Питер Пэн и Венди
The Shadow
DarlingandNanatorecallnow,butnotsolittleifthatwastobeMichael’slastnightinthenursery.
Theygoonwiththeirrecollections.
’ItwasthenthatIrushedinlikeatornado,wasn’tit?’Mr.Darlingwouldsay,scorninghimself;andindeedhehadbeenlikeatornado.
Perhapstherewassomeexcuseforhim.He,too,hadbeendressingfortheparty,andallhadgonewellwithhimuntilhecametohistie.Itisanastoundingthingtohavetotell,butthisman,thoughheknewaboutstocksandshares,hadnorealmasteryofhistie.Sometimesthethingyieldedtohimwithoutacontest,buttherewereoccasionswhenitwouldhavebeenbetterforthehouseifhehadswallowedhisprideandusedamade-uptie.
Thiswassuchanoccasion.Hecamerushingintothenurserywiththecrumpledlittlebruteofatieinhishand.
’Why,whatisthematter,fatherdear?’
’Matter!’heyelled;hereallyyelled.’Thistie,itwillnottie.’Hebecamedangerouslysarcastic.’Notroundmyneck!Roundthebed-post!Ohyes,twentytimeshaveImadeituproundthebed-post,butroundmyneck,no!Ohdearno!begstobeexcused!’
HethoughtMrs.Darlingwasnotsufficientlyimpressed,andhewentonsternly,’Iwarnyouofthis,mother,thatunlessthistieisroundmyneckwedon’tgoouttodinnerto-night,andifIdon’tgoouttodinnerto-night,Inevergototheofficeagain,andifIdon’tgototheofficeagain,youandIstarve,andourchildrenwillbeflungintothestreets.’
EventhenMrs.Darlingwasplacid.
