Белая птичка

           ButPeternevergrowsanyolder,andifwecouldbewatchingforhimunderthebridgeto-night(but,ofcourse,wecan’t),Idaresayweshouldseehimhoistinghisnight-gownandsailingorpaddlingtowardusintheThrush’sNest.Whenhesails,hesitsdown,buthestandsuptopaddle.Ishalltellyoupresentlyhowhegothispaddle.

           Longbeforethetimefortheopeningofthegatescomeshestealsbacktotheisland,forpeoplemustnotseehim(heisnotsohumanasallthat),butthisgiveshimhoursforplay,andheplaysexactlyasrealchildrenplay.Atleasthethinksso,anditisoneofthepatheticthingsabouthimthatheoftenplaysquitewrongly.

           Yousee,hehadnoonetotellhimhowchildrenreallyplay,forthefairieswereallmoreorlessinhidinguntildusk,andsoknownothing,andthoughthebirdspretendedthattheycouldtellhimagreatdeal,whenthetimefortellingcame,itwaswonderfulhowlittletheyreallyknew.Theytoldhimthetruthabouthide-and-seek,andheoftenplaysitbyhimself,buteventheducksontheRoundPondcouldnotexplaintohimwhatitisthatmakesthepondsofascinatingtoboys.Everynighttheduckshaveforgottenalltheeventsoftheday,exceptthenumberofpiecesofcakethrowntothem.Theyaregloomycreatures,andsaythatcakeisnotwhatitwasintheiryoungdays.

           SoPeterhadtofindoutmanythingsforhimself.HeoftenplayedshipsattheRoundPond,buthisshipwasonlyahoopwhichhehadfoundonthegrass.