Питер Пэн и Венди
The Never Bird
Shecalledouttohimwhatshehadcomefor,andhecalledouttoherwhatwasshedoingthere;butofcourseneitherofthemunderstoodtheother’slanguage.Infancifulstoriespeoplecantalktothebirdsfreely,andIwishforthemomentIcouldpretendthatthiswassuchastory,andsaythatPeterrepliedintelligentlytotheNeverbird;buttruthisbest,andIwanttotellonlywhatreallyhappened.Well,notonlycouldtheynotunderstandeachother,buttheyforgottheirmanners.
’I—want—you—to—get—into—the—nest,’thebirdcalled,speakingasslowlyanddistinctlyaspossible,’and—then—you—can—drift—ashore,but—I—am—too—tired—to—bring—it—any—nearer—so—you—must—try—to—swim—to—it.’
’Whatareyouquackingabout?’Peteranswered.’Whydon’tyouletthenestdriftasusual?’
’I—want—you—’thebirdsaid,andrepeateditallover.
ThenPetertriedslowanddistinct.
’What—are—you—quacking—about?’andsoon.
TheNeverbirdbecameirritated;theyhaveveryshorttempers.
’Youdunderheadedlittlejay,’shescreamed,’whydon’tyoudoasItellyou?’
Peterfeltthatshewascallinghimnames,andataventureheretortedhotly:
’Soareyou!’
Thenrathercuriouslytheybothsnappedoutthesameremark:
’Shutup!’
’Shutup!’
Neverthelessthebirdwasdeterminedtosavehimifshecould,andbyonelastmightyeffortshepropelledthenestagainsttherock.Thenupsheflew;desertinghereggs,soastomakehermeaningclear.
