’Jimmy，’shecalled，’Jimmy！’andwavedtohim。Heheardher，andbegantocometowardsherthroughthecrowd。Theycouldseefromthebalconythesea—captainedginghiswayoutfromamongthepeople。Andhisfacewasdeadwhite，likepaper。
’Tothehills！’hecriedinaloudandterriblevoice。Andabovehisvoicecameanothervoice，louder，moreterrible——thevoiceofthesea。
Thegirlslookedseaward。
Acrossthesmoothdistanceoftheseasomethinghugeandblackrolledtowardsthetown。Itwasawave，butawaveahundredfeetinheight，awavethatlookedlikeamountain——awaverisinghigherandhighertillsuddenlyitseemedtobreakintwo——onehalfofitrushedouttoseaagain；theother——
’Oh！’criedAnthea，’thetown——thepoorpeople！’
’It’sallthousandsofyearsago，really，’saidRobertbuthisvoicetrembled。Theyhidtheireyesforamoment。Theycouldnotbeartolookdown，forthewavehadbrokenonthefaceofthetown，sweepingoverthequaysanddocks，overwhelmingthegreatstorehousesandfactories，tearinggiganticstonesfromfortsandbridges，andusingthemasbatteringramsagainstthetemples。
Greatshipsweresweptovertheroofsofthehousesanddasheddownhalfwayupthehillamongruinedgardensandbrokenbuildings。Thewatergroundbrownfishing—boatstopowderonthegoldenroofsofPalaces。
Thenthewavesweptbacktowardsthesea。
’Iwanttogohome，’criedthePsammeadfiercely。
’Oh，yes，yes！’saidJane，andtheboyswereready——butthelearnedgentlemanhadnotcome。
Thensuddenlytheyheardhimdashuptotheinnergallery，crying——
’IMUSTseetheendofthedream。’Herushedupthehigherflight。
Theothersfollowedhim。Theyfoundthemselvesinasortofturret——roofed，butopentotheairatthesides。
Thelearnedgentlemanwasleaningontheparapet，andastheyrejoinedhimthevastwaverushedbackonthetown。Thistimeitrosehigher——destroyedmore。
’Comehome，’criedthePsammead；’THAT’StheLAST，Iknowitis！
That’sthelast——overthere。’Itpointedwithaclawthattrembled。
’Oh，come！’criedJane，holdinguptheAmulet。
’IWILLSEEtheendofthedream，’criedthelearnedgentleman。
’You’llneverseeanythingelseifyoudo，’saidCyril。’Oh，JIMMY！’appealedAnthea。’I’llNEVERbringyououtagain！’
’You’llneverhavethechanceifyoudon’tgosoon，’saidthePsammead。
’IWILLseetheendofthedream，’saidthelearnedgentlemanobstinately。
Thehillsaroundwereblackwithpeoplefleeingfromthevillagestothemountains。Andevenastheyfledthinsmokebrokefromthegreatwhitepeak，andthenafaintflashofflame。Thenthevolcanobegantothrowupitsmysteriousfieryinsideparts。Theearthtrembled；ashesandsulphurshowereddown；arainoffinepumice—stonefelllikesnowonallthedryland。Theelephantsfromtheforestrusheduptowardsthepeaks；greatlizardsthirtyyardslongbrokefromthemountainpoolsandrusheddowntowardsthesea。Thesnowsmeltedandrusheddown，firstinavalanches，theninroaringtorrents。Greatrockscastupbythevolcanofellsplashingintheseamilesaway。
’Oh，thisishorrible！’criedAnthea。’Comehome，comehome！’
’Theendofthedream，’gaspedthelearnedgentleman。
’HolduptheAmulet，’criedthePsammeadsuddenly。Theplacewheretheystoodwasnowcrowdedwithmenandwomen，andthechildrenwerestrainedtightagainsttheparapet。Theturretrockedandswayed；thewavehadreachedthegoldenwall。
JanehelduptheAmulet。
’Now，’criedthePsammead，’saytheword！’
AndasJanesaiditthePsammeadleapedfromitsbagandbitthehandofthelearnedgentleman。
Atthesamemomenttheboyspushedhimthroughthearchandallfollowedhim。
Heturnedtolookback，andthroughthearchhesawnothingbutawasteofwaters，withaboveitthepeakoftheterriblemountainwithfireragingfromit。
Hestaggeredbacktohischair。
’Whataghastlydream！’hegasped。’Oh，you’rehere，my——er——dears。CanIdoanythingforyou？’
’You’vehurtyourhand，’saidAntheagently；’letmebinditup。’
Thehandwasindeedbleedingratherbadly。
ThePsammeadhadcreptbacktoitsbag。Allthechildrenwereverywhite。
’Neveragain，’saidthePsammeadlateron，’willIgointothePastwithagrown—upperson！Iwillsayforyoufour，youdodoasyou’retold。’
’Wedidn’tevenfindtheAmulet，’saidAnthealaterstill。
’Ofcourseyoudidn’t；itwasn’tthere。Onlythestoneitwasmadeofwasthere。ItfellontoashipmilesawaythatmanagedtoescapeandgottoEgypt。_I_couldhavetoldyouthat。’
’Iwishyouhad，’saidAnthea，andhervoicewasstillrathershaky。’Whydidn’tyou？’
’Youneveraskedme，’saidthePsammeadverysulkily。’I’mnotthesortofchaptogoshovingmyoarinwhereit’snotwanted。’
’MrJi—jimmy’sfriendwillhavesomethingworthhavingtoputinhisarticlenow，’saidCyrilverymuchlaterindeed。
’Nothe，’saidRobertsleepily。’ThelearnedJi—jimmywillthinkit’sadream，andit’stentoonehenevertellstheotherchapawordaboutitatall。’
Robertwasquiterightonbothpoints。Thelearnedgentlemandid。Andheneverdid。
CHAPTER10
THELITTLEBLACKGIRLANDJULIUSCAESAR
Agreatcitysweptawaybythesea，abeautifulcountrydevastatedbyanactivevolcano——thesearenotthesortofthingsyouseeeverydayoftheweek。Andwhenyoudoseethem，nomatterhowmanyotherwondersyoumayhaveseeninyourtime，suchsightsareratherapttotakeyourbreathaway。AtlantishadcertainlythiseffectonthebreathsofCyril，Robert，Anthea，andJane。
Theyremainedinabreathlessstateforsomedays。Thelearnedgentlemanseemedasbreathlessasanyone；hespentagooddealofwhatlittlebreathhehadintellingAntheaaboutawonderfuldreamhehad。’Youwouldhardlybelieve，’hesaid，’thatanyoneCOULDhavesuchadetailedvision。’
ButAntheacouldbelieveit，shesaid，quiteeasily。
Hehadceasedtotalkaboutthought—transference。Hehadnowseentoomanywonderstobelievethat。
InconsequenceoftheirbreathlessconditionnoneofthechildrensuggestedanynewexcursionsthroughtheAmulet。Robertvoicedthemoodoftheotherswhenhesaidthattheywere’fedup’withAmuletforabit。Theyundoubtedlywere。
AsforthePsammead，itwenttosandandstayedthere，wornoutbytheterrorofthefloodandtheviolentexerciseithadhadtotakeinobediencetotheinconsideratewishesofthelearnedgentlemanandtheBabylonianqueen。
Thechildrenletitsleep。Thedangeroftakingitaboutamongstrangepeoplewhomightatanymomentutterundesirablewisheswasbecomingmoreandmoreplain。
