English
Mrs.Darlingscreamed,and,asifinanswertoabell,thedooropened,andNanaentered,returnedfromhereveningout.
Shegrowledandsprangattheboy,wholeaptlightlythroughthewindow.
AgainMrs.Darlingscreamed,thistimeindistressforhim,forshethoughthewaskilled,andsherandownintothestreettolookforhislittlebody,butitwasnotthere;andshelookedup,andintheblacknightshecouldseenothingbutwhatshethoughtwasashootingstar.
Shereturnedtothenursery,andfoundNanawithsomethinginhermouth,whichprovedtobetheboy'sshadow.
AsheleaptatthewindowNanahadcloseditquickly,toolatetocatchhim,buthisshadowhadnothadtimetogetout;slamwentthewindowandsnappeditoff.
YoumaybesureMrs.Darlingexaminedtheshadowcarefully,butitwasquitetheordinarykind.
Nanahadnodoubtofwhatwasthebestthingtodowiththisshadow.
Shehungitoutatthewindow,meaning"Heissuretocomebackforit;letusputitwherehecangetiteasilywithoutdisturbingthechildren."
ButunfortunatelyMrs.Darlingcouldnotleaveithangingoutatthewindow,itlookedsolikethewashingandloweredthewholetoneofthehouse.
ShethoughtofshowingittoMr.Darling,buthewastottingupwintergreat-coatsforJohnandMichael,withawettowelaroundhisheadtokeephisbrainclear,anditseemedashametotroublehim;besides,sheknewexactlywhathewouldsay:"Itallcomesofhavingadogforanurse."
Shedecidedtorolltheshadowupandputitawaycarefullyinadrawer,untilafittingopportunitycamefortellingherhusband.Ahme!
Theopportunitycameaweeklater,onthatnever-to-be-forgottenFriday.OfcourseitwasaFriday.
"IoughttohavebeenspeciallycarefulonaFriday,"sheusedtosayafterwardstoherhusband,whileperhapsNanawasontheothersideofher,holdingherhand.
"No,no,"Mr.Darlingalwayssaid,"Iamresponsibleforitall.I,GeorgeDarling,didit.MEACULPA,MEACULPA."Hehadhadaclassicaleducation.
TheysatthusnightafternightrecallingthatfatalFriday,tilleverydetailofitwasstampedontheirbrainsandcamethroughontheothersidelikethefacesonabadcoinage.
"IfonlyIhadnotacceptedthatinvitationtodineat27,"Mrs.Darlingsaid.
"IfonlyIhadnotpouredmymedicineintoNana'sbowl,"saidMr.Darling.
"IfonlyIhadpretendedtolikethemedicine,"waswhatNana'sweteyessaid.
"Mylikingforparties,George."
"Myfatalgiftofhumour,dearest."
"Mytouchinessabouttrifles,dearmasterandmistress."
Thenoneormoreofthemwouldbreakdownaltogether;Nanaatthethought,"It'strue,it'strue,theyoughtnottohavehadadogforanurse."
ManyatimeitwasMr.DarlingwhoputthehandkerchieftoNana'seyes.
"Thatfiend!"Mr.Darlingwouldcry,andNana'sbarkwastheechoofit,butMrs.DarlingneverupbraidedPeter;therewassomethingintheright-handcornerofhermouththatwantedhernottocallPeternames.
Theywouldsitthereintheemptynursery,recallingfondlyeverysmallestdetailofthatdreadfulevening.
Ithadbegunsouneventfully,sopreciselylikeahundredotherevenings,withNanaputtingonthewaterforMichael'sbathandcarryinghimtoitonherback.
"Iwon'tgotobed,"hehadshouted,likeonewhostillbelievedthathehadthelastwordonthesubject,"Iwon't,Iwon't.Nana,itisn'tsixo'clockyet.
Ohdear,ohdear,Ishan'tloveyouanymore,Nana.
ItellyouIwon'tbebathed,Iwon't,Iwon't!"
ThenMrs.Darlinghadcomein,wearingherwhiteevening-gown.
ShehaddressedearlybecauseWendysolovedtoseeherinherevening-gown,withthenecklaceGeorgehadgivenher.
ShewaswearingWendy'sbraceletonherarm;shehadaskedfortheloanofit.
Wendylovedtolendherbracelettohermother.
ShehadfoundhertwoolderchildrenplayingatbeingherselfandfatherontheoccasionofWendy'sbirth,andJohnwassaying:
"Iamhappytoinformyou,Mrs.Darling,thatyouarenowamother,"injustsuchatoneasMr.Darlinghimselfmayhaveusedontherealoccasion.
