If he names a bigger price than you can
afford, say you wish you had the money.'
'But you can't give us wishes. I've promised never to have
another wish from you,' said the bewildered Cyril.
'Don't be a silly little idiot,' said the Sand-fairy in trembling
but affectionate tones, 'but find out how much money you've got
between you, and do exactly what I tell you.'
Cyril, pointing a stiff and unmeaning finger at the white rat, so
as to pretend that its charms alone employed his tongue,
explained matters to the others, while the Psammead hunched
itself, and bunched itself, and did its very best to make itself
look uninteresting. Then the four children filed into the shop.
'How much do you want for that white rat?' asked Cyril.
'Eightpence,' was the answer.
'And the guinea-pigs?'
'Eighteenpence to five bob, according to the breed.'
'And the lizards?'
'Ninepence each.'
'And toads?'
'Fourpence. Now look here,' said the greasy owner of all this
caged life with a sudden ferocity which made the whole party back
hurriedly on to the wainscoting of hutches with which the shop
was lined. 'Lookee here. I ain't agoin' to have you a comin' in
here a turnin' the whole place outer winder, an' prizing every
animile in the stock just for your larks, so don't think it! If
you're a buyer, BE a buyer--but I never had a customer yet as
wanted to buy mice, and lizards, and toads, and guineas all at
once.
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