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Bythreebellsthatmorningtheywereallstirringtheirstumps[legs];fortherewasabigsearunning;andTootles,thebo'sun,wasamongthem,witharope'sendinhishandandchewingtobacco.
Theyalldonnedpirateclothescutoffattheknee,shavedsmartly,andtumbledup,withthetruenauticalrollandhitchingtheirtrousers.
Itneednotbesaidwhowasthecaptain.
NibsandJohnwerefirstandsecondmate.Therewasawomanaboard.
Therestweretars[sailors]beforethemast,andlivedinthefo'c'sle.
Peterhadalreadylashedhimselftothewheel;buthepipedallhandsanddeliveredashortaddresstothem;saidhehopedtheywoulddotheirdutylikegallanthearties,butthatheknewtheywerethescumofRioandtheGoldCoast,andiftheysnappedathimhewouldtearthem.
Thebluffstridentwordsstruckthenotesailorsunderstood,andtheycheeredhimlustily.
Thenafewsharpordersweregiven,andtheyturnedtheshipround,andnosedherforthemainland.
CaptainPancalculated,afterconsultingtheship'schart,thatifthisweatherlastedtheyshouldstriketheAzoresaboutthe21stofJune,afterwhichitwouldsavetimetofly.
Someofthemwantedittobeanhonestshipandotherswereinfavourofkeepingitapirate;butthecaptaintreatedthemasdogs,andtheydarednotexpresstheirwishestohimeveninaroundrobin[onepersonafteranother,astheyhadtoCpt.Hook].
Instantobediencewastheonlysafething.
Slightlygotadozenforlookingperplexedwhentoldtotakesoundings.
ThegeneralfeelingwasthatPeterwashonestjustnowtolullWendy'ssuspicions,butthattheremightbeachangewhenthenewsuitwasready,which,againstherwill,shewasmakingforhimoutofsomeofHook'swickedestgarments.
ItwasafterwardswhisperedamongthemthatonthefirstnightheworethissuithesatlonginthecabinwithHook'scigar-holderinhismouthandonehandclenched,allbutfortheforefinger,whichhebentandheldthreateninglyaloftlikeahook.
Insteadofwatchingtheship,however,wemustnowreturntothatdesolatehomefromwhichthreeofourcharactershadtakenheartlessflightsolongago.
ItseemsashametohaveneglectedNo.14allthistime;andyetwemaybesurethatMrs.Darlingdoesnotblameus.
Ifwehadreturnedsoonertolookwithsorrowfulsympathyather,shewouldprobablyhavecried,"Don'tbesilly;whatdoImatter?
Dogobackandkeepaneyeonthechildren."
Solongasmothersarelikethistheirchildrenwilltakeadvantageofthem;andtheymaylayto[beton]that.
Evennowweventureintothatfamiliarnurseryonlybecauseitslawfuloccupantsareontheirwayhome;wearemerelyhurryingoninadvanceofthemtoseethattheirbedsareproperlyairedandthatMr.andMrs.Darlingdonotgooutfortheevening.Wearenomorethanservants.
Whyonearthshouldtheirbedsbeproperlyaired,seeingthattheylefttheminsuchathanklesshurry?
Woulditnotservethemjollywellrightiftheycamebackandfoundthattheirparentswerespendingtheweek-endinthecountry?
Itwouldbethemorallessontheyhavebeeninneedofeversincewemetthem;butifwecontrivedthingsinthiswayMrs.Darlingwouldneverforgiveus.
OnethingIshouldliketodoimmensely,andthatistotellher,inthewayauthorshave,thatthechildrenarecomingback,thatindeedtheywillbehereonThursdayweek.
ThiswouldspoilsocompletelythesurprisetowhichWendyandJohnandMichaelarelookingforward.
Theyhavebeenplanningitoutontheship:mother'srapture,father'sshoutofjoy,Nana'sleapthroughtheairtoembracethemfirst,whenwhattheyoughttobepreparedforisagoodhiding.
Howdelicioustospoilitallbybreakingthenewsinadvance;sothatwhentheyentergrandlyMrs.DarlingmaynotevenofferWendyhermouth,andMr.Darlingmayexclaimpettishly,"Dashitall,herearethoseboysagain."
However,weshouldgetnothanksevenforthis.