Wendyhaddancedwithjoy,justastherealMrs.Darlingmusthavedone.
ThenJohnwasborn,withtheextrapompthatheconceivedduetothebirthofamale,andMichaelcamefromhisbathtoasktobebornalso,butJohnsaidbrutallythattheydidnotwantanymore.
Michaelhadnearlycried."Nobodywantsme,"hesaid,andofcoursetheladyintheevening-dresscouldnotstandthat.
"Ido,"shesaid,"Isowantathirdchild."
"Boyorgirl?"askedMichael,nottoohopefully.
"Boy."
Thenhehadleaptintoherarms.SuchalittlethingforMr.andMrs.DarlingandNanatorecallnow,butnotsolittleifthatwastobeMichael'slastnightinthenursery.
Theygoonwiththeirrecollections.
"ItwasthenthatIrushedinlikeatornado,wasn'tit?"Mr.Darlingwouldsay,scorninghimself;andindeedhehadbeenlikeatornado.
Perhapstherewassomeexcuseforhim.He,too,hadbeendressingfortheparty,andallhadgonewellwithhimuntilhecametohistie.
Itisanastoundingthingtohavetotell,butthisman,thoughheknewaboutstocksandshares,hadnorealmasteryofhistie.
Sometimesthethingyieldedtohimwithoutacontest,buttherewereoccasionswhenitwouldhavebeenbetterforthehouseifhehadswallowedhisprideandusedamade-uptie.
Thiswassuchanoccasion.Hecamerushingintothenurserywiththecrumpledlittlebruteofatieinhishand.
"Why,whatisthematter,fatherdear?"
"Matter!"heyelled;hereallyyelled."Thistie,itwillnottie."Hebecamedangerouslysarcastic."Notroundmyneck!Roundthebed-post!
Ohyes,twentytimeshaveImadeituproundthebed-post,butroundmyneck,no!Ohdearno!begstobeexcused!"
HethoughtMrs.Darlingwasnotsufficientlyimpressed,andhewentonsternly,"Iwarnyouofthis,mother,thatunlessthistieisroundmyneckwedon'tgoouttodinnerto-night,andifIdon'tgoouttodinnerto-night,Inevergototheofficeagain,andifIdon'tgototheofficeagain,youandIstarve,andourchildrenwillbeflungintothestreets."
EventhenMrs.Darlingwasplacid."Letmetry,dear,"shesaid,andindeedthatwaswhathehadcometoaskhertodo,andwithhernicecoolhandsshetiedhistieforhim,whilethechildrenstoodaroundtoseetheirfatedecided.
Somemenwouldhaveresentedherbeingabletodoitsoeasily,butMr.Darlinghadfartoofineanatureforthat;hethankedhercarelessly,atonceforgothisrage,andinanothermomentwasdancingroundtheroomwithMichaelonhisback.
"Howwildlyweromped!"saysMrs.Darlingnow,recallingit.
"Ourlastromp!"Mr.Darlinggroaned.
"OGeorge,doyourememberMichaelsuddenlysaidtome,'Howdidyougettoknowme,mother?'"
"Iremember!"
"Theywererathersweet,don'tyouthink,George?"
"Andtheywereours,ours!andnowtheyaregone."
TheromphadendedwiththeappearanceofNana,andmostunluckilyMr.Darlingcollidedagainsther,coveringhistrouserswithhairs.
Theywerenotonlynewtrousers,buttheywerethefirsthehadeverhadwithbraidonthem,andhehadhadtobitehisliptopreventthetearscoming.
OfcourseMrs.Darlingbrushedhim,buthebegantotalkagainaboutitsbeingamistaketohaveadogforanurse.
"George,Nanaisatreasure."
"Nodoubt,butIhaveanuneasyfeelingattimesthatshelooksuponthechildrenaspuppies."
"Ohno,dearone,Ifeelsuresheknowstheyhavesouls."
"Iwonder,"Mr.Darlingsaidthoughtfully,"Iwonder."
Itwasanopportunity,hiswifefelt,fortellinghimabouttheboy.
Atfirsthepooh-poohedthestory,buthebecamethoughtfulwhensheshowedhimtheshadow.
"ItisnobodyIknow,"hesaid,examiningitcarefully,"butitdoeslookascoundrel."
