English
"Listen,then,"saidWendy,settlingdowntoherstory,withMichaelatherfeetandsevenboysinthebed."Therewasonceagentleman—"
"Ihadratherhehadbeenalady,"Curlysaid.
"Iwishhehadbeenawhiterat,"saidNibs.
"Quiet,"theirmotheradmonished[cautioned]them."Therewasaladyalso,and—"
"Oh,mummy,"criedthefirsttwin,"youmeanthatthereisaladyalso,don'tyou?Sheisnotdead,isshe?"
"Oh,no."
"Iamawfullygladsheisn'tdead,"saidTootles."Areyouglad,John?"
"OfcourseIam."
"Areyouglad,Nibs?"
"Rather."
"Areyouglad,Twins?"
"Weareglad."
"Ohdear,"sighedWendy.
"Littlelessnoisethere,"Petercalledout,determinedthatsheshouldhavefairplay,howeverbeastlyastoryitmightbeinhisopinion.
"Thegentleman'sname,"Wendycontinued,"wasMr.Darling,andhernamewasMrs.Darling."
"Iknewthem,"Johnsaid,toannoytheothers.
"IthinkIknewthem,"saidMichaelratherdoubtfully.
"Theyweremarried,youknow,"explainedWendy,"andwhatdoyouthinktheyhad?"
"Whiterats,"criedNibs,inspired.
"No."
"It'sawfullypuzzling,"saidTootles,whoknewthestorybyheart.
"Quiet,Tootles.Theyhadthreedescendants."
"Whatisdescendants?"
"Well,youareone,Twin."
"Didyouhearthat,John?Iamadescendant."
"Descendantsareonlychildren,"saidJohn.
"Ohdear,ohdear,"sighedWendy."NowthesethreechildrenhadafaithfulnursecalledNana;butMr.Darlingwasangrywithherandchainedherupintheyard,andsoallthechildrenflewaway."
"It'sanawfullygoodstory,"saidNibs.
"Theyflewaway,"Wendycontinued,"totheNeverland,wherethelostchildrenare."
"Ijustthoughttheydid,"Curlybrokeinexcitedly."Idon'tknowhowitis,butIjustthoughttheydid!"
"OWendy,"criedTootles,"wasoneofthelostchildrencalledTootles?"
"Yes,hewas."
"Iaminastory.Hurrah,Iaminastory,Nibs."
"Hush.NowIwantyoutoconsiderthefeelingsoftheunhappyparentswithalltheirchildrenflownaway."
"Oo!"theyallmoaned,thoughtheywerenotreallyconsideringthefeelingsoftheunhappyparentsonejot.
"Thinkoftheemptybeds!"
"Oo!"
"It'sawfullysad,"thefirsttwinsaidcheerfully.
"Idon'tseehowitcanhaveahappyending,"saidthesecondtwin."Doyou,Nibs?"
"I'mfrightfullyanxious."
"Ifyouknewhowgreatisamother'slove,"Wendytoldthemtriumphantly,"youwouldhavenofear."ShehadnowcometothepartthatPeterhated.
"Idolikeamother'slove,"saidTootles,hittingNibswithapillow."Doyoulikeamother'slove,Nibs?"
"Idojust,"saidNibs,hittingback.
"Yousee,"Wendysaidcomplacently,"ourheroineknewthatthemotherwouldalwaysleavethewindowopenforherchildrentoflybackby;sotheystayedawayforyearsandhadalovelytime."
"Didtheyevergoback?"
"Letusnow,"saidWendy,bracingherselfupforherfinesteffort,"takeapeepintothefuture;"andtheyallgavethemselvesthetwistthatmakespeepsintothefutureeasier.
"Yearshaverolledby,andwhoisthiselegantladyofuncertainagealightingatLondonStation?"
"OWendy,whoisshe?"criedNibs,everybitasexcitedasifhedidn'tknow.
"Canitbe—yes—no—itis—thefairWendy!"
"Oh!"
"Andwhoarethetwonobleportlyfiguresaccompanyingher,nowgrowntoman'sestate?CantheybeJohnandMichael?Theyare!"
"Oh!"
"'See,dearbrothers,'saysWendypointingupwards,'thereisthewindowstillstandingopen.
Ah,nowwearerewardedforoursublimefaithinamother'slove.'
Souptheyflewtotheirmummyanddaddy,andpencannotdescribethehappyscene,overwhichwedrawaveil."
Thatwasthestory,andtheywereaspleasedwithitasthefairnarratorherself.
Everythingjustasitshouldbe,yousee.
Offweskiplikethemostheartlessthingsintheworld,whichiswhatchildrenare,butsoattractive;andwehaveanentirelyselfishtime,andthenwhenwehaveneedofspecialattentionwenoblyreturnforit,confidentthatweshallberewardedinsteadofsmacked.
Sogreatindeedwastheirfaithinamother'slovethattheyfelttheycouldaffordtobecallousforabitlonger.
