Питер Пэн и Венди
The Island Come True
’Heisonlyone,andIwanttomischiefalltheseven.Scatterandlookforthem.’
Thepiratesdisappearedamongthetrees,andinamomenttheircaptainandSmeewerealone.Hookheavedaheavysigh;andIknownotwhyitwas,perhapsitwasbecauseofthesoftbeautyoftheevening,buttherecameoverhimadesiretoconfidetohisfaithfulbo’sunthestoryofhislife.Hespokelongandearnestly,butwhatitwasallaboutSmee,whowasratherstupid,didnotknowintheleast.
AnonhecaughtthewordPeter.
’Mostofall,’Hookwassayingpassionately,’Iwanttheircaptain,PeterPan.’Twashecutoffmyarm.’Hebrandishedthehookthreateningly.’I’vewaitedlongtoshakehishandwiththis.Oh,I’lltearhim.’
’Andyet,’saidSmee,’Ihaveoftenheardyousaythathookwasworthascoreofhands,forcombingthehairandotherhomelyuses.’
’Ay,’thecaptainanswered,’ifIwasamotherIwouldpraytohavemychildrenbornwiththisinsteadofthat,’andhecastalookofprideuponhisironhandandoneofscornupontheother.Thenagainhefrowned.
’Peterflungmyarm,’hesaid,wincing,’toacrocodilethathappenedtobepassingby.’
’Ihaveoften,’saidSmee,’noticedyourstrangedreadofcrocodiles.’
’Notofcrocodiles,’Hookcorrectedhim,’butofthatonecrocodile.’Heloweredhisvoice.’Itlikedmyarmsomuch,Smee,thatithasfollowedmeeversince,fromseatoseaandfromlandtoland,lickingitslipsfortherestofme.’
’Inaway,’saidSmee,’it’sasortofcompliment.
