingeringarope，’isabook？’
’Arecord——somethingwritten，or，’sheaddedhastily，rememberingtheBabylonianwriting，’orengraved。’
SomesuddenimpulseofconfidencemadeJaneplucktheAmuletfromtheneckofherfrock。
’Likethis，’shesaid。
TheCaptainlookedatitcuriously，but，theotherthreewererelievedtonotice，withoutanyofthatoverwhelminginterestwhichthemerenameofithadrousedinEgyptandBabylon。
’Thestoneisofourcountry，’hesaid；’andthatwhichisengravedonit，itislikeourwriting，butIcannotreadit。
Whatisthenameofyoursage？’
’Ji—jimmy，’saidAntheahesitatingly。
TheCaptainrepeated，’Ji—jimmy。Willyouland？’headded。’AndshallIleadyoutotheKings？’
’Lookhere，’saidRobert，’doesyourKinghatestrangers？’
’OurKingsareten，’saidtheCaptain，’andtheRoyalline，unbrokenfromPoseidon，thefatherofusall，hasthenobletraditiontodohonourtostrangersiftheycomeinpeace。’
’Thenleadon，please，’saidRobert，’thoughISHOULDliketoseealloveryourbeautifulship，andsailaboutinher。’
’Thatshallbelater，’saidtheCaptain；’justnowwe’reafraidofastorm——doyounoticethatoddrumbling？’
’That’snothing，master，’saidanoldsailorwhostoodnear；
’it’sthepilchardscomingin，that’sall。’
’Tooloud，’saidtheCaptain。
Therewasaratheranxiouspause；thentheCaptainsteppedontothequay，andtheothersfollowedhim。
’Dotalktohim——Jimmy，’saidAntheaastheywent；’youcanfindoutallsortsofthingsforyourfriend’sbook。’
’Pleaseexcuseme，’hesaidearnestly。’IfItalkIshallwakeup；andbesides，Ican’tunderstandwhathesays。’
Nooneelsecouldthinkofanythingtosay，sothatitwasincompletesilencethattheyfollowedtheCaptainupthemarblestepsandthroughthestreetsofthetown。Therewerestreetsandshopsandhousesandmarkets。
’It’sjustlikeBabylon，’whisperedJane，’onlyeverything’sperfectlydifferent。’
’It’sagreatcomfortthetenKingshavebeenproperlybroughtup——tobekindtostrangers，’AntheawhisperedtoCyril。
’Yes，’hesaid，’nodeepestdungeonshere。’
Therewerenohorsesorchariotsinthestreet，buttherewerehandcartsandlowtrolleysrunningonthicklog—wheels，andporterscarryingpacketsontheirheads，andagoodmanyofthepeoplewereridingonwhatlookedlikeelephants，onlythegreatbeastswerehairy，andtheyhadnotthatmildexpressionweareaccustomedtomeetonthefacesoftheelephantsattheZoo。
’Mammoths！’murmuredthelearnedgentleman，andstumbledoveraloosestone。
Thepeopleinthestreetskeptcrowdingroundthemastheywentalong，buttheCaptainalwaysdispersedthecrowdbeforeitgrewuncomfortablythickbysaying——
’ChildrenoftheSunGodandtheirHighPriest——cometoblesstheCity。’
Andthenthepeoplewoulddrawbackwithalowmurmurthatsoundedlikeasuppressedcheer。
Manyofthebuildingswerecoveredwithgold，butthegoldonthebiggerbuildingswasofadifferentcolour，andtheyhadsortsofsteeplesofburnishedsilverrisingabovethem。
’Areallthesehousesrealgold？’askedJane。
’Thetemplesarecoveredwithgold，ofcourse，’answeredtheCaptain，’butthehousesareonlyoricalchum。It’snotquitesoexpensive。’
Thelearnedgentleman，nowverypale，stumbledalonginadazedway，repeating：
’Oricalchum——oricalchum。’
’Don’tbefrightened，’saidAnthea；’wecangethomeinaminute，justbyholdingupthecharm。Wouldyourathergobacknow？Wecouldeasilycomesomeotherdaywithoutyou。’
’Oh，no，no，’hepleadedfervently；’letthedreamgoon。
Please，pleasedo。’
’TheHighJi—jimmyisperhapswearywithhismagicjourney，’saidtheCaptain，noticingtheblunderingwalkofthelearnedgentleman；’andweareyetveryfarfromtheGreatTemple，wheretodaytheKingsmakesacrifice。’
Hestoppedatthegateofagreatenclosure。Itseemedtobeasortofpark，fortreesshowedhighaboveitsbrazenwall。