WearebeginningtoknowMrs.Darlingbythistime,andmaybesurethatshewouldupbraidusfordeprivingthechildrenoftheirlittlepleasure.
"But,mydearmadam,itistendaystillThursdayweek;sothatbytellingyouwhat'swhat,wecansaveyoutendaysofunhappiness."
"Yes,butatwhatacost!Bydeprivingthechildrenoftenminutesofdelight."
"Oh,ifyoulookatitinthatway!"
"Whatotherwayisthereinwhichtolookatit?"
Yousee,thewomanhadnoproperspirit.
Ihadmeanttosayextraordinarilynicethingsabouther;butIdespiseher,andnotoneofthemwillIsaynow.
Shedoesnotreallyneedtobetoldtohavethingsready,fortheyareready.
Allthebedsareaired,andsheneverleavesthehouse,andobserve,thewindowisopen.
Foralltheusewearetoher,wemightwellgobacktotheship.
However,asweareherewemayaswellstayandlookon.Thatisallweare,lookers-on.Nobodyreallywantsus.
Soletuswatchandsayjaggythings,inthehopethatsomeofthemwillhurt.
Theonlychangetobeseeninthenight-nurseryisthatbetweennineandsixthekennelisnolongerthere.
Whenthechildrenflewaway,Mr.DarlingfeltinhisbonesthatalltheblamewashisforhavingchainedNanaup,andthatfromfirsttolastshehadbeenwiserthanhe.
Ofcourse,aswehaveseen,hewasquiteasimpleman;indeedhemighthavepassedforaboyagainifhehadbeenabletotakehisbaldnessoff;buthehadalsoanoblesenseofjusticeandalion'scouragetodowhatseemedrighttohim;andhavingthoughtthematteroutwithanxiouscareaftertheflightofthechildren,hewentdownonallfoursandcrawledintothekennel.
ToallMrs.Darling'sdearinvitationstohimtocomeoutherepliedsadlybutfirmly:
"No,myownone,thisistheplaceforme."
Inthebitternessofhisremorsehesworethathewouldneverleavethekenneluntilhischildrencameback.
Ofcoursethiswasapity;butwhateverMr.Darlingdidhehadtodoinexcess,otherwisehesoongaveupdoingit.
AndthereneverwasamorehumblemanthantheonceproudGeorgeDarling,ashesatinthekennelofaneveningtalkingwithhiswifeoftheirchildrenandalltheirprettyways.
VerytouchingwashisdeferencetoNana.Hewouldnotlethercomeintothekennel,butonallothermattershefollowedherwishesimplicitly.
EverymorningthekennelwascarriedwithMr.Darlinginittoacab,whichconveyedhimtohisoffice,andhereturnedhomeinthesamewayatsix.
Somethingofthestrengthofcharacterofthemanwillbeseenifwerememberhowsensitivehewastotheopinionofneighbours:thismanwhoseeverymovementnowattractedsurprisedattention.
Inwardlyhemusthavesufferedtorture;buthepreservedacalmexteriorevenwhentheyoungcriticisedhislittlehome,andhealwaysliftedhishatcourteouslytoanyladywholookedinside.
ItmayhavebeenQuixotic,butitwasmagnificent.
Soontheinwardmeaningofitleakedout,andthegreatheartofthepublicwastouched.
Crowdsfollowedthecab,cheeringitlustily;charminggirlsscaledittogethisautograph;interviewsappearedinthebetterclassofpapers,andsocietyinvitedhimtodinnerandadded,"Docomeinthekennel."
OnthateventfulThursdayweek,Mrs.Darlingwasinthenight-nurseryawaitingGeorge'sreturnhome;averysad-eyedwoman.
Nowthatwelookathercloselyandrememberthegaietyofherintheolddays,allgonenowjustbecauseshehaslostherbabes,IfindIwon'tbeabletosaynastythingsaboutherafterall.
Ifshewastoofondofherrubbishychildren,shecouldn'thelpit.
Lookatherinherchair,whereshehasfallenasleep.
Thecornerofhermouth,whereonelooksfirst,isalmostwitheredup.
Herhandmovesrestlesslyonherbreastasifshehadapainthere.
SomelikePeterbest,andsomelikeWendybest,butIlikeherbest.
Suppose,tomakeherhappy,wewhispertoherinhersleepthatthebratsarecomingback.