"Wewerestilldiscussingit,youremember,"saysMr.Darling,"whenNanacameinwithMichael'smedicine.Youwillnevercarrythebottleinyourmouthagain,Nana,anditisallmyfault."
Strongmanthoughhewas,thereisnodoubtthathehadbehavedratherfoolishlyoverthemedicine.
Ifhehadaweakness,itwasforthinkingthatallhislifehehadtakenmedicineboldly,andsonow,whenMichaeldodgedthespooninNana'smouth,hehadsaidreprovingly,"Beaman,Michael."
"Won't;won't!"Michaelcriednaughtily.Mrs.Darlinglefttheroomtogetachocolateforhim,andMr.Darlingthoughtthisshowedwantoffirmness.
"Mother,don'tpamperhim,"hecalledafterher."Michael,whenIwasyourageItookmedicinewithoutamurmur.Isaid,'Thankyou,kindparents,forgivingmebottlestomakewewell.'"
Hereallythoughtthiswastrue,andWendy,whowasnowinhernight-gown,believeditalso,andshesaid,toencourageMichael,"Thatmedicineyousometimestake,father,ismuchnastier,isn'tit?"
"Eversomuchnastier,"Mr.Darlingsaidbravely,"andIwouldtakeitnowasanexampletoyou,Michael,ifIhadn'tlostthebottle."
Hehadnotexactlylostit;hehadclimbedinthedeadofnighttothetopofthewardrobeandhiddenitthere.
WhathedidnotknowwasthatthefaithfulLizahadfoundit,andputitbackonhiswash-stand.
"Iknowwhereitis,father,"Wendycried,alwaysgladtobeofservice."I'llbringit,"andshewasoffbeforehecouldstopher.Immediatelyhisspiritssankinthestrangestway.
"John,"hesaid,shuddering,"it'smostbeastlystuff.It'sthatnasty,sticky,sweetkind."
"Itwillsoonbeover,father,"Johnsaidcheerily,andtheninrushedWendywiththemedicineinaglass.
"IhavebeenasquickasIcould,"shepanted.
"Youhavebeenwonderfullyquick,"herfatherretorted,withavindictivepolitenessthatwasquitethrownawayuponher."Michaelfirst,"hesaiddoggedly.
"Fatherfirst,"saidMichael,whowasofasuspiciousnature.
"Ishallbesick,youknow,"Mr.Darlingsaidthreateningly.
"Comeon,father,"saidJohn.
"Holdyourtongue,John,"hisfatherrappedout.
Wendywasquitepuzzled."Ithoughtyoutookitquiteeasily,father."
"Thatisnotthepoint,"heretorted."Thepointis,thatthereismoreinmyglassthaninMichael'sspoon."Hisproudheartwasnearlybursting.
"Anditisn'tfair:Iwouldsayitthoughitwerewithmylastbreath;itisn'tfair."
"Father,Iamwaiting,"saidMichaelcoldly.
"It'sallverywelltosayyouarewaiting;soamIwaiting."
"Father'sacowardlycustard."
"Soareyouacowardlycustard."
"I'mnotfrightened."
"NeitheramIfrightened."
"Well,then,takeit."
"Well,then,youtakeit."
Wendyhadasplendididea."Whynotbothtakeitatthesametime?"
"Certainly,"saidMr.Darling."Areyouready,Michael?"
Wendygavethewords,one,two,three,andMichaeltookhismedicine,butMr.Darlingslippedhisbehindhisback.
TherewasayellofragefromMichael,and"Ofather!"Wendyexclaimed.
"Whatdoyoumeanby'Ofather'?"Mr.Darlingdemanded."Stopthatrow,Michael.Imeanttotakemine,butI—Imissedit."
Itwasdreadfulthewayallthethreewerelookingathim,justasiftheydidnotadmirehim.
"Lookhere,allofyou,"hesaidentreatingly,assoonasNanahadgoneintothebathroom.
"Ihavejustthoughtofasplendidjoke.
IshallpourmymedicineintoNana'sbowl,andshewilldrinkit,thinkingitismilk!"
Itwasthecolourofmilk;butthechildrendidnothavetheirfather'ssenseofhumour,andtheylookedathimreproachfullyashepouredthemedicineintoNana'sbowl."Whatfun!"
hesaiddoubtfully,andtheydidnotdareexposehimwhenMrs.DarlingandNanareturned.
"Nana,gooddog,"hesaid,pattingher,"Ihaveputalittlemilkintoyourbowl,Nana."
Nanawaggedhertail,rantothemedicine,andbeganlappingit.
