CHAPTER XXIX

nawhileandajorumoftea.” ValancypouredteaoutofBarney’slittlebatteredoldpewterteapotofincredibleage.Shehadnotevenasetofdishes—onlyBarney’smismatchedchippedbits—andadear,big,pobbyoldjugofrobin’s-eggblue. Afterthemealwasovertheywouldsitthereandtalkforhours—orsitandsaynothing,inallthelanguagesoftheworld,Barneypullingawayathispipe,Valancydreamingidlyanddeliciously,gazingatthefar-offhillsbeyondMistawiswherethespiresoffirscameoutagainstthesunset.ThemoonlightwouldbegintosilvertheMistawisdusk.Batswouldbegintoswoopdarklyagainstthepale,westerngold.Thelittlewaterfallthatcamedownonthehighbanknotfarawaywould,bysomewhimofthewildwoodgods,begintolooklikeawonderfulwhitewomanbeckoningthroughthespicy,fragrantevergreens.AndLeanderwouldbegintochucklediabolicallyonthemainlandshore.Howsweetitwastositthereanddonothinginthebeautifulsilence,withBarneyattheothersideofthetable,smoking! Therewereplentyofotherislandsinsight,thoughnonewerenearenoughtobetroublesomeasneighbours.TherewasonelittlegroupofisletsfarofftothewestwhichtheycalledtheFortunateIsles.Atsunrisetheylookedlikeaclusterofemeralds,atsunsetlikeaclusterofamethysts.Theyweretoosmallforhousesbutthelightsonthelargerislandswouldbloomoutalloverthelake,andbonfireswouldbelightedontheirshores,streamingupi