The phosphorus lit up immediately, and at the same instant he slipped the glass plate off the mouth of the oxygen jar, and clapped the cork, with the wire and cup hanging down from it, in its place.

The effect was magical.

The moment the phosphorus was introduced into the oxygen it flared up with a brilliancy that perfectly dazzled the spectators, and made the entire jar look like one mass of light.
The two pupils were delighted; Philpot was complacently triumphant; when all of a sudden there was a loud report, the illumination suddenly ceased, and the jar, broken to pieces, collapsed.
Pilbury and Cusack, who at the first alarm had retreated somewhat suddenly to the door, returned as soon as they perceived there was no danger, and were profuse in their praises of the experiment and the experimenter.
"Awfully prime, that was!" cried Cusack; "wasn't it, Pil ?" "Stunning!" said Pilbury.
"Jolly grind that jar bursting up, though," said Philpot, with a troubled countenance.
"Why, wasn't that part of the show-off ?" asked Pilbury.

"Part of the show-off! No!" exclaimed Philpot.

"I thought it was the best part of it all," said Cusack.