I am a beast.

I'd forgotten the others just for a minute,' said the conscience-stricken Anthea.
They unrolled the carpet quickly and slyly--they did not want to attract public attention--and the moment their feet were on the carpet Anthea wished to be at home, and instantly they were.
The kindness of their excellent uncle had made it unnecessary for them to go to such extremes as Cyril's Etons or Anthea's Sunday jacket for the patching of the carpet.
Anthea set to work at once to draw the edges of the broken darn together, and Cyril hastily went out and bought a large piece of the marble-patterned American oil-cloth which careful house-wives use to cover dressers and kitchen tables.

It was the strongest thing he could think of.
Then they set to work to line the carpet throughout with the oil-cloth.
The nursery felt very odd and empty without the others, and Cyril did not feel so sure as he had done about their being able to 'tram it' home.

So he tried to help Anthea, which was very good of him, but not much use to her.
The Phoenix watched them for a time, but it was plainly growing more and more restless.

It fluffed up its splendid feathers, and stood first on one gilded claw and then on the other, and at last it said-- 'I can bear it no longer.