AndtherearepleasantthingstobedoneinLondonwithoutanyaidfromAmuletsorPsammeads。Youcan，forinstancevisittheTowerofLondon，theHousesofParliament，theNationalGallery，theZoologicalGardens，thevariousParks，theMuseumsatSouthKensington，MadameTussaud’sExhibitionofWaxworks，ortheBotanicalGardensatKew。YoucangotoKewbyriversteamer——andthisisthewaythatthechildrenwouldhavegoneiftheyhadgoneatall。Onlytheyneverdid，becauseitwaswhentheywerediscussingthearrangementsforthejourney，andwhattheyshouldtakewiththemtoeatandhowmuchofit，andwhatthewholethingwouldcost，thattheadventureoftheLittleBlackGirlbegantohappen。
ThechildrenweresittingonaseatinStJames’sPark。Theyhadbeenwatchingthepelicanrepulsingwithcarefuldignitytheadvancesoftheseagullswhoarealwayssoanxioustoplaygameswithit。Thepelicanthinks，veryproperly，thatithasn’tthefigureforgames，soitspendsmostofitstimepretendingthatthatisnotthereasonwhyitwon’tplay。
ThebreathlessnesscausedbyAtlantiswaswearingoffalittle。
Cyril，whoalwayswantedtounderstandallabouteverything，wasturningthingsoverinhismind。
’I’mnot；I’monlythinking，’heansweredwhenRobertaskedhimwhathewassogrumpyabout。’I’lltellyouwhenI’vethoughtitallout。’
’Ifit’sabouttheAmuletIdon’twanttohearit，’saidJane。
’Nobodyaskedyouto，’retortedCyrilmildly，’andIhaven’tfinishedmyinsidethinkingaboutityet。Let’sgotoKewinthemeantime。’
’I’drathergoinasteamer，’saidRobert；andthegirlslaughed。
’That’sright，’saidCyril，’BEfunny。Iwould。’
’Well，hewas，rather，’saidAnthea。
’Iwouldn’tthink，Squirrel，ifithurtsyouso，’saidRobertkindly。
’Oh，shutup，’saidCyril，’orelsetalkaboutKew。’
’Iwanttoseethepalmsthere，’saidAntheahastily，’toseeifthey’reanythingliketheonesontheislandwhereweunitedtheCookandtheBurglarbytheReverendHalf—Curate。’
Alldisagreeablenesswassweptawayinapleasanttideofrecollections，and’Doyouremember……？’theysaid。’Haveyouforgotten……？’
’Myhat！’remarkedCyrilpensively，asthefloodofreminiscenceebbedalittle；’wehavehadsometimes。’
’Wehavethat，’saidRobert。
’Don’tlet’shaveanymore，’saidJaneanxiously。
’That’swhatIwasthinkingabout，’Cyrilreplied；andjustthentheyheardtheLittleBlackGirlsniff。Shewasquiteclosetothem。
Shewasnotreallyalittleblackgirl。Shewasshabbyandnotveryclean，andshehadbeencryingsomuchthatyoucouldhardlysee，throughthenarrowchinkbetweenherswollenlids，howverybluehereyeswere。Itwasherdressthatwasblack，anditwastoobigandtoolongforher，andsheworeaspeckledblack—ribbonedsailorhatthatwouldhavefittedamuchbiggerheadthanherlittleflaxenone。Andshestoodlookingatthechildrenandsniffing。
’Oh，dear！’saidAnthea，jumpingup。’Whateveristhematter？’
Sheputherhandonthelittlegirl’sarm。Itwasrudelyshakenoff。
’Youleavemebe，’saidthelittlegirl。’Iain’tdoingnothingtoyou。’
’Butwhatisit？’Antheaasked。’Hassomeonebeenhurtingyou？’
’What’sthattoyou？’saidthelittlegirlfiercely。’YOU’REallright。’
’Comeaway，’saidRobert，pullingatAnthea’ssleeve。’She’sanasty，rudelittlekid。’
’Oh，no，’saidAnthea。’She’sonlydreadfullyunhappy。Whatisit？’sheaskedagain。
’Oh，YOU’REallright，’thechildrepeated；’YOUain’tagoin’totheUnion。’
’Can’twetakeyouhome？’saidAnthea；andJaneadded，’Wheredoesyourmotherlive？’
’Shedon’tlivenowheres——she’sdead——sonow！’saidthelittlegirlfiercely，intonesofmiserabletriumph。Thensheopenedherswolleneyeswidely，stampedherfootinfury，andranaway。
Sherannofurtherthantothenextbench，flungherselfdownthereandbegantocrywithouteventryingnotto。
Anthea，quiteatonce，wenttothelittlegirlandputherarmsastightasshecouldroundthehunched—upblackfigure。
’Oh，don’tcryso，dear，don’t，don’t！’shewhisperedunderthebrimofthelargesailorhat，nowverycrookedindeed。’TellAntheaallaboutit；Anthea’llhelpyou。There，there，dear，don’tcry。’
Theothersstoodatadistance。Oneortwopassers—bystaredcuriously。
Thechildwasnowonlycryingpartofthetime；therestofthetimesheseemedtobetalkingtoAnthea。
PresentlyAntheabeckonedCyril。
’It’shorrible！’shesaidinafuriouswhisper，’herfatherwasacarpenterandhewasasteadyman，andnevertouchedadropexceptonaSaturday，andhecameuptoLondonforwork，andtherewasn’tany，andthenhedied；andhernameisImogen，andshe’sninecomenextNovember。Andnowhermother’sdead，andshe’stostaytonightwithMrsShrobsall——that’salandladythat’sbeenkind——andtomorrowtheRelievingOfficeriscomingforher，andshe’sgoingintotheUnion；thatmeanstheWorkhouse。It’stooterrible。Whatcanwedo？’
’Let’saskthelearnedgentleman，’saidJanebrightly。
AndasnooneelsecouldthinkofanythingbetterthewholepartywalkedbacktoFitzroyStreetasfastasitcould，thelittlegirlholdingtighttoAnthea’shandandnownotcryinganymore，onlysniffinggently。
Thelearnedgentlemanlookedupfromhiswritingwiththesmilethathadgrownmucheasiertohimthanitusedtobe。Theywerequiteathomeinhisroomnow；itreallyseemedtowelcomethem。
Eventhemummy—caseappearedtosmileasifinitsdistantsuperiorancientEgyptianwayitwereratherpleasedtoseethemthannot。
AntheasatonthestairswithImogen，whowasninecomenextNovember，whiletheotherswentinandexplainedthedifficulty。
Thelearnedgentlemanlistenedwithgraveattention。
’Itreallydoesseemratherroughluck，’Cyrilconcluded，’becauseI’veoftenheardaboutrichpeoplewhowantedchildrenmostawfully——thoughIknow_I_nevershould——buttheydo。Theremustbesomebodywho’dbegladtohaveher。’
’Gipsiesareawfullyfondofchildren，’Roberthopefullysaid。
’They’realwaysstealingthem。Perhapsthey’dhaveher。’
’She’squiteanicelittlegirlreally，’Janeadded；’shewasonlyrudeatfirstbecausewelookedjollyandhappy，andshewasn’t。Youunderstandthat，don’tyou？’
’Yes，’saidhe，absentlyfingeringalittleblueimagefromEgypt。’Iunderstandthatverywell。Asyousay，theremustbesomehomewhereshewouldbewelcome。’Hescowledthoughtfullyatthelittleblueimage。
Antheaoutsidethoughttheexplanationwastakingaverylongtime。
ShewassobusytryingtocheerandcomfortthelittleblackgirlthatshenevernoticedthePsammeadwho，rousedfromsleepbyhervoice，hadshakenitselffreeofsand，andwascomingcrookedlyupthestairs。Itwasclosetoherbeforeshesawit。Shepickeditupandsettleditinherlap。
’Whatisit？’askedtheblackchild。’Isitacatoraorgan—monkey，orwhat？’
AndthenAntheaheardthelearnedgentlemansay——
