Питер Пэн и Венди
The Happy Home
Theirignorancegavethemonemoregladhour;andasitwastobetheirlasthourontheisland,letusrejoicethatthereweresixtygladminutesinit.Theysanganddancedintheirnight-gowns.Suchadeliciouslycreepysongitwas,inwhichtheypretendedtobefrightenedattheirownshadows;littlewittingthatsosoonshadowswouldcloseinuponthem,fromwhomtheywouldshrinkinrealfear.Souproariouslygaywasthedance,andhowtheybuffetedeachotheronthebedandoutofit!Itwasapillowfightratherthanadance,andwhenitwasfinished,thepillowsinsistedononeboutmore,likepartnerswhoknowthattheymaynevermeetagain.Thestoriestheytold,beforeitwastimeforWendy’sgood-nightstory!EvenSlightlytriedtotellastorythatnight,butthebeginningwassofearfullydullthatitappalledevenhimself,andhesaidgloomily:
’Yes,itisadullbeginning.Isay,letuspretendthatitistheend.’
AndthenatlasttheyallgotintobedforWendy’sstory,thestorytheylovedbest,thestoryPeterhated.Usuallywhenshebegantotellthisstoryhelefttheroomorputhishandsoverhisears;andpossiblyifhehaddoneeitherofthosethingsthistimetheymightallstillbeontheisland.Butto-nightheremainedonhisstool;andweshallseewhathappened.
