Edith Nesbit

“ Everyone on the ship seemed too busy at first to notice the group of newcomers from Fitzroy Street. Those who seemed to be officers were shouting orders to the men.
They stood and looked across the wide quay to the town that rose beyond it. What they saw was the most beautiful sight any of them had ever seen—or ever dreamed of.
The blue sea sparkled in soft sunlight; little white-capped waves broke softly against the marble breakwaters that guarded the shipping of a great city from the wilderness of winter winds and seas. ”

“ We couldn't help hearing you talk.'
'You talk so very loud, you see,' said Jane soothingly.
'Atlantis,' said the visitor, 'the lost Atlantis, garden of the Hesperides. Great continent—disappeared in the sea. You can read about it in Plato.'
'Thank you,' said Cyril doubtfully.
'Were there any Amulets there?' asked Anthea, made anxious by a sudden thought.
'Hundreds, I should think. So he's been talking to you?'
'Yes, often. He's very kind to us. We like him awfully.'
'Well, what he wants is a holiday; you persuade him to take one. What he wants is a change of scene. ”

“ Go to Dieppe.'
'I'd rather go to Babylon,' said the learned gentleman.
'I wish you'd go to Atlantis some time, while we're about it, so as to give me some tips for my Nineteenth Century article when you come home.'
'I wish I could,' said the voice of the learned gentleman. 'Goodbye. Take care of yourself.'
The door was banged, and the visitor came smiling down the stairs—a stout, prosperous, big man. The children had to get up to let him pass.
'Hullo, Kiddies,' he said, glancing at the bandages on the head of Cyril and the hand of Robert, 'been in the wars?'
'It's all right,' said Cyril. ”

“ Anthea held out her soft, pink hand. He took it. She pulled him gently to his feet. Jane held up the Amulet.
'To just outside Atlantis,' said Cyril, and Jane said the Name of Power.
'You owl!' said Robert, 'it's an island. Outside an island's all water.'
'I won't go. I won't,' said the Psammead, kicking and struggling in its bag.
But already the Amulet had grown to a great arch. Cyril pushed the learned gentleman, as undoubtedly the first-born, through the arch—not into water, but on to a wooden floor, out of doors. The others followed. ”

“ They could not bear to look down, for the wave had broken on the face of the town, sweeping over the quays and docks, overwhelming the great storehouses and factories, tearing gigantic stones from forts and bridges, and using them as battering rams against the temples. ”

“ This year they haven't come. You know rats won't stay on a ship that's going to be wrecked. If anything horrible were going to happen to us, it's my belief those Lemmings would know; and that may be why they've fought shy of us.'
'What do you call this country?' asked the Psammead, suddenly putting its head out of its bag.
'Atlantis,' said the priest. ”

“ You see, his head is crusted so thickly inside with knowledge about Egypt and Assyria and things that you can't hammer anything into it unless you keep hard at it all day long for days and days. And I haven't time. But you live in the house. You can hammer almost incessantly. Just try your hands, will you? Right. So long!'
He went down the stairs three at a time, and Jane remarked that he was a nice man, and she thought he had little girls of his own. ”