The woman murmured something indistinct, of which the children could only hear the words, "Swelp me!" "balmy," and "crumpet," which conveyed no definite idea to their minds. She had taken Anthea's hand, and was holding it very firmly; and Anthea could not help wondering what would happen if Robert should have wandered off or turned his proper size during the interval. But she knew that the Psammead's gifts really did last till sunset, however inconvenient their lasting might be; and she did not think, somehow, that Robert would care to go out alone while he was that size. When they reached the barn and Cyril called "Robert!" there was a stir among the loose hay, and Robert began to come out. His hand and arm came first--then a foot and leg. When the woman saw the hand she said "My!" but when she saw the foot she said "Upon my word!" and when, by slow and heavy degrees, the whole of Robert's enormous bulk was at last disclosed, she drew a long breath and began to say many things, compared with which "balmy" and "crumpet" seemed quite ordinary. She dropped into understandable English at last. "What'll you take for him?" she said excitedly. "Anything in reason. We'd have a special van built--leastways, I know where there's a second-hand one would do up handsome--what a baby elephant had, as died. What'll you take? He's soft, ain't he? Them giants mostly is--but I never see--no, never! What'll you take? Down on the nail. We'll treat him like a king, and give him first-rate grub and a doss fit for a bloomin' dook. He must be dotty or he wouldn't need you kids to cart him about. What'll you take for him?" "They won't take anything," said Robert sternly. "I'm no more soft than you are--not so much, I shouldn't wonder. I'll come and be a show for to-day if you'll give me,"--he hesitated at the enormous price he was about to ask,--"if you'll give me fifteen shillings." "Done," said the woman, so quickly that Robert felt he had been unfair to himself, and wished he had asked thirty. "Come on now--and see my Bill--and we'll fix a price for the season. I dessay you might get as much as two pounds a week reg'lar. Come on--and make yourself as small as you can for gracious' sake!"