'I should hate the look of her elastic-side boots sticking up.' 'This is mere trifling,' said the Phoenix.

'Come, decide what I shall fetch for you.

I can get you anything you like.' But of course they couldn't decide.

Many things were suggested--a rocking-horse, jewelled chessmen, an elephant, a bicycle, a motor-car, books with pictures, musical instruments, and many other things.

But a musical instrument is agreeable only to the player, unless he has learned to play it really well; books are not sociable, bicycles cannot be ridden without going out of doors, and the same is true of motor-cars and elephants.