She put the penny in the queen's out-stretched hand. "Do I get a piece o' paper sayin' I paid the money on it?" she demanded, remembering her responsibility.
This time the queen shook her head. "No; I give you only my promise; but a promise made across a primrose ring is never broken."
"And Toby?" Peter asked it anxiously.
"You must leave him behind. You see, if you took him back over the River of Make-Believe he would have to turn back into a make-believe dog again; but—I promise he shall be waiting in the home for you."
The queen led them down the hill to the shore again; and there they found the ferry-man ready, waiting. It is customary, I believe, for every one to be ferried home. The river, that way, is treble as wide, and the sandman is always wandering up and down the brink, scattering his sand so that one is apt to get too drowsy to swim the whole distance. The children piled into the boat—all but Michael; he stood clinging fast to the queen's gray dress.
"Don't you want to go back?" she asked, gently.
"Nyet; the heart by me no longer to bump—here," and Michael pointed to the pit of his stomach.
"Aw, come on," called Peter.
But Michael only shook his head and clung closer to the gray dress.
"All right, ferryman; he may stay," said the queen.