“He didn’t really mean it to be a wish, although he wanted it very much, but he forgot that every time he said ‘I wish’ it would come true. So Merrylip stayed and that is why, even when he grew up and was King, Winfred always smiled.
“‘Next on the programme is Home,’ said Winfred. ‘I wish I was my regular size and was sitting on Mother’s lap and she was singing to me, and Merrylip was hiding in my pocket, and things were just as though I had never gone away at all.’
“Almost before he had finished the very long sentence, it came true. Winfred found himself on his Mother’s knee (although he was a pretty big boy to be held that way) and she was pressing her lips on his hair and humming him a Queen Song. In his pocket slept Merrylip and no one knew it excepting Winfred, because she was so tiny that, even when she sneezed, people could not hear her. And so everything came out well, after all, you see.
“Later, Winfred grew to be King, and with his wonderful wish made his people the happiest on earth, for when anything sensible had to be arranged he needed but to wish and it would come true. As a matter of fact, it was fortunate that Merrylip was always there, for often he thought of silly wishes and then Merrylip would pinch his ear and he would not make them. And this is all.”
“Well, it is a relief to know that he got home all right,” said John. John was forming the habit of using long words. It would have been just as easy for him to say “glad” as “relief.”
Then Martha Mary climbed off Flip’s knee, and he held her hands and she leaned forward and whispered in his ear:
“I’m sorry as sorry can be, Flip Dear, that you are going away, but I am happy because you and Jane will be happy.”
Flip smiled and gazed out of the window, and then took Martha Mary into his arms and kissed her, and the boys all shouted, and Martha Mary rushed from the room, all red and happy.
And so Flip told the last but one of his stories before he went to New York, and, as you shall see, the last one I had nothing to do with.