Theyarereallywithintwomilesofthewindownow,andflyingstrong,butallweneedwhisperisthattheyareontheway.Let's.
Itisapitywedidit,forshehasstartedup,callingtheirnames;andthereisnooneintheroombutNana.
"ONana,Idreamtmydearoneshadcomeback."
Nanahadfilmyeyes,butallshecoulddowasputherpawgentlyonhermistress'slap;andtheyweresittingtogetherthuswhenthekennelwasbroughtback.
AsMr.Darlingputshisheadouttokisshiswife,weseethathisfaceismorewornthanofyore,buthasasofterexpression.
HegavehishattoLiza,whotookitscornfully;forshehadnoimagination,andwasquiteincapableofunderstandingthemotivesofsuchaman.
Outside,thecrowdwhohadaccompaniedthecabhomewerestillcheering,andhewasnaturallynotunmoved.
"Listentothem,"hesaid;"itisverygratifying."
"Lotsoflittleboys,"sneeredLiza.
"Therewereseveraladultsto-day,"heassuredherwithafaintflush;butwhenshetossedherheadhehadnotawordofreproofforher.
Socialsuccesshadnotspoilthim;ithadmadehimsweeter.
Forsometimehesatwithhisheadoutofthekennel,talkingwithMrs.Darlingofthissuccess,andpressingherhandreassuringlywhenshesaidshehopedhisheadwouldnotbeturnedbyit.
"ButifIhadbeenaweakman,"hesaid."Goodheavens,ifIhadbeenaweakman!"
"And,George,"shesaidtimidly,"youareasfullofremorseasever,aren'tyou?"
"Fullofremorseasever,dearest!Seemypunishment:livinginakennel."
"Butitispunishment,isn'tit,George?Youaresureyouarenotenjoyingit?"
"Mylove!"
Youmaybesureshebeggedhispardon;andthen,feelingdrowsy,hecurledroundinthekennel.
"Won'tyouplaymetosleep,"heasked,"onthenurserypiano?"andasshewascrossingtotheday-nurseryheaddedthoughtlessly,"Andshutthatwindow.Ifeeladraught."
"OGeorge,neveraskmetodothat.Thewindowmustalwaysbeleftopenforthem,always,always."
Nowitwashisturntobegherpardon;andshewentintotheday-nurseryandplayed,andsoonhewasasleep;andwhileheslept,WendyandJohnandMichaelflewintotheroom.
Ohno.Wehavewrittenitso,becausethatwasthecharmingarrangementplannedbythembeforewelefttheship;butsomethingmusthavehappenedsincethen,foritisnottheywhohaveflownin,itisPeterandTinkerBell.
Peter'sfirstwordstellall.
"QuickTink,"hewhispered,"closethewindow;barit!That'sright.
NowyouandImustgetawaybythedoor;andwhenWendycomesshewillthinkhermotherhasbarredherout;andshewillhavetogobackwithme."
NowIunderstandwhathadhithertopuzzledme,whywhenPeterhadexterminatedthepirateshedidnotreturntotheislandandleaveTinktoescortthechildrentothemainland.
Thistrickhadbeeninhisheadallthetime.
Insteadoffeelingthathewasbehavingbadlyhedancedwithglee;thenhepeepedintotheday-nurserytoseewhowasplaying.
HewhisperedtoTink,"It'sWendy'smother!
Sheisaprettylady,butnotsoprettyasmymother.
Hermouthisfullofthimbles,butnotsofullasmymother'swas."
Ofcourseheknewnothingwhateverabouthismother;buthesometimesbraggedabouther.
Hedidnotknowthetune,whichwas"Home,SweetHome,"butheknewitwassaying,"Comeback,Wendy,Wendy,Wendy";andhecriedexultantly,"YouwillneverseeWendyagain,lady,forthewindowisbarred!"
Hepeepedinagaintoseewhythemusichadstopped,andnowhesawthatMrs.Darlinghadlaidherheadonthebox,andthattwotearsweresittingonhereyes.
"Shewantsmetounbarthewindow,"thoughtPeter,"butIwon't,notI!"
Hepeepedagain,andthetearswerestillthere,oranothertwohadtakentheirplace.
"She'sawfullyfondofWendy,"hesaidtohimself.HewasangrywithhernowfornotseeingwhyshecouldnothaveWendy.
