Питер Пэн и Венди
The Happy Home
’Yousee,’hecontinuedapologetically,’itwouldmakemeseemsooldtobetheirrealfather.’
’Buttheyareours,Peter,yoursandmine.’
’Butnotreally,Wendy?’heaskedanxiously.
’Notifyoudon’twishit,’shereplied;andshedistinctlyheardhissighofrelief.’Peter,’sheasked,tryingtospeakfirmly,’whatareyourexactfeelingsforme?’
’Thoseofadevotedson,Wendy.’
’Ithoughtso,’shesaid,andwentandsatbyherselfattheextremeendoftheroom.
’Youaresoqueer,’hesaid,franklypuzzled,’andTigerLilyisjustthesame.Thereissomethingshewantstobetome,butshesaysitisnotmymother.’
’No,indeed,itisnot,’Wendyrepliedwithfrightfulemphasis.Nowweknowwhyshewasprejudicedagainsttheredskins.
’Thenwhatisit?’
’Itisn’tforaladytotell.’
’Oh,verywell,’Petersaid,alittlenettled.’PerhapsTinkerBellwilltellme.’
’Ohyes,TinkerBellwilltellyou,’Wendyretortedscornfully.’Sheisanabandonedlittlecreature.’
HereTink,whowasinherboudoir,eavesdropping,squeakedoutsomethingimpudent.
’Shesaysshegloriesinbeingabandoned,’Peterinterpreted.
Hehadasuddenidea.’PerhapsTinkwantstobemymother?’
’Yousillyass!’criedTinkerBellinapassion.
ShehadsaiditsooftenthatWendyneedednotranslation.
’Ialmostagreewithher,’Wendysnapped.FancyWendysnapping.Butshehadbeenmuchtried,andshelittleknewwhatwastohappenbeforethenightwasout.Ifshehadknownshewouldnothavesnapped.
Noneofthemknew.Perhapsitwasbestnottoknow
