And you have to remember that if you take a thing out it doesn't stay in.' No one paid any attention to this remark at the time, but afterwards every one thought of it.
'Do hurry up, Panther,' said Robert; and that was why Anthea did hurry up, and why the big darn in the middle of the carpet was all open and webby like a fishing net, not tight and close like woven cloth, which is what a good, well-behaved darn should be.
Then every one put on its outdoor things, the Phoenix fluttered on to the mantelpiece and arranged its golden feathers in the glass, and all was ready.

Every one got on to the carpet.
'Please go slowly, dear carpet,' Anthea began; we like to see where we're going.' And then she added the difficult wish that had been decided on.
Next moment the carpet, stiff and raftlike, was sailing over the roofs of Kentish Town.
'I wish--No, I don't mean that.

I mean it's a PITY we aren't higher up,' said Anthea, as the edge of the carpet grazed a chimney-pot.
'That's right.

Be careful,' said the Phoenix, in warning tones.

'If you wish when you're on a wishing carpet, you DO wish, and there's an end of it.' So for a short time no one spoke, and the carpet sailed on in calm magnificence over St Pancras and King's Cross stations and over the crowded streets of Clerkenwell.
'We're going out Greenwich way,' said Cyril, as they crossed the streak of rough, tumbled water that was the Thames.