’Yes，Iwishwecouldfindahomewheretheywouldbegladtohaveher，’andinstantlyshefeltthePsammeadbegintoblowitselfoutasitsatonherlap。
ShejumpedupliftingthePsammeadinherskirt，andholdingImogenbythehand，rushedintothelearnedgentleman’sroom。
’Atleastlet’skeeptogether，’shecried。’Allholdhands——quick！’
ThecirclewaslikethatformedfortheMulberryBushorRing—o’—Roses。AndAntheawasonlyabletotakepartinitbyholdinginherteeththehemofherfrockwhich，thussupported，formedabagtoholdthePsammead。
’Isitagame？’askedthelearnedgentlemanfeebly。Nooneanswered。
Therewasamomentofsuspense；thencamethatcuriousupside—down，inside—outsensationwhichonealmostalwaysfeelswhentransportedfromoneplacetoanotherbymagic。Alsotherewasthatdizzydimnessofsightwhichcomesontheseoccasions。
Themistcleared，theupside—down，inside—outsensationsubsided，andtherestoodthesixinaring，asbefore，onlytheirtwelvefeet，insteadofstandingonthecarpetofthelearnedgentleman’sroom，stoodongreengrass。Abovethem，insteadoftheduskyceilingoftheFitzroyStreetfloor，wasapalebluesky。Andwherethewallshadbeenandthepaintedmummy—case，weretalldarkgreentrees，oaksandashes，andinbetweenthetreesandunderthemtangledbushesandcreepingivy。Therewerebeech—treestoo，buttherewasnothingunderthembuttheirowndeadreddriftedleaves，andhereandthereadelicategreenfern—frond。
Andtheretheystoodinacirclestillholdinghands，asthoughtheywereplayingRing—o’—RosesortheMulberryBush。justsixpeoplehandinhandinawood。Thatsoundssimple，butthenyoumustrememberthattheydidnotknowWHEREthewoodwas，andwhat’smore，theydidn’tknowWHENthenwoodwas。Therewasacurioussortoffeelingthatmadethelearnedgentlemansay——
’Anotherdream，dearme！’andmadethechildrenalmostcertainthattheywereinatimeaverylongwhileago。AsforlittleImogen，shesaid，’Oh，my！’andkepthermouthverymuchopenindeed。
’Wherearewe？’CyrilaskedthePsammead。
’InBritain，’saidthePsammead。
’Butwhen？’askedAntheaanxiously。
’Abouttheyearfifty—fivebeforetheyearyoureckontimefrom，’
saidthePsammeadcrossly。’Isthereanythingelseyouwanttoknow？’itadded，stickingitsheadoutofthebagformedbyAnthea’sbluelinenfrock，andturningitssnail’seyestorightandleft。’I’vebeenherebefore——it’sverylittlechanged。’
’Yes，butwhyhere？’askedAnthea。
’Yourinconsideratefriend，’thePsammeadreplied，’wishedtofindsomehomewheretheywouldbegladtohavethatunattractiveandimmaturefemalehumanbeingwhomyouhavepickedup——graciousknowshow。InMegatheriumdaysproperlybrought—upchildrendidn’ttalktoshabbystrangersinparks。Yourthoughtlessfriendwantedaplacewheresomeonewouldbegladtohavethisundesirablestranger。Andnowhereyouare！’
’Iseeweare，’saidAntheapatiently，lookingroundonthetallgloomoftheforest。’ButwhyHERE？WhyNOW？’
’Youdon’tsupposeanyonewouldwantachildlikethatinYOUR
times——inYOURtowns？’saidthePsammeadinirritatedtones。
’You’vegotyourcountryintosuchamessthatthere’snoroomforhalfyourchildren——andnoonetowantthem。’
’That’snotourdoing，youknow，’saidAntheagently。
’Andbringingmeherewithoutanywaterprooforanything，’saidthePsammeadstillmorecrossly，’wheneveryoneknowshowdampandfoggyAncientBritainwas。’
’Here，takemycoat，’saidRobert，takingitoff。Antheaspreadthecoatonthegroundand，puttingthePsammeadonit，foldeditroundsothatonlytheeyesandfurryearsshowed。
’There，’shesaidcomfortingly。’Nowifitdoesbegintolooklikerain，Icancoveryouupinaminute。Nowwhatarewetodo？’
Theotherswhohadstoppedholdinghandscrowdedroundtoheartheanswertothisquestion。Imogenwhisperedinanawedtone——
’Can’ttheorganmonkeytalkneither！Ithoughtitwasonlyparrots！’
’Do？’repliedthePsammead。’Idon’tcarewhatyoudo！’AnditdrewheadandearsintothetweedcoveringofRobert’scoat。
Theotherslookedateachother。
’It’sonlyadream，’saidthelearnedgentlemanhopefully；
’somethingissuretohappenifwecanpreventourselvesfromwakingup。’
Andsureenough，somethingdid。
Thebroodingsilenceofthedarkforestwasbrokenbythelaughterofchildrenandthesoundofvoices。
’Let’sgoandsee，’saidCyril。
’It’sonlyadream，’saidthelearnedgentlemantoJane，whohungback；’ifyoudon’tgowiththetideofadream——ifyouresist——youwakeup，youknow。’
Therewasasortofbreakintheundergrowththatwaslikeasillyperson’sideaofapath。TheywentalongthisinIndianfile，thelearnedgentlemanleading。
Quitesoontheycametoalargeclearingintheforest。Therewereanumberofhouses——hutsperhapsyouwouldhavecalledthem——withasortofmudandwoodfence。
’It’sliketheoldEgyptiantown，’whisperedAnthea。
Anditwas，rather。
Somechildren，withnoclothesonatall，wereplayingwhatlookedlikeRing—o’—RosesorMulberryBush。Thatistosay，theyweredancingroundinaring，holdinghands。Onagrassybankseveralwomen，dressedinblueandwhiterobesandtunicsofbeast—skinssatwatchingtheplayingchildren。
ThechildrenfromFitzroyStreetstoodonthefringeoftheforestlookingatthegames。Onewomanwithlong，fairbraidedhairsatalittleapartfromtheothers，andtherewasalookinhereyesasshefollowedtheplayofthechildrenthatmadeAntheafeelsadandsorry。
’Noneofthoselittlegirlsisherownlittlegirl，’thoughtAnthea。
Thelittleblack—cladLondonchildpulledatAnthea’ssleeve。
’Look，’shesaid，’thatonethere——she’spreciouslikemother；
mother’s’airwassomethinklovely，whenshe’adtimetocombitout。Motherwouldn’tnevera—beatmeifshe’dlived’ere——I
don’tsupposethere’se’erapublicnearerthanEpping，doyou，Miss？’
Inhereagernessthechildhadsteppedoutoftheshelteroftheforest。Thesad—eyedwomansawher。Shestoodup，herthinfacelightedupwitharadiancelikesunrise，herlong，leanarmsstretchedtowardstheLondonchild。
’Imogen！’shecried——atleastthewordwasmorelikethatthananyotherword——’Imogen！’
Therewasamomentofgreatsilence；thenakedchildrenpausedintheirplay，thewomenonthebankstaredanxiously。
’Oh，itISmother——itIS！’criedImogen—from—London，andrushedacrosstheclearedspace。Sheandhermotherclungtogether——soclosely，sostronglythattheystoodaninstantlikeastatuecarvedinstone。
Thenthewomencrowdedround。’ItISmyImogen！’criedthewoman。
