"You could have it now," Celandine points out. "Everyone else is being a show-off, and maybe it will shut Strange up if he sees something he can't do!"

Because astoundingly, for being an overpowered protagonist of a fantasy novel, shapeshifting is one skillset Jonathan Strange has yet to attempt to surmount (assuming one doesn't count the smoke). As far as the rest of the Carnival is concerned, that's really for the best.

"Don't tell me you're nervous," Lambert adds. They are, in fact, absolutely ganging up on Peridot. Peer pressure is easier when there's more than one of you.