Белая птичка

           Whenarealbirdfallsinflop,hespreadsouthisfeathersandpecksthemdry,butPetercouldnotrememberwhatwasthethingtodo,andhedecided,rathersulkily,togotosleepontheweepingbeechintheBabyWalk.

           Atfirsthefoundsomedifficultyinbalancinghimselfonabranch,butpresentlyherememberedtheway,andfellasleep.Heawokelongbeforemorning,shivering,andsayingtohimself,“Ineverwasoutinsuchacoldnight;”hehadreallybeenoutincoldernightswhenhewasabird,but,ofcourse,aseverybodyknows,whatseemsawarmnighttoabirdisacoldnighttoaboyinanightgown.Peteralsofeltstrangelyuncomfortable,asifhisheadwasstuffy,heheardloudnoisesthatmadehimlookroundsharply,thoughtheywerereallyhimselfsneezing.Therewassomethinghewantedverymuch,but,thoughheknewhewantedit,hecouldnotthinkwhatitwas.Whathewantedsomuchwashismothertoblowhisnose,butthatneverstruckhim,sohedecidedtoappealtothefairiesforenlightenment.Theyarereputedtoknowagooddeal.

           ThereweretwoofthemstrollingalongtheBabyWalk,withtheirarmsroundeachother’swaists,andhehoppeddowntoaddressthem.Thefairieshavetheirtiffswiththebirds,buttheyusuallygiveacivilanswertoacivilquestion,andhewasquiteangrywhenthesetworanawaythemomenttheysawhim.Anotherwaslollingonagarden-chair,readingapostage-stampwhichsomehumanhadletfall,andwhenheheardPeter’svoicehepoppedinalarmbehindatulip.

           ToPeter’sbewildermenthediscoveredthateveryfairyhemetfledfromhim.