Oh--I never thought I should be so glad to see you--I never did.' It sniffed, and shot out its long snail's eyes expressly to drop a tear well away from its fur.

'Tell the others I'm here, and then I'll tell you exactly what to do about buying me.' Cyril tied his bootlace into a hard knot, stood up and addressed the others in firm tones-- 'Look here,' he said, 'I'm not kidding--and I appeal to your honour,' an appeal which in this family was never made in vain.

'Don't look at that hutch--look at the white rat.

Now you are not to look at that hutch whatever I say.' He stood in front of it to prevent mistakes.
'Now get yourselves ready for a great surprise.

In that hutch there's an old friend of ours--DON'T look!--Yes; it's the Psammead, the good old Psammead! it wants us to buy it.