ThenshegaveMr.Darlingsuchalook,notanangrylook:sheshowedhimthegreatredtearthatmakesussosorryfornobledogs,andcreptintoherkennel.
Mr.Darlingwasfrightfullyashamedofhimself,buthewouldnotgivein.InahorridsilenceMrs.Darlingsmeltthebowl."OGeorge,"shesaid,"it'syourmedicine!"
"Itwasonlyajoke,"heroared,whileshecomfortedherboys,andWendyhuggedNana."Muchgood,"hesaidbitterly,"mywearingmyselftothebonetryingtobefunnyinthishouse."
AndstillWendyhuggedNana."That'sright,"heshouted."Coddleher!Nobodycoddlesme.Ohdearno!Iamonlythebreadwinner,whyshouldIbecoddled—why,why,why!"
"George,"Mrs.Darlingentreatedhim,"notsoloud;theservantswillhearyou."SomehowtheyhadgotintothewayofcallingLizatheservants.
"Letthem!"heansweredrecklessly."Bringinthewholeworld.ButIrefusetoallowthatdogtolorditinmynurseryforanhourlonger."
Thechildrenwept,andNanarantohimbeseechingly,buthewavedherback.Hefelthewasastrongmanagain.
"Invain,invain,"hecried;"theproperplaceforyouistheyard,andthereyougotobetiedupthisinstant."
"George,George,"Mrs.Darlingwhispered,"rememberwhatItoldyouaboutthatboy."
Alas,hewouldnotlisten.Hewasdeterminedtoshowwhowasmasterinthathouse,andwhencommandswouldnotdrawNanafromthekennel,heluredheroutofitwithhoneyedwords,andseizingherroughly,draggedherfromthenursery.
Hewasashamedofhimself,andyethedidit.
Itwasallowingtohistooaffectionatenature,whichcravedforadmiration.
Whenhehadtiedherupintheback-yard,thewretchedfatherwentandsatinthepassage,withhisknucklestohiseyes.
InthemeantimeMrs.Darlinghadputthechildrentobedinunwontedsilenceandlittheirnight-lights.
TheycouldhearNanabarking,andJohnwhimpered,"Itisbecauseheischainingherupintheyard,"butWendywaswiser.
"ThatisnotNana'sunhappybark,"shesaid,littleguessingwhatwasabouttohappen;"thatisherbarkwhenshesmellsdanger."
Danger!
"Areyousure,Wendy?"
"Oh,yes."
Mrs.Darlingquiveredandwenttothewindow.Itwassecurelyfastened.
Shelookedout,andthenightwaspepperedwithstars.
Theywerecrowdingroundthehouse,asifcurioustoseewhatwastotakeplacethere,butshedidnotnoticethis,northatoneortwoofthesmalleroneswinkedather.
Yetanamelessfearclutchedatherheartandmadehercry,"Oh,howIwishthatIwasn'tgoingtoapartyto-night!"
EvenMichael,alreadyhalfasleep,knewthatshewasperturbed,andheasked,"Cananythingharmus,mother,afterthenight-lightsarelit?"
"Nothing,precious,"shesaid;"theyaretheeyesamotherleavesbehindhertoguardherchildren."
Shewentfrombedtobedsingingenchantmentsoverthem,andlittleMichaelflunghisarmsroundher."Mother,"hecried,"I'mgladofyou."
Theywerethelastwordsshewastohearfromhimforalongtime.
No.27wasonlyafewyardsdistant,buttherehadbeenaslightfallofsnow,andFatherandMotherDarlingpickedtheirwayoveritdeftlynottosoiltheirshoes.
Theywerealreadytheonlypersonsinthestreet,andallthestarswerewatchingthem.
Starsarebeautiful,buttheymaynottakeanactivepartinanything,theymustjustlookonforever.
Itisapunishmentputonthemforsomethingtheydidsolongagothatnostarnowknowswhatitwas.
Sotheolderoneshavebecomeglassy-eyedandseldomspeak(winkingisthestarlanguage),butthelittleonesstillwonder.
TheyarenotreallyfriendlytoPeter,whohadamischievouswayofstealingupbehindthemandtryingtoblowthemout;buttheyaresofondoffunthattheywereonhissideto-night,andanxioustogetthegrown-upsoutoftheway.
Soassoonasthedoorof27closedonMr.andMrs.Darlingtherewasacommotioninthefirmament,andthesmallestofallthestarsintheMilkyWayscreamedout:
"Now,Peter!"
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