FoolishTootleswasstandinglikeaconqueroroverWendy'sbodywhentheotherboyssprang,armed,fromtheirtrees. "Youaretoolate,"hecriedproudly,"IhaveshottheWendy.Peterwillbesopleasedwithme." OverheadTinkerBellshouted"Sillyass!"anddartedintohiding.Theothersdidnothearher. TheyhadcrowdedroundWendy,andastheylookedaterriblesilencefelluponthewood. IfWendy'shearthadbeenbeatingtheywouldallhaveheardit. Slightlywasthefirsttospeak."Thisisnobird,"hesaidinascaredvoice."Ithinkthismustbealady." "Alady?"saidTootles,andfella-trembling. "Andwehavekilledher,"Nibssaidhoarsely. Theyallwhippedofftheircaps. "NowIsee,"Curlysaid:"Peterwasbringinghertous."Hethrewhimselfsorrowfullyontheground. "Aladytotakecareofusatlast,"saidoneofthetwins,"andyouhavekilledher!" Theyweresorryforhim,butsorrierforthemselves,andwhenhetookastepnearerthemtheyturnedfromhim. Tootles'facewasverywhite,buttherewasadignityabouthimnowthathadneverbeentherebefore. "Ididit,"hesaid,reflecting."Whenladiesusedtocometomeindreams,Isaid,'Prettymother,prettymother.'Butwhenatlastshereallycame,Ishother." "Don'tgo,"theycalledinpity. "Imust,"heanswered,shaking;"IamsoafraidofPeter." Itwasatthistragicmomentthattheyheardasoundwhichmadetheheartofeveryoneofthemrisetohismouth.TheyheardPetercrow. "Peter!"theycried,foritwasalwaysthusthathesignalledhisreturn. "Hideher,"theywhispered,andgatheredhastilyaroundWendy.ButTootlesstoodaloof. Againcamethatringingcrow,andPeterdroppedinfrontofthem."Greetings,boys,"hecried,andmechanicallytheysaluted,andthenagainwassilence. "Iamback,"hesaidhotly,"whydoyounotcheer?" Theyopenedtheirmouths,butthecheerswouldnotcome.Heoverlookeditinhishastetotelltheglorioustidings. "Greatnews,boys,"hecried,"Ihavebroughtatlastamotherforyouall." Stillnosound,exceptalittlethudfromTootlesashedroppedonhisknees. "Haveyounotseenher?"askedPeter,becomingtroubled."Sheflewthisway." "Ahme!"oncevoicesaid,andanothersaid,"Oh,mournfulday." Tootlesrose."Peter,"hesaidquietly,"Iwillshowhertoyou,"andwhentheotherswouldstillhavehiddenherhesaid,"Back,twins,letPetersee." Sotheyallstoodback,andlethimsee,andafterhehadlookedforalittletimehedidnotknowwhattodonext. "Sheisdead,"hesaiduncomfortably."Perhapssheisfrightenedatbeingdead." Hethoughtofhoppingoffinacomicsortofwaytillhewasoutofsightofher,andthennevergoingnearthespotanymore.Theywouldallhavebeengladtofollowifhehaddonethis. Buttherewasthearrow.Hetookitfromherheartandfacedhisband. "Whosearrow?"hedemandedsternly. "Mine,Peter,"saidTootlesonhisknees. "Oh,dastardhand,"Petersaid,andheraisedthearrowtouseitasadagger. Tootlesdidnotflinch.Hebaredhisbreast."Strike,Peter,"hesaidfirmly,"striketrue." TwicedidPeterraisethearrow,andtwicedidhishandfall."Icannotstrike,"hesaidwithawe,"thereissomethingstaysmyhand." Alllookedathiminwonder,saveNibs,whofortunatelylookedatWendy. "Itisshe,"hecried,"theWendylady,see,herarm!" Wonderfultorelate[tell],Wendyhadraisedherarm.Nibsbentoverherandlistenedreverently."Ithinkshesaid,'PoorTootles,'"hewhispered. "Shelives,"Petersaidbriefly. Slightlycriedinstantly,"TheWendyladylives." ThenPeterkneltbesideherandfoundhisbutton.Youremembershehadputitonachainthatsheworeroundherneck. "See,"hesaid,"thearrowstruckagainstthis.ItisthekissIgaveher.Ithassavedherlife." "Irememberkisses,"Slightlyinterposedquickly,"letmeseeit.Ay,that'sakiss." Peterdidnothearhim.HewasbeggingWendytogetbetterquickly,sothathecouldshowherthemermaids. Ofcourseshecouldnotansweryet,beingstillinafrightfulfaint;butfromoverheadcameawailingnote. "ListentoTink,"saidCurly,"sheiscryingbecausetheWendylives." ThentheyhadtotellPeterofTink'scrime,andalmostneverhadtheyseenhimlooksostern. "Listen,TinkerBell,"hecried,"Iamyourfriendnomore.Begonefrommeforever." Sheflewontohisshoulderandpleaded,buthebrushedheroff.NotuntilWendyagainraisedherarmdidherelentsufficientlytosay,"Well,notforever,butforawholeweek." DoyouthinkTinkerBellwasgratefultoWendyforraisingherarm? Ohdearno,neverwantedtopinchhersomuch. Fairiesindeedarestrange,andPeter,whounderstoodthembest,oftencuffed[slapped]them. ButwhattodowithWendyinherpresentdelicatestateofhealth? "Letuscarryherdownintothehouse,"Curlysuggested. "Ay,"saidSlightly,"thatiswhatonedoeswithladies." "No,no,"Petersaid,"youmustnottouchher.Itwouldnotbesufficientlyrespectful." "That,"saidSlightly,"iswhatIwasthinking." "Butifsheliesthere,"Tootlessaid,"shewilldie." "Ay,shewilldie,"Slightlyadmitted,"butthereisnowayout." "Yes,thereis,"criedPeter."Letusbuildalittlehouseroundher." Theywerealldelighted."Quick,"heorderedthem,"bringmeeachofyouthebestofwhatwehave.Gutourhouse.Besharp." Inamomenttheywereasbusyastailorsthenightbeforeawedding. Theyskurriedthiswayandthat,downforbedding,upforfirewood,andwhiletheywereatit,whoshouldappearbutJohnandMichael. Astheydraggedalongthegroundtheyfellasleepstanding,stopped,wokeup,movedanotherstepandsleptagain. "John,John,"Michaelwouldcry,"wakeup!WhereisNana,John,andmother?" AndthenJohnwouldrubhiseyesandmutter,"Itistrue,wedidfly." YoumaybesuretheywereveryrelievedtofindPeter. "Hullo,"repliedPeteramicably,thoughhehadquiteforgottenthem. HewasverybusyatthemomentmeasuringWendywithhisfeettoseehowlargeahouseshewouldneed. Ofcoursehemeanttoleaveroomforchairsandatable.JohnandMichaelwatchedhim. "IsWendyasleep?"theyasked. "John,"Michaelproposed,"letuswakeherandgethertomakesupperforus,"butashesaiditsomeoftheotherboysrushedoncarryingbranchesforthebuildingofthehouse."Lookatthem!"hecried. "Curly,"saidPeterinhismostcaptainyvoice,"seethattheseboyshelpinthebuildingofthehouse." "Buildahouse?"exclaimedJohn. "ForWendy?"Johnsaid,aghast."Why,sheisonlyagirl!" "That,"explainedCurly,"iswhyweareherservants." "Yes,"saidPeter,"andyoualso.Awaywiththem." Theastoundedbrothersweredraggedawaytohackandhewandcarry."Chairsandafender[fireplace]first,"Peterordered."Thenweshallbuildahouseroundthem." "Ay,"saidSlightly,"thatishowahouseisbuilt;itallcomesbacktome." Peterthoughtofeverything."Slightly,"hecried,"fetchadoctor." "Ay,ay,"saidSlightlyatonce,anddisappeared,scratchinghishead.ButheknewPetermustbeobeyed,andhereturnedinamoment,wearingJohn'shatandlookingsolemn. "Please,sir,"saidPeter,goingtohim,"areyouadoctor?" Thedifferencebetweenhimandtheotherboysatsuchatimewasthattheyknewitwasmake-believe,whiletohimmake-believeandtruewereexactlythesamething. Thissometimestroubledthem,aswhentheyhadtomake-believethattheyhadhadtheirdinners. Iftheybrokedownintheirmake-believeherappedthemontheknuckles. "Yes,mylittleman,"Slightlyanxiouslyreplied,whohadchappedknuckles. "Please,sir,"Peterexplained,"aladyliesveryill." Shewaslyingattheirfeet,butSlightlyhadthesensenottoseeher. "Tut,tut,tut,"hesaid,"wheredoesshelie?" "Iwillputaglassthinginhermouth,"saidSlightly,andhemade-believetodoit,whilePeterwaited.Itwasananxiousmomentwhentheglassthingwaswithdrawn. "Howisshe?"inquiredPeter. "Tut,tut,tut,"saidSlightly,"thishascuredher." "Iwillcallagainintheevening,"Slightlysaid;"giveherbeefteaoutofacupwithaspouttoit;"butafterhehadreturnedthehattoJohnheblewbigbreaths,whichwashishabitonescapingfromadifficulty. Inthemeantimethewoodhadbeenalivewiththesoundofaxes;almosteverythingneededforacosydwellingalreadylayatWendy'sfeet. "Ifonlyweknew,"saidone,"thekindofhouseshelikesbest." "Peter,"shoutedanother,"sheismovinginhersleep." "Hermouthopens,"criedathird,lookingrespectfullyintoit."Oh,lovely!" "Perhapssheisgoingtosinginhersleep,"saidPeter."Wendy,singthekindofhouseyouwouldliketohave." Immediately,withoutopeninghereyes,Wendybegantosing: Theygurgledwithjoyatthis,forbythegreatestgoodluckthebranchestheyhadbroughtwerestickywithredsap,andallthegroundwascarpetedwithmoss. Astheyrattledupthelittlehousetheybrokeintosongthemselves: "We'vebuiltthelittlewallsandroof Tothissheansweredgreedily: "Oh,reallynextIthinkI'llhave Withrosespeepingin,youknow, Withablowoftheirfiststheymadewindows,andlargeyellowleavesweretheblinds.Butroses—? "Roses,"criedPetersternly. Quicklytheymade-believetogrowtheloveliestrosesupthewalls. TopreventPeterorderingbabiestheyhurriedintosongagain: "We'vemadetherosespeepingout, Wecannotmakeourselves,youknow, 'coswe'vebeenmadebefore." Peter,seeingthistobeagoodidea,atoncepretendedthatitwashisown. Thehousewasquitebeautiful,andnodoubtWendywasverycosywithin,though,ofcourse,theycouldnolongerseeher. Peterstrodeupanddown,orderingfinishingtouches.Nothingescapedhiseagleeyes. Justwhenitseemedabsolutelyfinished: "There'snoknockeronthedoor,"hesaid. Theywereveryashamed,butTootlesgavethesoleofhisshoe,anditmadeanexcellentknocker. Absolutelyfinishednow,theythought. Notofbitofit."There'snochimney,"Petersaid;"wemusthaveachimney." "Itcertainlydoesneedachimney,"saidJohnimportantly.ThisgavePeteranidea. HesnatchedthehatoffJohn'shead,knockedoutthebottom[top],andputthehatontheroof. Thelittlehousewassopleasedtohavesuchacapitalchimneythat,asiftosaythankyou,smokeimmediatelybegantocomeoutofthehat. Nowreallyandtrulyitwasfinished.Nothingremainedtodobuttoknock. "Alllookyourbest,"Peterwarnedthem;"firstimpressionsareawfullyimportant." Hewasgladnooneaskedhimwhatfirstimpressionsare;theywerealltoobusylookingtheirbest. Heknockedpolitely,andnowthewoodwasasstillasthechildren,notasoundtobeheardexceptfromTinkerBell,whowaswatchingfromabranchandopenlysneering. Whattheboyswerewonderingwas,wouldanyoneanswertheknock?Ifalady,whatwouldshebelike? Thedooropenedandaladycameout.ItwasWendy.Theyallwhippedofftheirhats. Shelookedproperlysurprised,andthiswasjusthowtheyhadhopedshewouldlook. OfcourseSlightlywasthefirsttogethiswordin."Wendylady,"hesaidrapidly,"foryouwebuiltthishouse." "Oh,sayyou'repleased,"criedNibs. "Lovely,darlinghouse,"Wendysaid,andtheyweretheverywordstheyhadhopedshewouldsay. "Andweareyourchildren,"criedthetwins. Thenallwentontheirknees,andholdingouttheirarmscried,"OWendylady,beourmother." "OughtI?"Wendysaid,allshining."Ofcourseit'sfrightfullyfascinating,butyouseeIamonlyalittlegirl.Ihavenorealexperience." "Thatdoesn'tmatter,"saidPeter,asifheweretheonlypersonpresentwhoknewallaboutit,thoughhewasreallytheonewhoknewleast."Whatweneedisjustanicemotherlyperson." "Ohdear!"Wendysaid,"yousee,IfeelthatisexactlywhatIam." "Itis,itis,"theyallcried;"wesawitatonce." "Verywell,"shesaid,"Iwilldomybest.Comeinsideatonce,younaughtychildren;Iamsureyourfeetaredamp.AndbeforeIputyoutobedIhavejusttimetofinishthestoryofCinderella." Intheywent;Idon'tknowhowtherewasroomforthem,butyoucansqueezeverytightintheNeverland. AndthatwasthefirstofthemanyjoyouseveningstheyhadwithWendy. Byandbyshetuckedthemupinthegreatbedinthehomeunderthetrees,butsheherselfsleptthatnightinthelittlehouse,andPeterkeptwatchoutsidewithdrawnsword,forthepiratescouldbeheardcarousingfarawayandthewolveswereontheprowl. Thelittlehouselookedsocosyandsafeinthedarkness,withabrightlightshowingthroughitsblinds,andthechimneysmokingbeautifully,andPeterstandingonguard. Afteratimehefellasleep,andsomeunsteadyfairieshadtoclimboverhimontheirwayhomefromanorgy. Anyoftheotherboysobstructingthefairypathatnighttheywouldhavemischiefed,buttheyjusttweakedPeter'snoseandpassedon. 