’Ohitis！Andshewasn’teatenbywolves。She’scomebacktome。Tellme，mydarling，howdidyouescape？Wherehaveyoubeen？Whohasfedandclothedyou？’
’Idon’tknownothink，’saidImogen。
’Poorchild！’whisperedthewomenwhocrowdedround，’theterrorofthewolveshasturnedherbrain。’
’ButyouknowME？’saidthefair—hairedwoman。
AndImogen，clingingwithblack—clothedarmstothebareneck，answered——
’Oh，yes，mother，IknowYOUright’nough。’
’Whatisit？Whatdotheysay？’thelearnedgentlemanaskedanxiously。
’Youwishedtocomewheresomeonewantedthechild，’saidthePsammead。’Thechildsaysthisishermother。’
’Andthemother？’
’Youcansee，’saidthePsammead。
’Butisshereally？Herchild，Imean？’
’Whoknows？’saidthePsammead；’buteachonefillstheemptyplaceintheother’sheart。Itisenough。’
’Oh，’saidthelearnedgentleman，’thisisagooddream。Iwishthechildmightstayinthedream。’
ThePsammeadblewitselfoutandgrantedthewish。SoImogen’sfuturewasassured。Shehadfoundsomeonetowanther。
’Ifonlyallthechildrenthatnoonewants，’beganthelearnedgentleman——butthewomaninterrupted。Shecametowardsthem。
’Welcome，all！’shecried。’IamtheQueen，andmychildtellsmethatyouhavebefriendedher；andthisIwellbelieve，lookingonyourfaces。Yourgarbisstrange，butfacesIcanread。Thechildisbewitched，Iseethatwell，butinthisshespeakstruth。Isitnotso？’
Thechildrensaiditwasn’tworthmentioning。
IwishyoucouldhaveseenallthehonoursandkindnesseslavishedonthechildrenandthelearnedgentlemanbythoseancientBritons。
Youwouldhavethought，toseethem，thatachildwassomethingtomakeafussabout，notabitofrubbishtobehustledaboutthestreetsandhiddenawayintheWorkhouse。Itwasn’tasgrandastheentertainmentatBabylon，butsomehowitwasmoresatisfying。
’Ithinkyouchildrenhavesomewonderfulinfluenceonme，’saidthelearnedgentleman。’IneverdreamedsuchdreamsbeforeI
knewyou。’
ItwaswhentheywerealonethatnightunderthestarswheretheBritonshadspreadaheapOfdriedfernforthemtosleepon，thatCyrilspoke。
’Well，’hesaid，’we’vemadeitallrightforImogen，andhadajollygoodtime。Ivotewegethomeagainbeforethefightingbegins。’
’Whatfighting？’askedJanesleepily。
’Why，JuliusCaesar，youlittlegoat，’repliedherkindbrother。
’Don’tyouseethatifthisistheyearfifty—five，JuliusCaesarmayhappenatanymoment。’
’IthoughtyoulikedCaesar，’saidRobert。
’SoIdo——inthehistory。Butthat’sdifferentfrombeingkilledbyhissoldiers。’
’IfwesawCaesarwemightpersuadehimnotto，’saidAnthea。
’YOUpersuadeCAESAR，’Robertlaughed。
Thelearnedgentleman，beforeanyonecouldstophim，said，’I
onlywishwecouldseeCaesarsometime。’
And，ofcourse，injustthelittletimethePsammeadtooktoblowitselfoutforwish—giving，thefive，orsixcountingthePsammead，foundthemselvesinCaesar’scamp，justoutsideCaesar’stent。AndtheysawCaesar。ThePsammeadmusthavetakenadvantageoftheloosewordingofthelearnedgentleman’swish，foritwasnotthesametimeofdayasthatonwhichthewishhadbeenutteredamongthedriedferns。Itwassunset，andthegreatmansatonachairoutsidehistentgazingovertheseatowardsBritain——everyoneknewwithoutbeingtoldthatitwastowardsBritain。Twogoldeneaglesonthetopofpostsstoodoneachsideofthetent，andontheflapsofthetentwhichwasverygorgeoustolookatwerethelettersS。P。Q。R。
ThegreatmanturnedunchangedonthenewcomerstheaugustglancethathehadturnedonthevioletwatersoftheChannel。Thoughtheyhadsuddenlyappearedoutofnothing，Caesarnevershowedbythefaintestmovementofaneyelid，bytheleasttighteningofthatfirmmouth，thattheywerenotsomelongexpectedembassy。
Hewavedacalmhandtowardsthesentinels，whosprangweaponsinhandtowardsthenewcomers。
’Back！’hesaidinavoicethatthrilledlikemusic。’SincewhenhasCaesarfearedchildrenandstudents？’
Tothechildrenheseemedtospeakintheonlylanguagetheyknew；butthelearnedgentlemanheard——inratherastrangeaccent，butquiteintelligibly——thelipsofCaesarspeakingintheLatintongue，andinthattongue，alittlestiffly，heanswered——
’Itisadream，OCaesar。’
’Adream？’repeatedCaesar。’Whatisadream？’
’This，’saidthelearnedgentleman。
’Notit，’saidCyril，’it’sasortofmagic。Wecomeoutofanothertimeandanotherplace。’
’AndwewanttoaskyounottotroubleaboutconqueringBritain，’
saidAnthea；’it’sapoorlittleplace，notworthbotheringabout。’
’AreyoufromBritain？’theGeneralasked。’Yourclothesareuncouth，butwellwoven，andyourhairisshortasthehairofRomancitizens，notlonglikethehairofbarbarians，yetsuchI
deemyoutobe。’’We’renot，’saidJanewithangryeagerness；
’we’renotbarbariansatall。Wecomefromthecountrywherethesunneversets，andwe’vereadaboutyouinbooks；andourcountry’sfulloffinethings——StPaul’s，andtheTowerofLondon，andMadameTussaud’sExhibition，and——’Thentheothersstoppedher。
’Don’ttalknonsense，’saidRobertinabitterundertone。
Caesarlookedatthechildrenamomentinsilence。Thenhecalledasoldierandspokewithhimapart。Thenhesaidaloud——
’Youthreeelderchildrenmaygowhereyouwillwithinthecamp。
FewchildrenareprivilegedtoseethecampofCaesar。Thestudentandthesmallergirl—childwillremainherewithme。’
Nobodylikedthis；butwhenCaesarsaidathingthatthingwasso，andtherewasanendtoit。Sothethreewent。
LeftalonewithJaneandthelearnedgentleman，thegreatRomanfounditeasyenoughtoturntheminsideout。Butitwasnoteasy，evenforhim，tomakeheadortailoftheinsidesoftheirmindswhenhehadgotatthem。
Thelearnedgentlemaninsistedthatthewholethingwasadream，andrefusedtotalkmuch，onthegroundthatifhedidhewouldwakeup。
Jane，closelyquestioned，wasfullofinformationaboutrailways，electriclights，balloons，men—of—war，cannons，anddynamite。
’Anddotheyfightwithswords？’askedtheGeneral。
’Yes，swordsandgunsandcannons。’
Caesarwantedtoknowwhatgunswere。
’Youfirethem，’saidJane，’andtheygobang，andpeoplefalldowndead。’
’Butwhataregunslike？’
Janefoundthemhardtodescribe。
’ButRoberthasatoyoneinhispocket，’shesaid。Sotheotherswererecalled。
TheboysexplainedthepistoltoCaesarveryfully，andhelookedatitwiththegreatestinterest。Itwasatwo—shillingpistol，theonethathaddonesuchgoodserviceintheoldEgyptianvillage。
’Ishallcausegunstobemade，’saidCaesar，’andyouwillbedetainedtillIknowwhetheryouhavespokenthetruth。IhadjustdecidedthatBritainwasnotworththebotherofinvading。
