"Thanks awfully," shouted William. "Well, good-bye."
******
William strolled home through the dusk. He was sorry his friend was going, but, after all, he would be able to keep all the water creatures himself. Giving away water creatures was always a great sacrifice to William. Anyway, he'd had quite a decent day ... all about that tale had been interesting and exciting, and that was a jolly good cake and a jolly good penknife and—his thoughts flew off to that thrilling five minutes spent in rapt silence outside the coal house—he'd learnt a lot of new words.
CHAPTER XIV
WILLIAM GETS WRECKED
William laid aside "Robinson Crusoe" with a sigh. His dreams of pirate-king and robber-chief vanished. The desire of his heart now was to be shipwrecked on a desert island. He surveyed his garden and the next garden and the fields beyond with an impatient scowl. He felt bitterly that it was just his luck to live in an over-populated world with ready-made houses and where everything one could possibly need could be purchased at the shop round the corner....
Yet he felt that within reach there must be a desert island, or at any rate some spot which a very little imagination could transform into a desert island. He decided to set out on a voyage. He filled his pockets with biscuits and pieces of string. String was always useful.
He went into the morning-room where his mother and grown-up sister sat. He felt strongly that a mariner just about to be shipwrecked ought to bid a fond farewell to his family.
"Good-bye," he said in a deep voice, "'case I'm not back."
"I wish you'd remember to wipe your boots when you come into the house," said his mother patiently.