'I don't think you need,' she said; 'I met a parrot on the island just before I met you and it was saying poetry to itself.'
'It would be,' said Philip, 'if it was alive. I'm glad it is alive, though. What was it saying?'
'It was something like this,' she said, putting a log of wood on the fire:
| 'Philip and Helen |
| Have the island to dwell in, |
| Hooray. |
| They said of the island, |
| "It's your land and my land!" |
| Hooray. Hooray. Hooray. |
'And till the ark |
| Comes out of the dark |
| There those two may stay |
| For a happy while, and |
| Enjoy their island |
| Until the Giving Day. |
| Hooray. |
'And then they will hear the giving voice, |
| They will hear and obey, |
| And when people come |
| Who need a home, |
| They'll give the island away. |
| Hooray. |
'The island with flower |
| And fruit and bower, |
| Forest and river and bay, |
| Their very own island |
| They'll sigh and smile and |
| They'll give their island away.' |
'What nonsense!' said Philip, 'I never will.'
'All right, my Pipkin,' said Helen cheerfully; 'I only told you just to show that you're expected to stay here. "Philip and Helen have the island to dwell in." And now, what about bed?'
They spent a whole week on the island. It was exactly all that they could wish an island to be; because, of course, they had made it themselves, and of course they knew exactly what they wanted. I can't describe that week. I only know that Philip will never forget it. Just think of all the things you could do on a magic island if you were there with your dearest dear, and you'll know how Philip spent his time.
He enjoyed every minute of every hour of every day, and, best thing of all, that week made him understand, as nothing else could have done, that Helen still belonged to him, and that her marriage to Mr. Graham had not made her any the less Philip's very own Helen.
And then came a day when Philip, swinging in a magnolia tree, looked out to sea and cried out, 'A sail! a sail! Oh, Helen, here's the ark! Now it's all over. Let's have Lucy to stay with us, and send the other people away,' he added, sliding down the tree-trunk with his face very serious.