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Wendy’s Story
Notsomuchasasorry-to-lose-youbetweenthem!Ifshedidnotmindtheparting,hewasgoingtoshowher,wasPeter,thatneitherdidhe.
Butofcoursehecaredverymuch;andhewassofullofwrathagainstgrown-ups,who,asusual,werespoilingeverything,thatassoonashegotinsidehistreehebreathedintentionallyquickshortbreathsattherateofaboutfivetoasecond.HedidthisbecausethereisasayingintheNeverlandthat,everytimeyoubreathe,agrown-updies;andPeterwaskillingthemoffvindictivelyasfastaspossible.
Thenhavinggiventhenecessaryinstructionstotheredskinshereturnedtothehome,whereanunworthyscenehadbeenenactedinhisabsence.Panic-strickenatthethoughtoflosingWendythelostboyshadadvanceduponherthreateningly.
’Itwillbeworsethanbeforeshecame,’theycried.
’Weshan’tlethergo.’
’Let’skeepherprisoner.’
’Ay,chainherup.’
Inherextremityaninstincttoldhertowhichofthemtoturn.
’Tootles,’shecried,’Iappealtoyou.’
Wasitnotstrange?sheappealedtoTootles,quitethesilliestone.
Grandly,however,didTootlesrespond.Forthatonemomenthedroppedhissillinessandspokewithdignity.
’IamjustTootles,’hesaid,’andnobodymindsme.ButthefirstwhodoesnotbehavetoWendylikeanEnglishgentlemanIwillbloodhimseverely.’
Hedrewhishanger;andforthatinstanthissunwasatnoon.Theothersheldbackuneasily.ThenPeterreturned,andtheysawatoncethattheywouldgetnosupportfromhim.HewouldkeepnogirlintheNeverlandagainstherwill.
