Питер Пэн и Венди
The Little House
’Peter!’theycried,foritwasalwaysthusthathesignalledhisreturn.
’Hideher,’theywhispered,andgatheredhastilyaroundWendy.ButTootlesstoodaloof.
Againcamethatringingcrow,andPeterdroppedinfrontofthem.’Greeting,boys,’hecried,andmechanicallytheysaluted,andthenagainwassilence.
Hefrowned.
’Iamback,’hesaidhotly,’whydoyounotcheer?’
Theyopenedtheirmouths,butthecheerswouldnotcome.Heoverlookeditinhishastetotelltheglorioustidings.
’Greatnews,boys,’hecried,’Ihavebroughtatlastamotherforyouall.’
Stillnosound,exceptalittlethudfromTootlesashedroppedonhisknees.
’Haveyounotseenher?’askedPeter,becomingtroubled.’Sheflewthisway.’
’Ahme,’onevoicesaid,andanothersaid,’Oh,mournfulday.’
Tootlesrose.’Peter,’hesaidquietly,’Iwillshowhertoyou’;andwhentheotherswouldstillhavehiddenherhesaid,’Back,twins,letPetersee.’
Sotheyallstoodback,andlethimsee,andafterhehadlookedforalittletimehedidnotknowwhattodonext.
’Sheisdead,’hesaiduncomfortably.’Perhapssheisfrightenedatbeingdead.’
Hethoughtofhoppingoffinacomicsortofwaytillhewasoutofsightofher,andthennevergoingnearthespotanymore.Theywouldallhavebeengladtofollowifhehaddonethis.
Buttherewasthearrow.Hetookitfromherheartandfacedhisband.
’Whosearrow?’hedemandedsternly.
’Mine,Peter,’saidTootlesonhisknees.
’Oh,dastardhand,’Petersaid,andheraisedthearrowtouseitasadagger.
