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The Shadow
’ItisnobodyIknow,’hesaid,examiningitcarefully,’buthedoeslookascoundrel.’
’Wewerestilldiscussingit,youremember,’saysMr.Darling,’whenNanacameinwithMichael’smedicine.Youwillnevercarrythebottleinyourmouthagain,Nana,anditisallmyfault.
Strongmanthoughhewas,thereisnodoubtthathehadbehavedratherfoolishlyoverthemedicine.Ifhehadaweakness,itwasforthinkingthatallhislifehehadtakenmedicineboldly;andsonow,whenMichaeldodgedthespooninNana’smouth,hehadsaidreprovingly,’Beaman,Michael.’
’Won’t;won’t,’Michaelcriednaughtily.Mrs.Darlinglefttheroomtogetachocolateforhim,andMr.Darlingthoughtthisshowedwantoffirmness.
’Mother,don’tpamperhim,’hecalledafterher.’Michael,whenIwasyourageItookmedicinewithoutamurmur.Isaid"Thankyou,kindparents,forgivingmebottlestomakemewell."’
Hereallythoughtthiswastrue,andWendy,whowasnowinhernight-gown,believeditalso,andshesaid,toencourageMichael,’Thatmedicineyousometimestake,father,ismuchnastier,isn’tit?’
’Eversomuchnastier,’Mr.Darlingsaidbravely,’andIwouldtakeitnowasanexampletoyou,Michael,ifIhadn’tlostthebottle.’
Hehadnotexactlylostit;hehadclimbedinthedeadofnighttothetopofthewardrobeandhiddenitthere.WhathedidnotknowwasthatthefaithfulLizahadfoundit,andputitbackonhiswash-stand.
’Iknowwhereitis,father,’Wendycried,alwaysgladtobeofservice.