Thepartywaited，andalmostatoncetheCaptaincamebackwithoneofthehairyelephantsandbeggedthemtomount。
Thistheydid。
Itwasagloriousride。TheelephantattheZoo——torideonhimisalsoglorious，buthegoessuchaverylittleway，andthenhegoesbackagain，whichisalwaysdull。Butthisgreathairybeastwentonandonandonalongstreetsandthroughsquaresandgardens。Itwasagloriouscity；almosteverythingwasbuiltofmarble，red，orwhite，orblack。Everynowandthenthepartycrossedabridge。
Itwasnottilltheyhadclimbedtothehillwhichisthecentreofthetownthattheysawthatthewholecitywasdividedintotwentycircles，alternatelylandandwater，andovereachofthewatercircleswerethebridgesbywhichtheyhadcome。
Andnowtheywereinagreatsquare。Avastbuildingfilleduponesideofit；itwasoverlaidwithgold，andhadadomeofsilver。Therestofthebuildingsroundthesquarewereoforicalchum。Anditlookedmoresplendidthanyoucanpossiblyimagine，standingupboldandshininginthesunlight。
’Youwouldlikeabath，’saidtheCaptain，asthehairyelephantwentclumsilydownonhisknees。’It’scustomary，youknow，beforeenteringthePresence。Wehavebathsformen，women，horses，andcattle。TheHighClassBathsarehere。OurFatherPoseidongaveusaspringofhotwaterandoneofcold。’
Thechildrenhadneverbeforebathedinbathsofgold。
’Itfeelsverysplendid，’saidCyril，splashing。
’Atleast，ofcourse，it’snotgold；it’sor——what’sitsname，’
saidRobert。’Handoverthattowel。’
Thebathinghallhadseveralgreatpoolssunkbelowthelevelofthefloor；onewentdowntothembysteps。
’Jimmy，’saidAntheatimidly，when，verycleanandboiled—looking，theyallmetintheflowerycourtyardofthePublic，’don’tyouthinkallthisseemsmuchmorelikeNOWthanBabylonorEgypt——？Oh，Iforgot，you’veneverbeenthere。’
’Iknowalittleofthosenations，however，’saidhe，’andI
quiteagreewithyou。Amostdiscerningremark——mydear，’headdedawkwardly；’thiscitycertainlyseemstoindicateafarhigherlevelofcivilizationthantheEgyptianorBabylonish，and——’
’Followme，’saidtheCaptain。’Now，boys，getoutoftheway。’
Hepushedthroughalittlecrowdofboyswhowereplayingwithdriedchestnutsfastenedtoastring。
’Ginger！’remarkedRobert，’they’replayingconkers，justlikethekidsinKentishTownRoad！’
Theycouldseenowthatthreewallssurroundedtheislandonwhichtheywere。Theoutermostwallwasofbrass，theCaptaintoldthem；thenext，whichlookedlikesilver，wascoveredwithtin；andtheinnermostonewasoforicalchum。
Andrightinthemiddlewasawallofgold，withgoldentowersandgates。
’BeholdtheTemplesofPoseidon，’saidtheCaptain。’Itisnotlawfulformetoenter。Iwillawaityourreturnhere。’
Hetoldthemwhattheyoughttosay，andthefivepeoplefromFitzroyStreettookhandsandwentforward。Thegoldengatesslowlyopened。
’WearethechildrenoftheSun，’saidCyril，ashehadbeentold，’andourHighPriest，atleastthat’swhattheCaptaincallshim。Wehaveadifferentnameforhimathome。’’Whatishisname？’askedawhite—robedmanwhostoodinthedoorwaywithhisarmsextended。
’Ji—jimmy，’repliedCyril，andhehesitatedasAntheahaddone。
Itreallydidseemtobetakingagreatlibertywithsolearnedagentleman。’AndwehavecometospeakwithyourKingsintheTempleofPoseidon——doesthatwordsoundright？’hewhisperedanxiously。
’Quite，’saidthelearnedgentleman。’It’sveryoddIcanunderstandwhatyousaytothem，butnotwhattheysaytoyou。’
’TheQueenofBabylonfoundthattoo，’saidCyril；’it’spartofthemagic。’
’Oh，whatadream！’saidthelearnedgentleman。
Thewhite—robedpriesthadbeenjoinedbyothers，andallwerebowinglow。
’Enter，’hesaid，’enter，ChildrenoftheSun，withyourHighJi—jimmy。’
InaninnercourtyardstoodtheTemple——allofsilver，withgoldpinnaclesanddoors，andtwentyenormousstatuesinbrightgoldofmenandwomen。Alsoanimmensepillaroftheotherpreciousyellowmetal。
