Part 15 (2/2)
They did not look haughty or naughty or cross any more, but smiled sweetly at their little mother.
”Yes,” said the Queen, ”I have come to welcome you back, dears, and to say good-by, for I suppose you would like to go home to your Aunt Jane now, wouldn't you?”
”Oh, yes, indeed, please your Majesty,” cried Rudolf and Ann in one breath--but Peter said nothing. He was gazing rather regretfully at the False Hare who lounged near by, smoking his chocolate cigarette and polis.h.i.+ng the nap of his silk hat with the back of his paw. The False Hare winked at Peter and edged a little closer to him. ”Mighty glad to see the last of you, old chap,” he whispered. Then Peter smiled all over, he was so pleased.
”Yes, I suppose it's time for you to be going, if go you really must,” sighed Sandy. ”And since you're in such a hurry, I'm happy to be able to include you in that consignment of your aunt's after all.
She”--and he bowed gallantly to the Queen--”says it's all right, and what she says goes, though to be sure, it's out of order, slightly out of order!” As he spoke he took his list out of his pocket and ran his eye over it once more. ”Hullo,” said he in a surprised tone, ”there's one more item on Miss Jane Mackenzie's and it seems to be missing!
Comparatively unimportant, but I like to have my things complete. 'One lost Kitten!' Now what can have become of that, I wonder?”
It was Captain Jinks' voice that broke the silence. ”Prisoner of War, sir! Taken with others by the Commander-in-Chief in the recent glorious victory of the tin soldiers over the cat pirates. Here you are, sir!” He motioned to two of the soldiers who stood on guard over something in a dim corner of the glade. The soldiers hustled the object forward. It was Captain Mittens! Mittens despoiled of his scarlet sash, his turban, his sword and pistols, even of his fierce expression! Mittens, no longer a bold and b.l.o.o.d.y robber of the seas but a humble repentant kitten who let himself be cuddled into Peter's arms without so much as a single scratch.
Peter stroked the pirate--and the pirate purred!
”Now then, all ready? All aboard!” It was Sandy's voice who spoke and Sandy's were the arms that lifted the children gently into the enormous sack held open by Noddy and Blink, and placed them at the top of the toboggan-slide--but they were feeling too curiously tired and sleepy to understand exactly what was happening. Rudolf, still clasping his tin sword--that invaluable weapon--pillowed his sleepy head on the shoulder of the Generous Gardener. Ann rested comfortably on the large lap of the Cook-who-liked-living-in-the-Country, and Peter snuggled close beside her, holding Mittens tightly in his arms.
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”Now then, all ready?”]
They thought the new non-fadable curtains were packed in somewhere, they thought they saw the kindly face of old Sandy peeping into the mouth of the sack at them while the whole troop of Good Dreams pushed and crowded one another to peer at them over his shoulder. Among all the familiar faces were some they had almost forgotten but were not sorry to see again: the Lady Goose, waving her spoon; the Gentleman Goose, and Squealer and Squawker, his two little duck apprentices; the cheerful grinning countenances of Prowler and Growler, the mates, with Toddles and Towser the common sea-cats. But at the last all grew dim, faded, melted into mist until two figures only stood out clearly and distinctly. One was the Corn-cob Queen smiling and waving her tiny hand in loving farewell, the other that of a little boy in long trousers and a frill collar, a merry-faced boy with a toy sword buckled round his waist and a toy s.h.i.+p in his hand. Though they had not seen him until now, the children recognized him at once. It was the little boy Aunt Jane had told them of--the Little Boy who Went Away to Sea. It was also the Commander-in-Chief of the tin soldiers, whom the Queen had said they might be allowed to see, if they were good.
Just then the children began to feel it impossible to keep their eyes open any longer. They heard the voices of all their friends calling ”Good-by”, but they could not answer. They tried to get one more glimpse of the Good Dreams, but their eyes dropped shut--they were far away.
In the morning Aunt Jane woke to find all three children in her room.
Ann jumped into bed on one side of her, Peter, holding Mittens, snuggled himself on the other, and Rudolf bestrode the foot.
”Why, good morning, dears,” she said. ”Did you sleep well in the big bed?”
The children looked at one another thoughtfully.
”Did you have good dreams?” asked Aunt Jane politely. ”I did, I dreamt about you three all night.”
”We had funny dreams,” said Rudolf, ”at least, I suppose they were--”
He stopped, looking very puzzled.
”We woke up laughing,” Ann said, ”and we got right out of bed to come quickly to tell you something awful funny that happened to us, but now--”
”Now we've forgotten it!” finished Rudolf sadly.
Peter said nothing at all. He looked very grave and thoughtful and squeezed Mittens just a little--only a little too hard. The kitten gave a slight squeak.
”Will you be good now?” whispered Peter in his furry ear. ”Will you never run away no more--_never_?”
But Mittens would not answer.
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