That was indeed the chance of a lifetime!' 'I don't see what you wanted with a carpet,' said Jane, 'when you've got those lovely wings.' 'They ARE nice wings, aren't they ?' said the Phoenix, simpering and spreading them out.

'Well, I got the prince to lay out the carpet, and I laid my egg on it; then I said to the carpet, "Now, my excellent carpet, prove your worth.

Take that egg somewhere where it can't be hatched for two thousand years, and where, when that time's up, some one will light a fire of sweet wood and aromatic gums, and put the egg in to hatch;" and you see it's all come out exactly as I said.

The words were no sooner out of my beak than egg and carpet disappeared.

The royal lovers assisted to arrange my pile, and soothed my last moments.