Питер Пэн и Венди
The Return Home
Ihadmeanttosayextraordinarilynicethingsabouther;butIdespiseher,andnotoneofthemwillIsaynow.Shedoesnotreallyneedtobetoldtohavethingsready,fortheyareready.Allthebedsareaired,andsheneverleavesthehouse,andobserve,thewindowisopen.Foralltheusewearetoher,wemightgobacktotheship.However,asweareherewemayaswellstayandlookon.Thatisallweare,lookers-on.Nobodyreallywantsus.Soletuswatchandsayjaggythings,inthehopethatsomeofthemwillhurt.
Theonlychangetobeseeninthenight-nurseryisthatbetweennineandsixthekennelisnolongerthere.Whenthechildrenflewaway,Mr.DarlingfeltinhisbonesthatalltheblamewashisforhavingchainedNanaup,andthatfromfirsttolastshehadbeenwiserthanhe.Ofcourse,aswehaveseen,hewasquiteasimpleman;indeedhemighthavepassedforaboyagainifhehadbeenabletotakehisbaldnessoff;buthehadalsoanoblesenseofjusticeandalioncouragetodowhatseemedrighttohim;andhavingthoughtthematteroutwithanxiouscareaftertheflightofthechildren,hewentdownonallfoursandcrawledintothekennel.ToallMrs.Darling’sdearinvitationstohimtocomeoutherepliedsadlybutfirmly:
’No,myownone,thisistheplaceforme.’
Inthebitternessofhisremorsehesworethathewouldneverleavethekenneluntilhischildrencameback.Ofcoursethiswasapity;butwhateverMr.Darlingdidhehadtodoinexcess;otherwisehesoongaveupdoingit.