Thereasonwassosimple:"I'mfondofhertoo.Wecan'tbothhaveher,lady."
Buttheladywouldnotmakethebestofit,andhewasunhappy.
Heceasedtolookather,buteventhenshewouldnotletgoofhim.
Heskippedaboutandmadefunnyfaces,butwhenhestoppeditwasjustasifshewereinsidehim,knocking.
"Oh,allright,"hesaidatlast,andgulped.Thenheunbarredthewindow."Comeon,Tink,"hecried,withafrightfulsneeratthelawsofnature;"wedon'twantanysillymothers;"andheflewaway.
ThusWendyandJohnandMichaelfoundthewindowopenforthemafterall,whichofcoursewasmorethantheydeserved.
Theyalightedonthefloor,quiteunashamedofthemselves,andtheyoungestonehadalreadyforgottenhishome.
"John,"hesaid,lookingaroundhimdoubtfully,"IthinkIhavebeenherebefore."
"Ofcourseyouhave,yousilly.Thereisyouroldbed."
"Soitis,"Michaelsaid,butnotwithmuchconviction.
"Isay,"criedJohn,"thekennel!"andhedashedacrosstolookintoit.
"PerhapsNanaisinsideit,"Wendysaid.
ButJohnwhistled."Hullo,"hesaid,"there'samaninsideit."
"It'sfather!"exclaimedWendy.
"Letmeseefather,"Michaelbeggedeagerly,andhetookagoodlook.
"HeisnotsobigasthepirateIkilled,"hesaidwithsuchfrankdisappointmentthatIamgladMr.Darlingwasasleep;itwouldhavebeensadifthosehadbeenthefirstwordsheheardhislittleMichaelsay.
WendyandJohnhadbeentakenabacksomewhatatfindingtheirfatherinthekennel.
"Surely,"saidJohn,likeonewhohadlostfaithinhismemory,"heusednottosleepinthekennel?"
"John,"Wendysaidfalteringly,"perhapswedon'tremembertheoldlifeaswellaswethoughtwedid."
Achillfelluponthem;andservethemright.
"Itisverycarelessofmother,"saidthatyoungscoundrelJohn,"nottobeherewhenwecomeback."
ItwasthenthatMrs.Darlingbeganplayingagain.
"It'smother!"criedWendy,peeping.
"Soitis!"saidJohn.
"Thenareyounotreallyourmother,Wendy?"askedMichael,whowassurelysleepy.
"Ohdear!"exclaimedWendy,withherfirstrealtwingeofremorse[forhavinggone],"itwasquitetimewecameback."
"Letuscreepin,"Johnsuggested,"andputourhandsoverhereyes."
ButWendy,whosawthattheymustbreakthejoyousnewsmoregently,hadabetterplan.
"Letusallslipintoourbeds,andbetherewhenshecomesin,justasifwehadneverbeenaway."
AndsowhenMrs.Darlingwentbacktothenight-nurserytoseeifherhusbandwasasleep,allthebedswereoccupied.
Thechildrenwaitedforhercryofjoy,butitdidnotcome.
Shesawthem,butshedidnotbelievetheywerethere.
Yousee,shesawthemintheirbedssoofteninherdreamsthatshethoughtthiswasjustthedreamhangingaroundherstill.
Shesatdowninthechairbythefire,whereintheolddaysshehadnursedthem.
Theycouldnotunderstandthis,andacoldfearfelluponallthethreeofthem.
"Mother!"Wendycried.
"That'sWendy,"shesaid,butstillshewassureitwasthedream.
"Mother!"
"That'sJohn,"shesaid.
"Mother!"criedMichael.Heknewhernow.
"That'sMichael,"shesaid,andshestretchedoutherarmsforthethreelittleselfishchildrentheywouldneverenvelopagain.
Yes,theydid,theywentroundWendyandJohnandMichael,whohadslippedoutofbedandruntoher.
"George,George!"shecriedwhenshecouldspeak;andMr.Darlingwoketoshareherbliss,andNanacamerushingin.
Therecouldnothavebeenaloveliersight;buttherewasnonetoseeitexceptalittleboywhowasstaringinatthewindow.
Hehadhadecstasiesinnumerablethatotherchildrencanneverknow;buthewaslookingthroughthewindowattheonejoyfromwhichhemustbeforeverbarred.
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