The Story of the Amulet

miles to

score

there by c

d back

nd it. The roof of the house was the dining-table, and the walls were tablecloths and antimacassa

he carpet is only held by the nails at the top. Of course, it is one of the five or six thoroughly tip-top games that grown-up people are so unjust to-and old Nurse, though a brick in many respects, was quite enough of a standard grown-up

d, 'What a b

dded, 'Do sh

nd, advised Jane to try another song.

y had walked straight out of the present time and the Regent's Park into the land of Egypt eight thousand years ago. The memory of yesterday's happenings was still extremely fresh and frightening, so that everyone hoped that no one would suggest another excursion into the past, for it seemed to all

Jane-come out. We ought

t's all,' s

led to the front of h

to make sure that it w

ore than he meant because he thought Robe

the good of having a first-class charm and keepin

but he added, with a fine air of chivalry, 'onl

hea hurriedly. 'If you th

I didn't like it, and I won't go th

n, silly,' said Cyril; 'it

th lions and tigers in

others feel quite brave. They said

e Psammead not to,' Anthe

up. She was

e I'll scream and I'll scream, and I'll tell old Nurse, and I'l

rning. In each breast the same thought arose, 'No one can say it's OUR fault.' And they at once bega

, its tongue s

n our town shall h

Rob

asure that was worse than Robert's cruel quotation, and even Anthea said, 'Well,

d the others with what is someti

when you don't want to, and when you don't know what they're going to be lik

ords she went out

at each other, and they did not

were always eloquent in moments of emotion. Anthea stood pleating the end of the tablecloth into folds-

it be "pax"-poor little Pussy

,' said Robert, kicki

ts of justice, 'we began, you know. At least you

an that,' said Robert, and the chair-leg

Mother does so hate it if we row. Come on. I'll say

over,' said Cyril, openin

ce could be heard singing br

iles (sniff

re and te

there by c

f), and b

nk this. She led the way up the stairs, taking three at a time, and bounded to the level of Jane,

it be pax! We're

Jane being the youngest was entitled to this cere

d rather not go into the Past again either. But then, do think. If we don't go we shan't get the Amulet, and oh, Pussy, think if we could o

ling, 'and cranberries-that's what Tartars eat, and they're so brave it's simply awful. I suppose cranbe

t that,' said Jane hastily; she

the learned gentleman's roo

s, 'but was I mistaken in thinking that I caught a familiar wo

ng "How many miles," but I shouldn't have t

the sniffing,' but Anthea

aid the learned gentleman. 'I won

all said

miles to

score

there by c

d back

the learned gentle

ou?' ask

eautiful city, and the centre of learning and Art, and now it is only ruins, and s

away look in them, as though he could see through the st

now that charm we showed you, and you to

es

nk that charm was

pposing the charm to have been fashioned in Egypt, it might very well have been carried to Babylon by some friendly embassy, or brought back by the Babylonish army from some Egyptian campaign as part of the spoils of war.

ng and throwing things about?' For she had read the thoug

h level of culture,' he looked doubtfully at his audience and went on, 'I mean that they made beautiful statues and jewellery, and built splendi

said R

,' said the learned gentleman, 'and there w

ruptly, and the others hastened to say 'Done!'

ams, when one is young.' He sighed again, and then adding with a laboured briskne

yril. 'Come on, let's get the Psammead and go now. I thin

in case of inclement weather in Babylon. It was very cross, but it said it would

up the charm,

the part of you that was lost. Will yo

said Jane hastily; 'and then if we

l day,' said

e word of power, without whi

and the washhand-stand with the riveted willow-pattern jug, and the faded curtains, and the dull light of indoors on a wet day. Through the arch showed the gleam of soft green leaves and white blossoms. They stepped forward quite happ

e-flowered and green-foliaged. Among the long green grass under their feet grew crocuses and lilies, and strange blue flowers. In the b

ectly lovely!

