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〃Rather！〃 said David。
〃I cooked it；〃 said Oliver。
〃It was served up on toast；〃 I reminded them。
〃I toasted it；〃 said David。
〃Toast from the bread…fruit…tree；〃 I said； 〃which （as you both
remarked simultaneously） bears two and sometimes three crops in a
year； and also affords a serviceable gum for the pitching of
canoes。〃
〃I pitched mine best；〃 said Oliver。
〃I pitched mine farthest；〃 said David。
〃And when I had finished my repast；〃 said I； 〃you amazed me by
handing me a cigar from the tobacco…plant。〃
〃I handed it；〃 said Oliver。
〃I snicked off the end；〃 said David。
〃And then；〃 said I； 〃you gave me a light。〃
〃Which of us？〃 they cried together。
〃Both of you；〃 I said。 〃Never shall I forget my amazement when I
saw you get that light by rubbing two sticks together。〃
At this they waggled their heads。 〃You couldn't have done it！〃
said David。
〃No； David；〃 I admitted； 〃I can't do it； but of course I know
that all wrecked boys do it quite easily。 Show me how you did
it。〃
But after consulting apart they agreed not to show me。 I was not
shown everything。
David was now firmly convinced that he had once been wrecked on
an island； while Oliver passed his days in dubiety。 They used to
argue it out together and among their friends。 As I unfolded the
story Oliver listened with an open knife in his hand； and David
who was not allowed to have a knife wore a pirate…string round
his waist。 Irene in her usual interfering way objected to this
bauble and dropped disparaging remarks about wrecked islands
which were little to her credit。 I was for defying her； but
David； who had the knack of women； knew a better way； he craftily
proposed that we 〃should let Irene in；〃 in short； should wreck
her； and though I objected； she proved a great success and
recognised the yucca filamentosa by its long narrow leaves the
very day she joined us。 Thereafter we had no more scoffing from
Irene； who listened to the story as hotly as anybody。
This encouraged us in time to let in David's father and mother；
though they never knew it unless he told them； as I have no doubt
he did。 They were admitted primarily to gratify David； who was
very soft…hearted and knew that while he was on the island they
must be missing him very much at home。 So we let them in； and
there was no part of the story he liked better than that which
told of the joyous meeting。 We were in need of another woman at
any rate； someone more romantic looking than Irene； and Mary； I
can assure her now； had a busy time of it。 She was constantly
being carried off by cannibals； and David became quite an adept
at plucking her from the very pot itself and springing from cliff
to cliff with his lovely burden in his arms。 There was seldom a
Saturday in which David did not kill his man。
I shall now provide the proof that David believed it all to be as
true as true。 It was told me by Oliver； who had it from our hero
himself。 I had described to them how the savages had tattooed
David's father； and Oliver informed me that one night shortly
afterward David was discovered softly lifting the blankets off
his father's legs to have a look at the birds and reptiles etched
thereon。
Thus many months passed with no word of Pilkington； and you may
be asking where he was all this time。 Ah； my friends； he was
very busy fishing； though I was as yet unaware of his existence。
Most suddenly I heard the whirr of his hated reel； as he struck a
fish。 I remember that grim day with painful vividness； it was a
wet day； indeed I think it has rained for me more or less ever
since。 As soon as they joined me I saw from the manner of the
two boys that they had something to communicate。 Oliver nudged
David and retired a few paces； whereupon David said to me
solemnly；
〃Oliver is going to Pilkington's。〃
I immediately perceived that it was some school； but so little
did I understand the import of David's remark that I called out
jocularly； 〃I hope he won't swish you； Oliver。〃
Evidently I had pained both of them； for they exchanged glances
and retired for consultation behind a tree； whence David returned
to say with emphasis；
〃He has two jackets and two shirts and two knickerbockers； all
real ones。〃
〃Well done； Oliver！〃 said I； but it was the wrong thing again；
and once more they disappeared behind the tree。 Evidently they