Buttherewasonetherewhoknewbetter,andwhenWendyfinishedheutteredahollowgroan.
"Whatisit,Peter?"shecried,runningtohim,thinkinghewasill.Shefelthimsolicitously,lowerdownthanhischest."Whereisit,Peter?"
"Itisn'tthatkindofpain,"Peterreplieddarkly.
"Thenwhatkindisit?"
"Wendy,youarewrongaboutmothers."
Theyallgatheredroundhiminaffright,soalarmingwashisagitation;andwithafinecandourhetoldthemwhathehadhithertoconcealed.
"Longago,"hesaid,"Ithoughtlikeyouthatmymotherwouldalwayskeepthewindowopenforme,soIstayedawayformoonsandmoonsandmoons,andthenflewback;butthewindowwasbarred,formotherhadforgottenallaboutme,andtherewasanotherlittleboysleepinginmybed."
Iamnotsurethatthiswastrue,butPeterthoughtitwastrue;anditscaredthem.
"Areyousuremothersarelikethat?"
"Yes."
Sothiswasthetruthaboutmothers.Thetoads!
Stillitisbesttobecareful;andnooneknowssoquicklyasachildwhenheshouldgivein."Wendy,letus[let's]gohome,"criedJohnandMichaeltogether.
"Yes,"shesaid,clutchingthem.
"Notto-night?"askedthelostboysbewildered.Theyknewinwhattheycalledtheirheartsthatonecangetonquitewellwithoutamother,andthatitisonlythemotherswhothinkyoucan't.
"Atonce,"Wendyrepliedresolutely,forthehorriblethoughthadcometoher:"Perhapsmotherisinhalfmourningbythistime."
ThisdreadmadeherforgetfulofwhatmustbePeter'sfeelings,andshesaidtohimrathersharply,"Peter,willyoumakethenecessaryarrangements?"
"Ifyouwishit,"hereplied,ascoollyasifshehadaskedhimtopassthenuts.
Notsomuchasasorry-to-lose-youbetweenthem!Ifshedidnotmindtheparting,hewasgoingtoshowher,wasPeter,thatneitherdidhe.
Butofcoursehecaredverymuch;andhewassofullofwrathagainstgrown-ups,who,asusual,werespoilingeverything,thatassoonashegotinsidehistreehebreathedintentionallyquickshortbreathsattherateofaboutfivetoasecond.
HedidthisbecausethereisasayingintheNeverlandthat,everytimeyoubreathe,agrown-updies;andPeterwaskillingthemoffvindictivelyasfastaspossible.
Thenhavinggiventhenecessaryinstructionstotheredskinshereturnedtothehome,whereanunworthyscenehadbeenenactedinhisabsence.
Panic-strickenatthethoughtoflosingWendythelostboyshadadvanceduponherthreateningly.
"Itwillbeworsethanbeforeshecame,"theycried.
"Weshan'tlethergo."
"Let'skeepherprisoner."
"Ay,chainherup."
Inherextremityaninstincttoldhertowhichofthemtoturn.
"Tootles,"shecried,"Iappealtoyou."
Wasitnotstrange?SheappealedtoTootles,quitethesilliestone.
Grandly,however,didTootlesrespond.Forthatonemomenthedroppedhissillinessandspokewithdignity.
"IamjustTootles,"hesaid,"andnobodymindsme.ButthefirstwhodoesnotbehavetoWendylikeanEnglishgentlemanIwillbloodhimseverely."
Hedrewbackhishanger;andforthatinstanthissunwasatnoon.Theothersheldbackuneasily.
ThenPeterreturned,andtheysawatoncethattheywouldgetnosupportfromhim.
HewouldkeepnogirlintheNeverlandagainstherwill.
"Wendy,"hesaid,stridingupanddown,"Ihaveaskedtheredskinstoguideyouthroughthewood,asflyingtiresyouso."
"Thankyou,Peter."
"Then,"hecontinued,intheshortsharpvoiceofoneaccustomedtobeobeyed,"TinkerBellwilltakeyouacrossthesea.Wakeher,Nibs."
Nibshadtoknocktwicebeforehegotananswer,thoughTinkhadreallybeensittingupinbedlisteningforsometime.
"Whoareyou?Howdareyou?Goaway,"shecried.
"Youaretogetup,Tink,"Nibscalled,"andtakeWendyonajourney."
OfcourseTinkhadbeendelightedtohearthatWendywasgoing;butshewasjollywelldeterminednottobehercourier,andshesaidsoinstillmoreoffensivelanguage.Thenshepretendedtobeasleepagain.
"Shesaysshewon't!"Nibsexclaimed,aghastatsuchinsubordination,whereuponPeterwentsternlytowardtheyounglady'schamber.
"Tink,"herappedout,"ifyoudon'tgetupanddressatonceIwillopenthecurtains,andthenweshallallseeyouinyournegligee[nightgown]."
