“I hope it was a nice one,” said Cyril with courtesy.
“Yes.... I feel a new man after it. Absolutely a new man.”
There was a ring at the front-door bell. The opening of a door. Voices.
“It’s them!” cried Robert, and a thrill ran through four hearts.
“Here!” cried Anthea, snatching the Amulet from Jane and pressing it into the hand of the learned gentleman. “Here—it’s yours—your very own—a present from us, because you’re Rekh-marā as well as... I mean, because you’re such a dear.”
She hugged him briefly but fervently, and the four swept down the stairs to the hall, where a cabman was bringing in boxes, and where, heavily disguised in travelling cloaks and wraps, was their hearts’ desire—three-fold—Mother, Father, and The Lamb.
“Bless me!” said the learned gentleman, left alone, “bless me! What a treasure! The dear children! It must be their affection that has given me these luminous aperçus. I seem to see so many things now—things I never saw before! The dear children! The dear, dear children!”