The moon has begun to rise into the sky, and Ralph Rinkleman sees with a start, some shadows that have human faces and eyes. He wonders what they are, but the Shadows only shiver and tell him they have seen such shadows keeping company with people who think a great deal, and that they dare not go near them.

Now the moon has risen. The lake disappears, and every Shadow, save one. Ralph finds himself in his own bed again, and on his bedroom wall is the Shadow of a Little Child. Ralph's own little boy sits with him in his room, keeping him company by the fire. Ralph looks around and sees his other children are there as well, to say goodnight on Christmas Eve. And Ralph Rinkleman is very glad to be a man, and not a Shadow.