and-only everything's bluer, and whiter,

as fairly decent, and even Jane ad

othing to be frightene

re killing each other. I didn't half like what the learned gentleman said about the hanging

e just gardens hung up-I think on chains between houses,

stream of clear water. They jumped this, and went on. Cyril, who was fond of gardening-which meant that he liked to watch the gardener at work-was able to command the respect of the others by telling t

quares in Through the Lo

as quite different from the other orcha

know this is a vineyard. I shouldn't wonder if th

ou are used to. It had cypress trees and acacia trees along it, and a sort of hedge of tamarisks, like tho

ore than half the height of St Paul's-and in the wall were set enormous gates that shone like gold as the rising sun beat on them. Each gate had a solid square tower on each side of it that stood out from the wall and rose above it. Beyond the wall we

ng by the water are palms,

. 'What's all that grey-green stuff you see aw

to tell you anything. I only thought you'd li

thea; 'they're o

clang, and instantly a little crowd of a dozen or

accord, crouched behi

es,' said Jane. 'Fancy being inside

d out of the basket to remind her. 'Don't behave so like a girl. If I w

simple and grand about this

ssed so plainly-just one long blue shirt thing-of blue or yellow) the four children marched boldly up to

tep out. It's no use tryi

sting into 'The British Grenadiers', and to its

lk of Al

e of He

or and

reat names

the gallant

gate, and two men in bright armour sudde

there?'

always able to understand the language of any place they might happen to be i

nically. 'From the Empire where the sun n

e for ever!),' said the gatekeeper, 'is gone to fetch home his fo

y, and not taking any notice of the qu

may she live for ever!) gives audien

till the end of the thr

terested in them than they could have thought possible. But the man wh

ey've never seen anything to come near our little-village.' He said it in t

keeper h

tes, Captain, and I'll take them to my place and see if my good woman can't fit them up in something a litt

' said the Captain, '

who liked the same sort of things. Not that they were all alike, for though all were squarish, they were of different sizes, and decorated in all sorts of different ways, some with paintings in bright colours, some with black

n go about and see the place till the Queen's audience begins. You leave

nt from anything you have ever seen. For one thing, all the houses were dazzlingly bright, and many of them covered with pictures. Some had great creatures carved in stone at each side of the door. Then the peo

our master. There were pineapples and peaches in heaps-and stalls of crockery and glass things, beautiful shapes and glorious colours, there were stalls for necklaces, and clasps, and bracelets, an

. It's as well to be early.' So they went to the palace, and when t

t of broad marble steps led up to it, and at the edges of the stairs stood great images, twenty times as big as a man-images of me

armour that shone like gold, stood by twos lining the way up the stairs; and a great body of them was massed by t

ueen. Ladies in richly-embroidered dresses with fringy flounces, poor f

Anthea and Jane,

sammead put one eye cautiously

go home with this lady. I'm sure she'

was giving some last instructions in Court

bit of good your having a charm. You never use it. If you want me you've

e. And it was the most surprising

s, and Anthea, who was peeping into the Psammead's b

to be bothered with queens any more than IT is. And I know,

y had observed that the Psammead had a way

me with you, won't you? And let me play with your li

little heart!'

aced Jane, who took the woman's hand, and trotted conte

he basket were lost in the many-coloured crowd. Then Anthea t

to take care of our

em and stood amid the jostling petitioners of the Queen

d Cyril; 'we come from the far

to a black man, he spoke to someone else. There was a whispering, waiting pause. Then a big

curtain was drawn back. A double line of bowing forms in gorgeous raiment formed a lane that led to the steps

where the sun never sets! Let

for ever!' exactly as the woman had taught them. And a splendid dream-lady, all go

land where the sun never sets! I am delighted to see you

ng Cyril whispered in the ea

o use upsetting her, but we didn't ask for J

he charm can bring them to u

erision, 'WE'RE all right, of course. So w

t the foot of the throne of Babylon; while Cy

arm round her neck

repeated in heart