'_I_ don't mind,' it said, 'who carries me, so long as it doesn't
drop me. I can't bear being dropped.'

Jane with trembling hands took the Psammead and its fish-basket
under one arm. The charm's long string was hung round her neck.
Then they all stood up. Jane held out the charm at arm's length,
and Cyril solemnly pronounced the word of power.

As he spoke it the charm grew tall and broad, and he saw that
Jane was just holding on to the edge of a great red arch of very
curious shape. The opening of the arch was small, but Cyril saw
that he could go through it. All round and beyond the arch were
the faded trees and trampled grass of Regent's Park, where the
little ragged children were playing Ring-o'-Roses. But through
the opening of it shone a blaze of blue and yellow and red.
Cyril drew a long breath and stiffened his legs so that the
others should not see that his knees were trembling and almost
knocking together. 'Here goes!' he said, and, stepping up
through the arch, disappeared. Then followed Anthea. Robert,
coming next, held fast, at Anthea's suggestion, to the sleeve of
Jane, who was thus dragged safely through the arch. And as soon
as they were on the other side of the arch there was no more arch
at all and no more Regent's Park either, only the charm in Jane's
hand, and it was its proper size again. They were now in a light
so bright that they winked and blinked and rubbed their eyes.
During this dazzling interval Anthea felt for the charm and
pushed it inside Jane's frock, so that it might be quite safe.
When their eyes got used to the new wonderful light the children
looked around them. The sky was very, very blue, and it sparkled