“Look here, let’s each be blindfolded and reach out, and the first thing you touch you stick to.”
This was done.
Cyril touched the padlock.
Anthea got the Nécessaire.
Robert clutched the candle.
Jane picked up the tie-clip.
“It’s not much,” she said. “I don’t believe Ancient Egyptians wore ties.”
“Never mind,” said Anthea. “I believe it’s luckier not to really choose. In the stories it’s always the thing the wood-cutter’s son picks up in the forest, and almost throws away because he thinks it’s no good, that turns out to be the magic thing in the end; or else someone’s lost it, and he is rewarded with the hand of the King’s daughter in marriage.”
“I don’t want any hands in marriage, thank you.” said Cyril firmly.
“Nor yet me,” said Robert. “It’s always the end of the adventures when it comes to the marriage hands.”