I hope I shan't grow up a LIAR.' Mother said, 'Of course, dearie,' and Anthea started swimming through a sea of x's and y's and z's.

Mother was sitting at the mahogany bureau writing letters.
'Mother dear,' said Anthea.
'Yes, love-a-duck,' said mother.
'About cook,' said Anthea.

'_I_ know where she is.' 'Do you, dear ?' said mother.

'Well, I wouldn't take her back after the way she has behaved.' 'It's not her fault,' said Anthea.

'May I tell you about it from the beginning ?' Mother laid down her pen, and her nice face had a resigned expression.
As you know, a resigned expression always makes you want not to tell anybody anything.
'It's like this,' said Anthea, in a hurry: 'that egg, you know, that came in the carpet; we put it in the fire and it hatched into the Phoenix, and the carpet was a wishing carpet--and--' 'A very nice game, darling,' said mother, taking up her pen.