It would be dreadful to have a bald father, and it would all be our fault.' 'And wigs are very expensive, I believe,' said Anthea.

'Look here, leave enough in the bottle to wet father's head all over with in case any emergency emerges--and let's make up with paraffin.

I expect it's the smell that does the good really--and the smell's exactly the same.' So a small teaspoonful of the Tatcho was put on the edges of the worst darn in the carpet and rubbed carefully into the roots of the hairs of it, and all the parts that there was not enough Tatcho for had paraffin rubbed into them with a piece of flannel.

Then the flannel was burned.
It made a gay flame, which delighted the Phoenix and the Lamb.
'How often,' said mother, opening the door--'how often am I to tell you that you are NOT to play with paraffin?
What have you been doing ?' 'We have burnt a paraffiny rag,' Anthea answered.
It was no use telling mother what they had done to the carpet.

She did not know it was a magic carpet, and no one wants to be laughed at for trying to mend an ordinary carpet with lamp-oil.
'Well, don't do it again,' said mother.