Theywentthroughthedoors，andthepriestledthemupastairintoagalleryfromwhichtheycouldlookdownontothegloriousplace。
’ThetenKingsareevennowchoosingthebull。Itisnotlawfulformetobehold，’saidthepriest，andfellfacedownwardontheflooroutsidethegallery。Thechildrenlookeddown。
Theroofwasofivoryadornedwiththethreepreciousmetals，andthewallswerelinedwiththefavouriteoricalchum。
AtthefarendoftheTemplewasastatuegroup，thelikeofwhichnoonelivinghaseverseen。
Itwasofgold，andtheheadofthechieffigurereachedtotheroof。ThatfigurewasPoseidon，theFatheroftheCity。Hestoodinagreatchariotdrawnbysixenormoushorses，androundaboutitwereahundredmermaidsridingondolphins。
Tenmen，splendidlydressedandarmedonlywithsticksandropes，weretryingtocaptureoneofsomefifteenbullswhoranthiswayandthatabouttheflooroftheTemple。Thechildrenheldtheirbreath，forthebullslookeddangerous，andthegreathornedheadswereswingingmoreandmorewildly。
Antheadidnotlikelookingatthebulls。Shelookedaboutthegallery，andnoticedthatanotherstaircaseledupfromittoastillhigherstorey；alsothatadoorledoutintotheopenair，wherethereseemedtobeabalcony。
SothatwhenashoutwentupandRobertwhispered，’Gothim，’andshelookeddownandsawtheherdofbullsbeingdrivenoutoftheTemplebywhips，andthetenKingsfollowing，oneofthemspurringwithhisstickablackbullthatwrithedandfoughtinthegripofalasso，sheansweredtheboy’sagitated，’Nowweshan’tseeanythingmore，’with——
’Yeswecan，there’sanoutsidebalcony。’
Sotheycrowdedout。
Butverysoonthegirlscreptback。
’Idon’tlikesacrifices，’Janesaid。SosheandAntheawentandtalkedtothepriest，whowasnolongerlyingonhisface，butsittingonthetopstepmoppinghisforeheadwithhisrobe，foritwasahotday。
’It’saspecialsacrifice，’hesaid；’usuallyit’sonlydoneonthejusticedayseveryfiveyearsandsixyearsalternately。Andthentheydrinkthecupofwinewithsomeofthebull’sbloodinit，andsweartojudgetruly。Andtheywearthesacredbluerobe，andputoutalltheTemplefires。ButthistodayisbecausetheCity’ssoupsetbytheoddnoisesfromthesea，andthegodinsidethebigmountainspeakingwithhisthunder—voice。
Butallthat’shappenedsooftenbefore。IfanythingcouldmakeMEuneasyitwouldn’tbeTHAT。’
’Whatwoulditbe？’askedJanekindly。
’ItwouldbetheLemmings。’
’Whoarethey——enemies？’
’They’reasortofrat；andeveryyeartheycomeswimmingoverfromthecountrythatnomanknows，andstayhereawhile，andthenswimaway。Thisyeartheyhaven’tcome。Youknowratswon’tstayonashipthat’sgoingtobewrecked。Ifanythinghorribleweregoingtohappentous，it’smybeliefthoseLemmingswouldknow；andthatmaybewhythey’vefoughtshyofus。’
’Whatdoyoucallthiscountry？’askedthePsammead，suddenlyputtingitsheadoutofitsbag。
’Atlantis，’saidthepriest。
’ThenIadviseyoutogetontothehighestgroundyoucanfind。
Irememberhearingsomethingaboutafloodhere。Lookhere，you’——itturnedtoAnthea；’let’sgethome。Theprospect’stoowetformywhiskers。’Thegirlsobedientlywenttofindtheirbrothers，whowereleaningonthebalconyrailings。
’Where’sthelearnedgentleman？’askedAnthea。
’Thereheis——below，’saidthepriest，whohadcomewiththem。
’YourHighJi—jimmyiswiththeKings。’
ThetenKingswerenolongeralone。Thelearnedgentleman——noonehadnoticedhowhegotthere——stoodwiththemonthestepsofanaltar，onwhichlaythedeadbodyoftheblackbull。Alltherestofthecourtyardwasthickwithpeople，seeminglyofallclasses，andallwereshouting，’Thesea——thesea！’
’Becalm，’saidthemostkinglyoftheKings，hewhohadlassoedthebull。’Ourtownisstrongagainstthethundersoftheseaandofthesky！’
’Iwanttogohome，’whinedthePsammead。
’Wecan’tgowithoutHIM，’saidAntheafirmly。