Indeed, they could not look at the charm while it was speaking, because the light was too bright.

They looked instead at the green radiance on the faded Kidderminster carpet at the edge of the circle.

They all felt very quiet, and not inclined to ask questions or fidget with their feet.

For this was not like the things that had happened in the country when the Psammead had given them their wishes.

That had been funny somehow, and this was not.