decided that the time for plain speaking was come； for now David
announced bluntly：
〃He wants you not to call him Oliver any longer。〃
〃What shall I call him？〃
〃Bailey。〃
〃But why？〃
〃He's going to Pilkington's。 And he can't play with us any more
after next Saturday。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃He's going to Pilkington's。〃
So now I knew the law about the thing； and we moved on together；
Oliver stretching himself consciously； and methought that even
David walked with a sedater air。
〃David；〃 said I； with a sinking； 〃are you going to Pilkington's？〃
〃When I am eight；〃 he replied。
〃And sha'n't I call you David then； and won't you play with me in
the Gardens any more？〃
He looked at Bailey； and Bailey signalled him to be firm。
〃Oh； no；〃 said David cheerily。
Thus sharply did I learn how much longer I was to have of him。
Strange that a little boy can give so much pain。 I dropped his
hand and walked on in silence； and presently I did my most
churlish to hurt him by ending the story abruptly in a very cruel
way。 〃Ten years have elapsed；〃 said I； 〃since I last spoke； and
our two heroes； now gay young men； are revisiting the wrecked
island of their childhood。 'Did we wreck ourselves；' said one；
'or was there someone to help us？' And the other who was the
younger； replied； 'I think there was someone to help us； a man
with a dog。 I think he used to tell me stories in the Kensington
Gardens； but I forget all about him； I don't remember even his
name。'〃
This tame ending bored Bailey； and he drifted away from us； but
David still walked by my side； and he was grown so quiet that I
knew a storm was brewing。 Suddenly he flashed lightning on me。
〃It's not true；〃 he cried； 〃it's a lie！〃 He gripped my hand。 〃I
sha'n't never forget you； father。〃
Strange that a little boy can give so much pleasure。
Yet I could go on。 〃You will forget； David； but there was once a
boy who would have remembered。〃
〃Timothy？〃 said he at once。 He thinks Timothy was a real boy；
and is very jealous of him。 He turned his back to me； and stood
alone and wept passionately； while I waited for him。 You may be
sure I begged his pardon； and made it all right with him； and had
him laughing and happy again before I let him go。 But
nevertheless what I said was true。 David is not my boy； and he
will forget。 But Timothy would have remembered。
XXIV
Barbara
Another shock was waiting for me farther down the story。
For we had resumed our adventures； though we seldom saw Bailey
now。 At long intervals we met him on our way to or from the
Gardens； and； if there was none from Pilkington's to mark him；
methought he looked at us somewhat longingly； as if beneath his
real knickerbockers a morsel of the egg…shell still adhered。
Otherwise he gave David a not unfriendly kick in passing； and
called him 〃youngster。〃 That was about all。
When Oliver disappeared from the life of the Gardens we had
lofted him out of the story； and did very well without him；
extending our operations to the mainland； where they were on so
vast a scale that we were rapidly depopulating the earth。 And
then said David one day；
〃Shall we let Barbara in？〃
We had occasionally considered the giving of Bailey's place to
some other child of the Gardens； divers of David's year having
sought election； even with bribes； but Barbara was new to me。
〃Who is she？〃 I asked。
〃She's my sister。〃
You may imagine how I gaped。
〃She hasn't come yet；〃 David said lightly； 〃but she's coming。〃
I was shocked； not perhaps so much shocked as disillusioned； for
though I had always suspicioned Mary A as one who harboured the
craziest ambitions when she looked most humble； of such
presumption as this I had never thought her capable。
I wandered across the Broad Walk to have a look at Irene； and she
was wearing an unmistakable air。 It set me reflecting about
Mary's husband and his manner the last time we met； for though I
have had no opportunity to say so； we still meet now and again；
and he has even dined with me at the club。 On these occasions
the subject of Timothy is barred； and if by any unfortunate
accident Mary's name is mentioned； we immediately look opposite
ways and a silence follows； in which I feel sure he is smiling；
and wonder what the deuce he is smiling at。 I remembered now
that I had last seen him when I was dining with him at his club