You take it in your hand, sir,' said the porter, sympathetically, and reached out his hand to the Phoenix, who shrank back on toes curved with agitated indignation.
'Forbear!' it cried; 'how dare you seek to lay hands on me ?' The porter saluted.
'Beg pardon, sir,' he said, 'I thought you was a bird.' 'I AM a bird--THE bird--the Phoenix.' 'Of course you are, sir,' said the porter.

'I see that the first minute, directly I got my breath, sir.' 'That will do,' said the gentleman.

'Ask Mr Wilson and Mr Sterry to step up here for a moment, please.' Mr Sterry and Mr Wilson were in their turn overcome by amazement--quickly followed by conviction.

To the surprise of the children every one in the office took the Phoenix at its word, and after the first shock of surprise it seemed to be perfectly natural to every one that the Phoenix should be alive, and that, passing through London, it should call at its temple.
'We ought to have some sort of ceremony,' said the nicest gentleman, anxiously.

'There isn't time to summon the directors and shareholders--we might do that tomorrow, perhaps.