Питер Пэн и Венди
The Happy Home
’
’Ohdear,ohdear,’criedWendy,’I’msureIsometimesthinkthatchildrenaremoretroublethantheyareworth.’
Shetoldthemtoclearaway,andsatdowntoherwork-basket:aheavyloadofstockingsandeverykneewithaholeinitasusual.
’Wendy,’remonstratedMichael,’I’mtoobigforacradle.’
’Imusthavesomebodyinacradle,’shesaidalmosttartly,’andyouarethelittlest.Acradleissuchanicehomelythingtohaveaboutahouse.’
Whileshesewedtheyplayedaroundher;suchagroupofhappyfacesanddancinglimbslitupbythatromanticfire.Ithadbecomeaveryfamiliarscenethisinthehomeundertheground,butwearelookingonitforthelasttime.
Therewasastepabove,andWendy,youmaybesure,wasthefirsttorecogniseit.
’Children,Ihearyourfather’sstep.Helikesyoutomeethimatthedoor.’
Above,theredskinscrouchedbeforePeter.
’Watchwell,braves.Ihavespoken.’
Andthen,assooftenbefore,thegaychildrendraggedhimfromhistree.Assooftenbefore,butneveragain.
HehadbroughtnutsfortheboysaswellasthecorrecttimeforWendy.
’Peter,youjustspoilthem,youknow,’Wendysimpered.
’Ah,oldlady,’saidPeter,hanginguphisgun.
’Itwasmetoldhimmothersarecalledoldlady,’MichaelwhisperedtoCurly.
’IcomplainofMichael,’saidCurlyinstantly.
ThefirsttwincametoPeter.’Father,wewanttodance.’
’Danceaway,mylittleman,’saidPeter,whowasinhighgoodhumour.
’Butwewantyoutodance.’
Peterwasreallythebestdanceramongthem,buthepretendedtobescandalised.
