The island at dusk

THE HAPPY HOME

Great White Father

“The great white father,” he would say to them in a very lordly manner, as they grovelled at his feet, “is glad to see the Piccaninny warriors protecting his wigwam from the pirates.”

For the last time

While she sewed they played around her; such a group of happy faces and dancing limbs lit up by that romantic fire. It had become a very familiar scene, this, in the home under the ground, but we are looking on it for the last time.

Dragged from his tree

And then, as so often before, the gay children dragged him from his tree. As so often before, but never again.

A devoted son

“Those of a devoted son, Wendy.”

The extreme end of the room

“I thought so,” she said, and went and sat by herself at the extreme end of the room.

Peter stays on his stool

And then at last they all got into bed for Wendy’s story, the story they loved best, the story Peter hated. Usually when she began to tell this story he left the room or put his hands over his ears; and possibly if he had done either of those things this time they might all still be on the island. But to-night he remained on his stool; and we shall see what happened.