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Updated: June 11, 2025
"An' we got in a box, and the water went up, an' up, an' up, an' then it went down, an' down, an' down, an' then we came home," contributed fat little Inda in her deep, gurgling voice, and Pixie turned from one to the other and cried, "Vraiment!" "Sans doute!" "Bravo!" and beamed in delighted expectation.
Viva laid her head on one side and considered the project. Inda pouted her lower lip, and burst into the story of her woes. "An' I was jest finishin' ze house, and ze chimbleys was getting ready, and she comed against me, an' I pinched her leg, and she throwed it down, an' it was all spoiled, an' the dolls was going to live in it, an' " "The Spoopjacks live in the lamp-posts.
A pony-cart was at the station to meet her, with Viva and Inda clinging together on the front seat, ready to pour breathless confidences into her ear the moment she appeared.
In another moment she would be able to lift Inda ashore; but Viva, frantic with terror, was clamouring to be taken too, and Pixie impetuously lifted her towards the bank. What happened next it is difficult to describe, so swiftly did it happen, so like a nightmare did it appear for ever after in the memories of those concerned.
Each of these ladies in succession taking a handful of yellow rice, threw it over us, repeating some mystical words, and dilating on our heroic deeds, and then they sprinkled our heads with gold-dust. This is generally done by grating a lump of gold against a dried piece of shark's skin. Two of these ladies bore the pretty names of Inda and Amina.
"Who told you it means that?" was Ethelinda's astonished demand. "I don't believe it." "You've only to consult Webster," was the dignified reply. "I looked your name up in the dictionary the day I first heard it. Ethel means noble, but Ethelinda means noble snake. I suppose nobody ever calls you just Inda," she added meaningly.
Viva and Inda regarded all such proceedings as deliberate offences against their exclusive rights, and angrily pointed out the fact that "other people" were having picnics too; but the Captain soothed them by a promise that the island should be their private property, and that he would fight to the death to keep off foreign invasions.
It is an island, you know; and we will take a basket of provisions with us, and boil our own kettle, and spread the tablecloth under the trees. Robinson didn't have tablecloths, I believe; but we will improve on the story, and go shopping in the village to see what we can buy." "Wants to go now!" Inda insisted; while Viva executed a war-dance of triumph, and Pixie murmured deeply "I love picnics!
They were off again, rowing homewards and passing once more all the fascinating landmarks which they had noticed on the way down. The picnickers on the banks were fastening hampers and preparing to depart; on the green lawns by the waterside servants were flitting to and fro carrying trays into the house. Inda was beginning to yawn and long for bed.
Viva and Inda were interesting and original children, while "Mamzelle Paddy" was a house-party in herself a delicious combination of shrewdness and innocence. He had little chance of private conversation with her, for the children were exacting in their demands; but their intimacy rapidly increased, as was only natural under the circumstances.
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