One was the Corn-cob Queen smiling and waving her tiny
hand in loving farewell, the other that of a little boy in long
trousers and a frill collar, a merry-faced boy with a toy sword
buckled round his waist and a toy ship in his hand. Though they had
not seen him until now, the children recognized him at once. It was
the little boy Aunt Jane had told them of--the Little Boy who Went
Away to Sea. It was also the Commander-in-Chief of the tin soldiers,
whom the Queen had said they might be allowed to see, if they were
good.
Just then the children began to feel it impossible to keep their eyes
open any longer. They heard the voices of all their friends calling
"Good-by", but they could not answer. They tried to get one more
glimpse of the Good Dreams, but their eyes dropped shut--they were far
away.
In the morning Aunt Jane woke to find all three children in her room.
Ann jumped into bed on one side of her, Peter, holding Mittens,
snuggled himself on the other, and Rudolf bestrode the foot.
"Why, good morning, dears," she said. "Did you sleep well in the big
bed?"
The children looked at one another thoughtfully.
"Did you have good dreams?" asked Aunt Jane politely. "I did, I dreamt
about you three all night."
"We had funny dreams," said Rudolf, "at least, I suppose they were--"
He stopped, looking very puzzled.
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