Butwhatyoutellmedecidesmethatitisverymuchworthwhile。’
’Butit’sallnonsense，’saidAnthea。’Britainisjustasavagesortofisland——allfogsandtreesandbigrivers。Butthepeoplearekind。WeknowalittlegirltherenamedImogen。Andit’snouseyourmakinggunsbecauseyoucan’tfirethemwithoutgunpowder，andthatwon’tbeinventedforhundredsofyears，andwedon’tknowhowtomakeit，andwecan’ttellyou。Dogostraighthome，dearCaesar，andletpoorlittleBritainalone。’
’Butthisothergirl—childsays——’saidCaesar。
’AllJane’sbeentellingyouiswhatit’sgoingtobe，’Antheainterrupted，’hundredsandhundredsofyearsfromnow。’
’Thelittleoneisaprophetess，eh？’saidCaesar，withawhimsicallook。’Ratheryoungforthebusiness，isn’tshe？’
’Youcancallheraprophetessifyoulike，’saidCyril，’butwhatAntheasaysistrue。’
’Anthea？’saidCaesar。’That’saGreekname。’
’Verylikely，’saidCyril，worriedly。’Isay，Idowishyou’dgiveupthisideaofconqueringBritain。It’snotworthwhile，reallyitisn’t！’
’Onthecontrary，’saidCaesar，’whatyou’vetoldmehasdecidedmetogo，ifit’sonlytofindoutwhatBritainisreallylike。
Guards，detainthesechildren。’
’Quick，’saidRobert，’beforetheguardsbegindetaining。WehadenoughofthatinBabylon。’
JanehelduptheAmuletawayfromthesunset，andsaidtheword。
Thelearnedgentlemanwaspushedthroughandtheothersmorequicklythaneverbeforepassedthroughthearchbackintotheirowntimesandthequietdustysitting—roomofthelearnedgentleman。
ItisacuriousfactthatwhenCaesarwasencampedonthecoastofGaul——somewherenearBoulogneitwas，Ibelieve——hewassittingbeforehistentintheglowofthesunset，lookingoutoverthevioletwatersoftheEnglishChannel。Suddenlyhestarted，rubbedhiseyes，andcalledhissecretary。Theyoungmancamequicklyfromwithinthetent。
’Marcus，’saidCaesar。’Ihavedreamedaverywonderfuldream。
SomeofitIforget，butIrememberenoughtodecidewhatwasnotbeforedetermined。TomorrowtheshipsthathavebeenbroughtroundfromtheLigerisshallbeprovisioned。Weshallsailforthisthree—corneredisland。First，wewilltakebuttwolegions。
This，ifwhatwehaveheardbetrue，shouldsuffice。Butifmydreambetrue，thenahundredlegionswillnotsuffice。ForthedreamIdreamedwasthemostwonderfulthatevertormentedthebrainevenofCaesar。AndCaesarhasdreamedsomestrangethingsinhistime。’
’Andifyouhadn’ttoldCaesarallthatabouthowthingsarenow，he’dneverhaveinvadedBritain，’saidRoberttoJaneastheysatdowntotea。
’Oh，nonsense，’saidAnthea，pouringout；’itwasallsettledhundredsofyearsago。’
’Idon’tknow，’saidCyril。’Jam，please。ThisabouttimebeingonlyathingummyofthoughtisveryconfusIng。Ifeverythinghappensatthesametime——’
’ItCAN’T！’saidAntheastoutly，’thepresent’sthepresentandthepast’sthepast。’
’Notalways，’saidCyril。
’WhenwewereinthePastthepresentwasthefuture。Nowthen！’
headdedtriumphantly。
AndAntheacouldnotdenyit。
’Ishouldhavelikedtoseemoreofthecamp，’saidRobert。
’Yes，wedidn’tgetmuchforourmoney——butImogenishappy，that’sonething，’saidAnthea。’WeleftherhappyinthePast。
I’veoftenseenaboutpeoplebeinghappyinthePast，inpoetrybooks。Iseewhatitmeansnow。’
’It’snotabadidea，’saidthePsammeadsleepily，puttingitsheadoutofitsbagandtakingitinagainsuddenly，’beingleftinthePast。’
Everyonerememberedthisafterwards，when——
CHAPTER11
BEFOREPHARAOH
ItwasthedayaftertheadventureofJuliusCaesarandtheLittleBlackGirlthatCyril，burstingintothebathroomtowashhishandsfordinner（youhavenoideahowdirtytheywere，forhehadbeenplayingshipwreckedmarinersallthemorningontheleadsatthebackofthehouse，wherethewater—cisternis），foundAnthealeaningherelbowsontheedgeofthebath，andcryingsteadilyintoit。
’Hullo！’hesaid，withbrotherlyconcern，’what’supnow？
Dinner’llbecoldbeforeyou’vegotenoughsalt—waterforabath。’
’Goaway，’saidAntheafiercely。’Ihateyou！Ihateeverybody！’
Therewasastrickenpause。
’_I_didn’tknow，’saidCyriltamely。
’Nobodyeverdoesknowanything，’sobbedAnthea。
’Ididn’tknowyouwerewaxy。Ithoughtyou’djusthurtyourfingerswiththetapagainlikeyoudidlastweek，’Cyrilcarefullyexplained。
’Oh——fingers！’sneeredAntheathroughhersniffs。
’Here，dropit，Panther，’hesaiduncomfortably。’Youhaven’tbeenhavingaroworanything？’
’No，’shesaid。’Washyourhorridhands，forgoodness’sake，ifthat’swhatyoucamefor，orgo。’
Antheawassoseldomcrossthatwhenshewascrosstheotherswerealwaysmoresurprisedthanangry。
Cyriledgedalongthesideofthebathandstoodbesideher。Heputhishandonherarm。
’Dryup，do，’hesaid，rathertenderlyforhim。And，findingthatthoughshedidnotatoncetakehisadviceshedidnotseemtoresentit，heputhisarmawkwardlyacrosshershouldersandrubbedhisheadagainstherear。
’There！’hesaid，inthetoneofoneadministeringapricelesscureforallpossiblesorrows。’Now，what’sup？’
’Promiseyouwon’tlaugh？’
’Idon’tfeellaughishmyself，’saidCyril，dismally。
’Well，then，’saidAnthea，leaningherearagainsthishead，’it’sMother。’
’What’sthematterwithMother？’askedCyril，withapparentwantofsympathy。’Shewasallrightinherletterthismorning。’
’Yes；butIwantherso。’
’You’renottheonlyone，’saidCyrilbriefly，andthebrevityofhistoneadmittedagooddeal。
’Oh，yes，’saidAnthea，’Iknow。Weallwantherallthetime。
ButIwanthernowmostdreadfully，awfullymuch。Ineverwantedanythingsomuch。ThatImogenchild——thewaytheancientBritishQueencuddledherup！AndImogenwasn’tme，andtheQueenwasMother。Andthenherletterthismorning！AndaboutTheLamblikingthesaltbathing！Andshebathedhiminthisverybaththenightbeforeshewentaway——oh，oh，oh！’
Cyrilthumpedherontheback。
’Cheerup，’hesaid。’YouknowmyinsidethinkingthatIwasdoing？Well，thatwaspartlyaboutMother。We’llsoongetherback。Ifyou’llchuckit，likeasensiblekid，andwashyourface，I’lltellyouaboutit。That’sright。Youletmegettothetap。Can’tyoustopcrying？ShallIputthedoor—keydownyourback？’
’That’sfornoses，’saidAnthea，’andI’mnotakidanymorethanyouare，’butshelaughedalittle，andhermouthbegantogetbackintoitspropershape。Youknowwhatanoddshapeyourmouthgetsintowhenyoucryinearnest。
