Питер Пэн и Венди
The Return Home
’
ItwasthenthatMrs.Darlingbeganplayingagain.
’It’smother!’criedWendy,peeping.
’Soitis!’saidJohn.
’Thenareyounotreallyourmother,Wendy?’askedMichael,whowassurelysleepy.
’Ohdear!’exclaimedWendy,withherfirstrealtwingeofremorse,’itwasquitetimewecameback.’
’Letuscreepin,’Johnsuggested,’andputourhandsoverhereyes.’
ButWendy,whosawthattheymustbreakthejoyousnewsmoregently,hadabetterplan.
’Letusallslipintoourbeds,andbetherewhenshecomesin,justasifwehadneverbeenaway.’
AndsowhenMrs.Darlingwentbacktothenight-nurserytoseeifherhusbandwasasleep,allthebedswereoccupied.Thechildrenwaitedforhercryofjoy,butitdidnotcome.Shesawthem,butshedidnotbelievetheywerethere.Yousee,shesawthemintheirbedssoofteninherdreamsthatshethoughtthiswasjustthedreamhangingaroundherstill.
Shesatdowninthechairbythefire,whereintheolddaysshehadnursedthem.
Theycouldnotunderstandthis,andacoldfearfelluponallthethreeofthem.
’Mother!’Wendycried.
’That’sWendy,’shesaid,butstillshewassureitwasthedream.
’Mother!’
’That’sJohn,’shesaid.
’Mother!’criedMichael.Heknewhernow.
’That’sMichael,’shesaid,andshestretchedoutherarmsforthethreelittleselfishchildrentheywouldneverenvelopagain.Yes,theydid,theywentroundWendyandJohnandMichael,whohadslippedoutofbedandruntoher.
’George,George,’shecriedwhenshecouldspeak;andMr
