Белая птичка
Peter’s Goat
“Itseemsfrightfullyrealtometoo,”Maimieadmitted,“buthowcouldIgiveittoPeter?”
Hermotherknewaway,andnextday,accompaniedbyTony(whowasreallyquiteaniceboy,thoughofcoursehecouldnotcompare),theywenttotheGardens,andMaimiestoodalonewithinafairyring,andthenhermother,whowasarathergiftedlady,said,
“Mydaughter,tellme,ifyoucan,
WhathaveyougotforPeterPan?”
TowhichMaimiereplied,
“Ihaveagoatforhimtoride,
Observemecastitfarandwide.”
Shethenflungherarmsaboutasifsheweresowingseed,andturnedroundthreetimes.
NextTonysaid,
“IfP.dothfinditwaitinghere,
Wiltne’eragainmakemetofear?”
AndMaimieanswered,
“BydarkorlightIfondlyswear
Nevertoseegoatsanywhere.”
ShealsoleftalettertoPeterinalikelyplace,explainingwhatshehaddone,andbegginghimtoaskthefairiestoturnthegoatintooneconvenientforridingon.Well,itallhappenedjustasshehoped,forPeterfoundtheletter,andofcoursenothingcouldbeeasierforthefairiesthantoturnthegoatintoarealone,andsothatishowPetergotthegoatonwhichhenowridesroundtheGardenseverynightplayingsublimelyonhispipe.AndMaimiekeptherpromiseandneverfrightenedTonywithagoatagain,thoughIhaveheardthatshecreatedanotheranimal.UntilshewasquiteabiggirlshecontinuedtoleavepresentsforPeterintheGardens(withlettersexplaininghowhumansplaywiththem),andsheisnottheonlyonewhohasdonethis.