’Lookhere，’saidCyril，workingthesoaproundandroundbetweenhishandsinathickslimeofgreysoapsuds。’I’vebeenthinking。We’veonlyjustPLAYEDwiththeAmuletsofar。We’vegottoworkitnow——WORKitforallit’sworth。Anditisn’tonlyMothereither。There’sFatheroutthereallamongthefighting。Idon’thowlaboutit，butITHINK——Oh，botherthesoap！’Thegrey—linedsoaphadsquirtedoutunderthepressureofhisfingers，andhadhitAnthea’schinwithasmuchforceasthoughithadbeenshotfromacatapult。
’Therenow，’shesaidregretfully，’nowIshallhavetowashmyface。’
’You’dhavehadtodothatanyway，’saidCyrilwithconviction。
’Now，myidea’sthis。Youknowmissionaries？’
’Yes，’saidAnthea，whodidnotknowasingleone。
’Well，theyalwaystakethesavagesbeadsandbrandy，andstays，andhats，andbraces，andreallyusefulthings——thingsthesavageshaven’tgot，andneverheardabout。Andthesavageslovethemfortheirkindgenerousness，andgivethempearls，andshells，andivory，andcassowaries。Andthat’stheway——’
’Waitasec，’saidAnthea，splashing。’Ican’thearwhatyou’resaying。Shellsand——’
’Shells，andthingslikethat。Thegreatthingistogetpeopletoloveyoubybeinggenerous。Andthat’swhatwe’vegottodo。
NexttimewegointothePastwe’llregularlyfitouttheexpedition。YourememberhowtheBabylonianQueenfrozeontothatpocket—book？Well，we’lltakethingslikethat。AndoffertheminexchangeforasightoftheAmulet。’
’Asightofitisnotmuchgood。’
’No，silly。But，don’tyousee，whenwe’veseenitweshallknowwhereitis，andwecangoandtakeitinthenightwheneverybodyisasleep。’
’Itwouldn’tbestealing，wouldit？’saidAntheathoughtfully，’becauseitwillbesuchanawfullylongtimeagowhenwedoit。
Oh，there’sthatbellagain。’
Assoonasdinnerwaseaten（itwastinnedsalmonandlettuce，andajamtart），andtheclothclearedaway，theideawasexplainedtotheothers，andthePsammeadwasarousedfromsand，andaskedwhatitthoughtwouldbegoodmerchandisewithwhichtobuytheaffectionofsay，theAncientEgyptians，andwhetheritthoughttheAmuletwaslikelytobefoundintheCourtofPharaoh。
Butitshookitshead，andshotoutitssnail’seyeshopelessly。
’I’mnotallowedtoplayinthisgame，’itsaid。’OfcourseI
COULDfindoutinaminutewherethethingwas，onlyImayn’t。
ButImaygosofarastoownthatyourideaoftakingthingswithyouisn’tabadone。AndIshouldn’tshowthemallatonce。
Takesmallthingsandconcealthemcraftilyaboutyourpersons。’
Thisadviceseemedgood。SoonthetablewaslitteredoverwiththingswhichthechildrenthoughtlikelytointeresttheAncientEgyptians。Antheabroughtdolls，puzzleblocks，awoodentea—service，agreenleathercasewithNecessairewrittenonitingoldletters。AuntEmmahadoncegivenittoAnthea，andithadthencontainedscissors，penknife，bodkin，stiletto，thimble，corkscrew，andglove—buttoner。Thescissors，knife，andthimble，andpenknifewere，ofcourse，lost，buttheotherthingswerethereandasgoodasnew。Cyrilcontributedleadsoldiers，acannon，acatapult，atin—opener，atie—clip，andatennisball，andapadlock——nokey。Robertcollectedacandle（’Idon’tsupposetheyeversawaself—fittingparaffinone，’hesaid），apennyJapanesepin—tray，arubberstampwithhisfather’snameandaddressonit，andapieceofputty。
Janeaddedakey—ring，thebrasshandleofapoker，apotthathadheldcold—cream，asmokedpearlbuttonoffherwintercoat，andakey——nolock。
’Wecan’ttakeallthisrubbish，’saidRobert，withsomescorn。
’Wemustjusteachchooseonething。’
Theafternoonpassedveryagreeablyintheattempttochoosefromthetablethefourmostsuitableobjects。Butthefourchildrencouldnotagreewhatwassuitable，andatlastCyrilsaid——
’Lookhere，let’seachbeblindfoldedandreachout，andthefirstthingyoutouchyoustickto。’
Thiswasdone。
Cyriltouchedthepadlock。
AntheagottheNecessaire。
Robertclutchedthecandle。
Janepickedupthetie—clip。
’It’snotmuch，’shesaid。’Idon’tbelieveAncientEgyptiansworeties。’
’Nevermind，’saidAnthea。’Ibelieveit’sluckiernottoreallychoose。Inthestoriesit’salwaysthethingthewood—cutter’ssonpicksupintheforest，andalmostthrowsawaybecausehethinksit’snogood，thatturnsouttobethemagicthingintheend；orelsesomeone’slostit，andheisrewardedwiththehandoftheKing’sdaughterinmarriage。’
’Idon’twantanyhandsinmarriage，thankyou。’saidCyrilfirmly。
’Noryetme，’saidRobert。’It’salwaystheendoftheadventureswhenitcomestothemarriagehands。’
’AREweready？’saidAnthea。
’ItISEgyptwe’regoingto，isn’tit？——niceEgypt？’saidJane。
’Iwon’tgoanywhereIdon’tknowabout——likethatdreadfulbig—wavyburning—mountaincity，’sheinsisted。
ThenthePsammeadwascoaxedintoitsbag。’Isay，’saidCyrilsuddenly，’I’mrathersickofkings。Andpeoplenoticeyousoinpalaces。BesidestheAmulet’ssuretobeinaTemple。Let’sjustgoamongthecommonpeople，andtrytoworkourselvesupbydegrees。WemightgettakenonasTempleassistants。’
’Likebeadles，’saidAnthea，’orvergers。TheymusthavesplendidchancesofstealingtheTempletreasures。’
’Righto！’wasthegeneralrejoinder。Thecharmwasheldup。Itgrewbigonceagain，andonceagainthewarmgoldenEasternlightglowedsoftlybeyondit。
Asthechildrensteppedthroughitloudandfuriousvoicesrangintheirears。TheywentsuddenlyfromthequietofFitzroyStreetdining—roomintoaveryangryEasterncrowd，acrowdmuchtooangrytonoticethem。Theyedgedthroughittothewallofahouseandstoodthere。Thecrowdwasofmen，women，andchildren。Theywereofallsortsofcomplexions，andpicturesofthemmighthavebeencolouredbyanychildwithashillingpaint—box。Thecoloursthatchildwouldhaveusedforcomplexionswouldhavebeenyellowochre，redochre，lightred，sepia，andindianink。Buttheirfaceswerepaintedalready——blackeyebrowsandlashes，andsomeredlips。Thewomenworeasortofpinaforewithshoulderstraps，andloosethingswoundroundtheirheadsandshoulders。Themenworeverylittleclothing——fortheyweretheworkingpeople——andtheEgyptianboysandgirlsworenothingatall，unlessyoucountthelittleornamentshungonchainsroundtheirnecksandwaists。Thechildrensawallthisbeforetheycouldhearanythingdistinctly。
Everyonewasshoutingso。
Butavoicesoundedabovetheothervoices，andpresentlyitwasspeakinginasilence。
