“I’m ashamed of her,” said Wooden’s mother. “And I shall tell her so to her face directly she regains consciousness.”
For Wooden’s aunt was now stretched on one of the luxurious sofas of the saloon in a state of complete collapse.
“Let us leave her there,” said Lady Grace. “She will be better when we arrive at Dolltown.”
IV
MOMENTOUS NEWS IS BROUGHT BY A DUTCH DOLL
They left Wooden’s aunt in the saloon and went on deck again, and seated themselves in the comfortable chairs under the awning, from which they could observe the scenery. This was very beautiful.
They were now going through a mountain gorge. The river was narrow here, but deep. The mountains came steeply down into the water, and on one side of the river was a road cut in the rock, along which all the animals were walking two by two, pulling the ark at a smart pace. Perched up on the mountains here and there were pretty wooden Swiss chalets, large and small; and numberless clean wooden cows, with bells round their necks, were browsing in the mountain pastures, which were gay with flowers. The wooden peasants who were looking after them showed great interest in the progress of the ark. They came running down the steep paths to see who was on board, and shouted and waved their hats in their excitement.
On the mountains here and there were pretty wooden Swiss chalets
By-and-by they had passed through the mountains, and had come to a perfectly flat country, planted with wooden poplars of a vivid green. Here and there were farms—dear little wooden houses with doll-farmers living in them, and taking care of more wooden animals, cows and horses, and sheep and pigs. After a time they came to a small town consisting of streets of dolls’ houses, with a church built of toy bricks.