Just at that moment Wooden’s aunt sat down on the grass in the rather vulgar way already described, and Wooden’s mother said to her sharply, “Now, Polly, do adone now, and remember what company you’re in. Get up, and come and be introduced to the little lady.”
So Wooden’s aunt came and shook hands with Peggy, and gave her a smacking kiss, which tasted of salt. “Dear little precious! Bless her!” she said in quite a kind voice, which made Peggy like her a little better. “Lawks, Maria! She ain’t one to mind a body having a bit o’ fun.”
III
THE ROYAL ARK AND THE BAD BEHAVIOUR OF WOODEN’S AUNT
Lying tied to one of the groins, which seemed to have widened out into a sort of pier, was a rakish-looking clockwork steamer, with a red hull and a broad white line above it, all very smart and clean.
“Why, it’s my very own steamer,” cried Peggy, “just as it was when it was new, only much bigger.”
“Yes, dear,” said Wooden. “We use it every night to take us across to Toyland. You didn’t know that. You will see all your other toys when we get across, and some of them are coming with us.”
“Is the man who shoots pennies into my money-box coming?” asked Peggy.
“Yes,” replied Wooden. “He is the Queen’s head game-keeper. He shot the three china hares that stand on the nursery mantelpiece. He shot them with the sixpences you got out of the Christmas pudding.”
The steamer and the pier beside it were now crowded with doll sailors and doll passengers preparing to take the journey across the water to Toyland, and the road along the beach in both directions was full of dolls hurrying to the various starting-places. Every row of piles along the shore had turned into a pier, and scores of boats were moored alongside them, in which dolls were embarking.