’Comradesandfellowworkers，’itsaid，anditwasthevoiceofatall，coppery—colouredmanwhohadclimbedintoachariotthathadbeenstoppedbythecrowd。Itsownerhadbolted，mutteringsomethingaboutcallingtheGuards，andnowthemanspokefromit。’Comradesandfellowworkers，howlongarewetoendurethetyrannyofourmasters，wholiveinidlenessandluxuryonthefruitofourtoil？Theyonlygiveusabaresubsistencewage，andtheyliveonthefatoftheland。Welabourallourlivestokeeptheminwantonluxury。Letusmakeanendofit！’
Aroarofapplauseansweredhim。
’Howareyougoingtodoit？’criedavoice。
’Youlookout，’criedanother，’oryou’llgetyourselfintotrouble。’
’I’veheardalmosteverysinglewordofthat，’whisperedRobert，’inHydeParklastSunday！’
’Letusstrikeformorebreadandonionsandbeer，andalongermid—dayrest，’thespeakerwenton。’Youaretired，youarehungry，youarethirsty。Youarepoor，yourwivesandchildrenarepiningforfood。Thebarnsofthericharefulltoburstingwiththecornwewant，thecornourlabourhasgrown。Tothegranaries！’
’Tothegranaries！’criedhalfthecrowd；butanothervoiceshoutedclearabovethetumult，’ToPharaoh！TotheKing！Let’spresentapetitiontotheKing！Hewilllistentothevoiceoftheoppressed！’
Foramomentthecrowdswayedonewayandanother——firsttowardsthegranariesandthentowardsthepalace。Then，witharushlikethatofanimprisonedtorrentsuddenlysetfree，itsurgedalongthestreettowardsthepalace，andthechildrenwerecarriedwithit。AntheafounditdifficulttokeepthePsammeadfrombeingsqueezedveryuncomfortably。
Thecrowdsweptthroughthestreetsofdull—lookinghouseswithfewwindows，veryhighup，acrossthemarketwherepeoplewerenotbuyingbutexchanginggoods。InamomentarypauseRobertsawabasketofonionsexchangedforahaircombandfivefishforastringofbeads。Thepeopleinthemarketseemedbetteroffthanthoseinthecrowd；theyhadfinerclothes，andmoreofthem。
Theywerethekindofpeoplewho，nowadays，wouldhavelivedatBrixtonorBrockley。
’What’sthetroublenow？’alanguid，large—eyedladyinacrimped，half—transparentlinendress，withherblackhairverymuchbraidedandpuffedout，askedofadate—seller。
’Oh，theworking—men——discontentedasusual，’themananswered。
’Listentothem。Anyonewouldthinkitmatteredwhethertheyhadalittlemoreorlesstoeat。Dregsofsociety！’saidthedate—seller。
’Scum！’saidthelady。
’AndI’veheardTHATbefore，too，’saidRobert。
Atthatmomentthevoiceofthecrowdchanged，fromangertodoubt，fromdoubttofear。Therewereothervoicesshouting；
theyshouteddefianceandmenace，andtheycamenearerveryquickly。Therewastherattleofwheelsandthepoundingofhoofs。Avoiceshouted，’Guards！’
’TheGuards！TheGuards！’shoutedanothervoice，andthecrowdofworkmentookupthecry。’TheGuards！Pharaoh’sGuards！’
Andswayingalittleoncemore，thecrowdhungforamomentasitwerebalanced。Thenasthetramplinghoofscamenearertheworkmenfleddispersed，upalleysandintothecourtsofhouses，andtheGuardsintheirembossedleatherchariotssweptdownthestreetatthegallop，theirwheelsclatteringoverthestones，andtheirdark—coloured，bluetunicsblownopenandbackwiththewindoftheirgoing。
’SoTHATriot’sover，’saidthecrimped—linen—dressedlady；
’that’sablessing！AnddidyounoticetheCaptainoftheGuard？
Whataveryhandsomemanhewas，tobesure！’
Thefourchildrenhadtakenadvantageofthemoment’spausebeforethecrowdturnedtofly，toedgethemselvesanddrageachotherintoanarcheddoorway。
Nowtheyeachdrewalongbreathandlookedattheothers。
’We’rewelloutofTHAT，’saidCyril。
’Yes，’saidAnthea，’butIdowishthepoormenhadn’tbeendrivenbackbeforetheycouldgettotheKing。Hemighthavedonesomethingforthem。’
’NotifhewastheoneintheBiblehewouldn’t，’saidJane。’Hehadahardheart。’’Ah，thatwastheMosesone，’Antheaexplained。’TheJosephonewasquitedifferent。IshouldliketoseePharaoh’shouse。Iwonderwhetherit’sliketheEgyptianCourtintheCrystalPalace。’
’IthoughtwedecidedtotrytogettakenoninaTemple，’saidCyrilininjuredtones。
’Yes，butwe’vegottoknowsomeonefirst。Couldn’twemakefriendswithaTempledoorkeeper——wemightgivehimthepadlockorsomething。Iwonderwhicharetemplesandwhicharepalaces，’
Robertadded，glancingacrossthemarket—placetowhereanenormousgatewaywithhugesidebuildingstoweredtowardsthesky。Torightandleftofitwereotherbuildingsonlyalittlelessmagnificent。
’DidyouwishtoseekouttheTempleofAmenRa？’askedasoftvoicebehindthem，’ortheTempleofMut，ortheTempleofKhonsu？’
Theyturnedtofindbesidethemayoungman。Hewasshavedcleanfromheadtofoot，andonhisfeetwerelightpapyrussandals。
Hewasclothedinalinentunicofwhite，embroideredheavilyincolours。Hewasgaywithanklets，bracelets，andarmletsofgold，richlyinlaid。Heworearingonhisfinger，andhehadashortjacketofgoldembroiderysomethingliketheZouavesoldierswear，andonhisneckwasagoldcollarwithmanyamuletshangingfromit。Butamongtheamuletsthechildrencouldseenoneliketheirs。
’Itdoesn’tmatterwhichTemple，’saidCyrilfrankly。
’Tellmeyourmission，’saidtheyoungman。’IamadivinefatheroftheTempleofAmenRaandperhapsIcanhelpyou。’
’Well，’saidCyril，’we’vecomefromthegreatEmpireonwhichthesunneversets。’
’Ithoughtsomehowthatyou’dcomefromsomeodd，out—of—the—wayspot，’saidthepriestwithcourtesy。
’Andwe’veseenagoodmanypalaces。WethoughtweshouldliketoseeaTemple，forachange，’saidRobert。
ThePsammeadstirreduneasilyinitsembroideredbag。
’HaveyoubroughtgiftstotheTemple？’askedthepriestcautiously。
’WeHAVEgotsomegifts，’saidCyrilwithequalcaution。’Youseethere’smagicmixedupinit。Sowecan’ttellyoueverything。Butwedon’twanttogiveourgiftsfornothing。’
’Bewarehowyouinsultthegod，’saidtheprieststernly。’I
alsocandomagic。Icanmakeawaxenimageofyou，andIcansaywordswhich，asthewaximagemeltsbeforethefire，willmakeyoudwindleawayandatlastperishmiserably。’
’Pooh！’saidCyrilstoutly，’that’snothing。_I_canmakeFIRE
itself！’
’Ishouldjollywellliketoseeyoudoit，’saidthepriestunbelievingly。
’Well，youshall，’saidCyril，’nothingeasier。Juststandcloseroundme。’
’Doyouneednopreparation——nofasting，noincantations？’Thepriest’stonewasincredulous。
’Theincantation’squiteshort，’saidCyril，takingthehint；
’andasforfasting，it’snotneededinMYsortofmagic。UnionJack，PrintingPress，Gunpowder，RuleBritannia！Come，Fire，attheendofthislittlestick！’
