Питер Пэн и Венди
When Wendy Grew Up
’Wendysaiditwithasmile.Shewasasgrownupasthat.
’Whatdidhiscrowsoundlike?’Janeaskedoneevening.
’Itwaslikethis,’Wendysaid,tryingtoimitatePeter’scrow.
’No,itwasn’t,’Janesaidgravely,’itwaslikethis’;andshediditeversomuchbetterthanhermother.
Wendywasalittlestartled.’Mydarling,howcanyouknow?’
’IoftenhearitwhenIamsleeping,’Janesaid.
’Ahyes,manygirlshearitwhentheyaresleeping,butIwastheonlyonewhohearditawake.’
’Luckyyou,’saidJane.
Andthenonenightcamethetragedy.Itwasthespringoftheyear,andthestoryhadbeentoldforthenight,andJanewasnowasleepinherbed.Wendywassittingonthefloor,veryclosetothefire,soastoseetodarn,fortherewasnootherlightinthenursery;andwhileshesatdarningsheheardacrow.Thenthewindowblewopenasofold,andPeterdroppedonthefloor.
Hewasexactlythesameasever,andWendysawatoncethathestillhadallhisfirstteeth.
Hewasalittleboy,andshewasgrownup.Shehuddledbythefirenotdaringtomove,helplessandguilty,abigwoman.
’Hullo,Wendy,’hesaid,notnoticinganydifference,forhewasthinkingchieflyofhimself;andinthedimlightherwhitedressmighthavebeenthenight-gowninwhichhehadseenherfirst.
’Hullo,Peter,’sherepliedfaintly,squeezingherselfassmallaspossible.Somethinginsideherwascrying’Woman,woman,letgoofme.’
’Hullo,whereisJohn?’heasked,suddenlymissingthethirdbed.
’Johnisnotherenow,’shegasped.