Thismadeherleaptothefloor."WhosaidIwasn'tgettingup?"shecried.
InthemeantimetheboysweregazingveryforlornlyatWendy,nowequippedwithJohnandMichaelforthejourney.
Bythistimetheyweredejected,notmerelybecausetheywereabouttoloseher,butalsobecausetheyfeltthatshewasgoingofftosomethingnicetowhichtheyhadnotbeeninvited.Noveltywasbeckoningtothemasusual.
CreditingthemwithanoblerfeelingWendymelted.
"Dearones,"shesaid,"ifyouwillallcomewithmeIfeelalmostsureIcangetmyfatherandmothertoadoptyou."
TheinvitationwasmeantspeciallyforPeter,buteachoftheboyswasthinkingexclusivelyofhimself,andatoncetheyjumpedwithjoy.
"Butwon'ttheythinkusratherahandful?"Nibsaskedinthemiddleofhisjump.
"Ohno,"saidWendy,rapidlythinkingitout,"itwillonlymeanhavingafewbedsinthedrawing-room;theycanbehiddenbehindthescreensonfirstThursdays."
"Peter,canwego?"theyallcriedimploringly.
Theytookitforgrantedthatiftheywenthewouldgoalso,butreallytheyscarcelycared.
Thuschildrenareeverready,whennoveltyknocks,todeserttheirdearestones.
"Allright,"Peterrepliedwithabittersmile,andimmediatelytheyrushedtogettheirthings.
"Andnow,Peter,"Wendysaid,thinkingshehadputeverythingright,"Iamgoingtogiveyouyourmedicinebeforeyougo."
Shelovedtogivethemmedicine,andundoubtedlygavethemtoomuch.
Ofcourseitwasonlywater,butitwasoutofabottle,andshealwaysshookthebottleandcountedthedrops,whichgaveitacertainmedicinalquality.
Onthisoccasion,however,shedidnotgivePeterhisdraught[portion],forjustasshehadpreparedit,shesawalookonhisfacethatmadeherheartsink.
"Getyourthings,Peter,"shecried,shaking.
"No,"heanswered,pretendingindifference,"Iamnotgoingwithyou,Wendy."
"Yes,Peter."
"No."
Toshowthatherdeparturewouldleavehimunmoved,heskippedupanddowntheroom,playinggailyonhisheartlesspipes.Shehadtorunaboutafterhim,thoughitwasratherundignified.
"Tofindyourmother,"shecoaxed.
Now,ifPeterhadeverquitehadamother,henolongermissedher.Hecoulddoverywellwithoutone.Hehadthoughtthemout,andrememberedonlytheirbadpoints.
"No,no,"hetoldWendydecisively;"perhapsshewouldsayIwasold,andIjustwantalwaystobealittleboyandtohavefun."
"But,Peter—"
"No."
Andsotheothershadtobetold.
"Peterisn'tcoming."
Peternotcoming!Theygazedblanklyathim,theirsticksovertheirbacks,andoneachstickabundle.
TheirfirstthoughtwasthatifPeterwasnotgoinghehadprobablychangedhismindaboutlettingthemgo.
Buthewasfartooproudforthat."Ifyoufindyourmothers,"hesaiddarkly,"Ihopeyouwilllikethem."
Theawfulcynicismofthismadeanuncomfortableimpression,andmostofthembegantolookratherdoubtful.Afterall,theirfacessaid,weretheynotnoodlestowanttogo?
"Nowthen,"criedPeter,"nofuss,noblubbering;good-bye,Wendy;"andheheldouthishandcheerily,quiteasiftheymustreallygonow,forhehadsomethingimportanttodo.
Shehadtotakehishand,andtherewasnoindicationthathewouldpreferathimble.
"Youwillrememberaboutchangingyourflannels,Peter?"shesaid,lingeringoverhim.Shewasalwayssoparticularabouttheirflannels.
"Yes."
"Andyouwilltakeyourmedicine?"
"Yes."
Thatseemedtobeeverything,andanawkwardpausefollowed.Peter,however,wasnotthekindthatbreaksdownbeforeotherpeople."Areyouready,TinkerBell?"hecalledout.
"Ay,ay."
"Thenleadtheway."
Tinkdartedupthenearesttree;butnoonefollowedher,foritwasatthismomentthatthepiratesmadetheirdreadfulattackupontheredskins.
Above,whereallhadbeensostill,theairwasrentwithshrieksandtheclashofsteel.Below,therewasdeadsilence.Mouthsopenedandremainedopen.
Wendyfellonherknees,butherarmswereextendedtowardPeter.
Allarmswereextendedtohim,asifsuddenlyblowninhisdirection;theywerebeseechinghimmutelynottodesertthem.
AsforPeter,heseizedhissword,thesamehethoughthehadslainBarbecuewith,andthelustofbattlewasinhiseye.
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