Hehadpulledamatchfromhispocket，andasheendedtheincantationwhichcontainednowordsthatitseemedlikelytheEgyptianhadeverheardhestoopedinthelittlecrowdofhisrelationsandthepriestandstruckthematchonhisboot。Hestoodup，shieldingtheflamewithonehand。
’See？’hesaid，withmodestpride。’Here，takeitintoyourhand。’
’No，thankyou，’saidthepriest，swiftlybacking。’Canyoudothatagain？’
’Yes。’
’ThencomewithmetothegreatdoublehouseofPharaoh。Helovesgoodmagic，andhewillraiseyoutohonourandglory。
There’snoneedofsecretsbetweeninitiates，’hewentonconfidentially。’Thefactis，Iamoutoffavouratpresentowingtoalittlematteroffailureofprophecy。ItoldhimabeautifulprincesswouldbesenttohimfromSyria，and，lo！awomanthirtyyearsoldarrived。ButsheWASabeautifulwomannotsolongago。Timeisonlyamodeofthought，youknow。’
Thechildrenthrilledtothefamiliarwords。
’Soyouknowthattoo，doyou？’saidCyril。
’Itispartofthemysteryofallmagic，isitnot？’saidthepriest。’NowifIbringyoutoPharaohthelittleunpleasantnessIspokeofwillbeforgotten。AndIwillaskPharaoh，theGreatHouse，SonoftheSun，andLordoftheSouthandNorth，todecreethatyoushalllodgeintheTemple。Thenyoucanhaveagoodlookround，andteachmeyourmagic。AndIwillteachyoumine。’
Thisideaseemedgood——atleastitwasbetterthananyotherwhichatthatmomentoccurredtoanybody，sotheyfollowedthepriestthroughthecity。
Thestreetswereverynarrowanddirty。Thebesthouses，thepriestexplained，werebuiltwithinwallstwentytotwenty—fivefeethigh，andsuchwindowsasshowedinthewallswereveryhighup。Thetopsofpalm—treesshowedabovethewalls。Thepoorpeople’shouseswerelittlesquarehutswithadoorandtwowindows，andsmokecomingoutofaholeintheback。
’ThepoorEgyptianshaven’timprovedsoverymuchintheirbuildingsincethefirsttimewecametoEgypt，’whisperedCyriltoAnthea。
Thehutswereroofedwithpalmbranches，andeverywheretherewerechickens，andgoats，andlittlenakedchildrenkickingaboutintheyellowdust。Ononeroofwasagoat，whohadclimbedupandwaseatingthedrypalm—leaveswithsnortsandhead—tossingsofdelight。Overeveryhousedoorwassomesortoffigureorshape。
’Amulets，’thepriestexplained，’tokeepofftheevileye。’
’Idon’tthinkmuchofyour\"niceEgypt\"，’RobertwhisperedtoJane；’it’ssimplynotapatchonBabylon。’
’Ah，youwaittillyouseethepalace，’Janewhisperedback。
Thepalacewasindeedmuchmoremagnificentthananythingtheyhadyetseenthatday，thoughitwouldhavemadebutapoorshowbesidethatoftheBabylonianKing。Theycametoitthroughagreatsquarepillareddoorwayofsandstonethatstoodinahighbrickwall。Theshutdoorswereofmassivecedar，withbronzehinges，andwerestuddedwithbronzenails。Atthesidewasalittledoorandawicketgate，andthroughthisthepriestledthechildren。Heseemedtoknowawordthatmadethesentriesmakewayforhim。
Insidewasagarden，plantedwithhundredsofdifferentkindsoftreesandfloweringshrubs，alakefulloffish，withbluelotusflowersatthemargin，andducksswimmingaboutcheerfully，andlooking，asJanesaid，quitemodern。
’Theguard—chamber，thestore—houses，thequeen’shouse，’saidthepriest，pointingthemout。
Theypassedthroughopencourtyards，pavedwithflatstones，andthepriestwhisperedtoaguardatagreatinnergate。
’Wearefortunate，’hesaidtothechildren，’PharaohisevennowintheCourtofHonour。Now，don’tforgettobeovercomewithrespectandadmiration。Itwon’tdoanyharmifyoufallflatonyourfaces。Andwhateveryoudo，don’tspeakuntilyou’respokento。’
’Thereusedtobethatruleinourcountry，’saidRobert，’whenmyfatherwasalittleboy。’
AttheouterendofthegreathallacrowdofpeoplewerearguingwithandevenshovingtheGuards，whoseemedtomakeitarulenottoletanyonethroughunlesstheywerebribedtodoit。Thechildrenheardseveralpromisesoftheutmostrichness，andwonderedwhethertheywouldeverbekept。
Allroundthehallwerepillarsofpaintedwood。Theroofwasofcedar，gorgeouslyinlaid。Abouthalf—wayupthehallwasawide，shallowstepthatwentrightacrossthehall；thenalittlefartheronanother；andthenasteepflightofnarrowersteps，leadingrightuptothethroneonwhichPharaohsat。Hesatthereverysplendid，hisredandwhitedoublecrownonhishead，andhissceptreinhishand。Thethronehadacanopyofwoodandwoodenpillarspaintedinbrightcolours。Onalow，broadbenchthatranallroundthehallsatthefriends，relatives，andcourtiersoftheKing，leaningonrichly—coveredcushions。
Thepriestledthechildrenupthestepstilltheyallstoodbeforethethrone；andthen，suddenly，hefellonhisfacewithhandsoutstretched。Theothersdidthesame，AntheafallingverycarefullybecauseofthePsammead。
’Raisethem，’saidthevoiceofPharaoh，’thattheymayspeaktome。’
TheofficersoftheKing’shouseholdraisedthem。
’Whoarethesestrangers？’Pharaohasked，andaddedverycrossly，’Andwhatdoyoumean，Rekh—mara，bydaringtocomeintomypresencewhileyourinnocenceisnotestablished？’
’Oh，greatKing，’saidtheyoungpriest，’youaretheveryimageofRa，andthelikenessofhissonHorusineveryrespect。Youknowthethoughtsoftheheartsofthegodsandofmen，andyouhavedivinedthatthesestrangersarethechildrenofthechildrenofthevileandconqueredKingsoftheEmpirewherethesunneversets。TheyknowamagicnotknowntotheEgyptians。
AndtheycomewithgiftsintheirhandsastributetoPharaoh，inwhoseheartisthewisdomofthegods，andonhislipstheirtruth。’
’Thatisallverywell，’saidPharaoh，’butwherearethegifts？’
Thechildren，bowingaswellastheycouldintheirembarrassmentatfindingthemselvesthecentreofinterestinacirclemoregrand，moregoldenandmorehighlycolouredthantheycouldhaveimaginedpossible，pulledoutthepadlock，theNecessaire，andthetie—clip。’Butit’snottributeallthesame，’Cyrilmuttered。’Englanddoesn’tpaytribute！’
Pharaohexaminedallthethingswithgreatinterestwhenthechiefofthehouseholdhadtakenthemuptohim。’DeliverthemtotheKeeperoftheTreasury，’hesaidtoonenearhim。Andtothechildrenhesaid——
’Asmalltribute，truly，butstrange，andnotwithoutworth。Andthemagic，ORekh—mara？’
’Theseunworthysonsofaconquerednation……’beganRekh—mara。
’Nothingofthekind！’Cyrilwhisperedangrily。
’……ofavileandconquerednation，canmakefiretospringfromdrywood——inthesightofall。’
’Ishouldjollywellliketoseethemdoit，’saidPharaoh，justasthepriesthaddone。
SoCyril，withoutmoreado，didit。
’Domoremagic，’saidtheKing，withsimpleappreciation。