Питер Пэн и Венди
The Shadow
’Letmetry,dear,’shesaid,andindeedthatwaswhathehadcometoaskhertodo;andwithhernicecoolhandsshetiedhistieforhim,whilethechildrenstoodaroundtoseetheirfatedecided.Somemenwouldhaveresentedherbeingabletodoitsoeasily,butMr.Darlingwasfartoofineanatureforthat;hethankedhercarelessly,atonceforgothisrage,andinanothermomentwasdancingroundtheroomwithMichaelonhisback.
’Howwildlyweromped!’saysMrs.Darlingnow,recallingit.
’Ourlastromp!’Mr.Darlinggroaned.
’OGeorge,doyourememberMichaelsuddenlysaidtome,"Howdidyougettoknowme,mother?"’
’Iremember!’
’Theywererathersweet,don’tyouthink,George?’
’Andtheywereours,ours,andnowtheyaregone.’
TheromphadendedwiththeappearanceofNana,andmostunluckilyMr.Darlingcollidedagainsther,coveringhistrouserswithhairs.Theywerenotonlynewtrousers,buttheywerethefirsthehadeverhadwithbraidonthem,andhehadtobitehisliptopreventthetearscoming.OfcourseMrs.Darlingbrushedhim,buthebegantotalkagainaboutitsbeingamistaketohaveadogforanurse.
’George,Nanaisatreasure.’
’Nodoubt,butIhaveanuneasyfeelingattimesthatshelooksuponthechildrenaspuppies.’
’Ohno,dearone,Ifeelsuresheknowstheyhavesouls.’
’Iwonder,’Mr.Darlingsaidthoughtfully,’Iwonder.’Itwasanopportunity,hiswifefelt,fortellinghimabouttheboy.Atfirsthepooh-poohedthestory,buthebecamethoughtfulwhensheshowedhimtheshadow.
