Питер Пэн в Кенсингтонском Саду
The Thrush’s Nest
Andatlast,aftermonthsoflabour,theboatwasfinished.OthegloryofPeterashesawitgrowingmoreandmorelikeagreatthrushesnest!Fromtheverybeginningofthebuildingofithesleptbyitsside,andoftenwokeuptosaysweetthingstoit,andafteritwaslinedwithmudandthemudhaddriedhealwayssleptinit.Hesleepsinhisneststill,andhasafascinatingwayofcurlingroundinit,foritisjustlargeenoughtoholdhimcomfortablywhenhecurlsroundlikeakitten.Itisbrowninside,ofcourse,butoutsideitismostlygreen,beingwovenofgrassandtwigs,andwhenthesewitherorsnapthewallsarethatchedafresh.Therearealsoafewfeathershereandthere,whichcameoffthethrusheswhiletheywerebuilding.
Theotherbirdswereextremelyjealous,andsaidthattheboatwouldnotbalanceonthewater,butitlaymostbeautifullysteady;theysaidthewaterwouldcomeintoit,butnowatercameintoit.NexttheysaidthatPeterhadnooars,andthiscausedthethrushestolookateachotherindismay;butPeterrepliedthathehadnoneedofoars,forhehadasail,andwithsuchaproud,happyfaceheproducedasailwhichhehadfashionedoutofhisnightgown,andthoughitwasstillratherlikeanightgownitmadealovelysail.Andthatnight,themoonbeingfull,andallthebirdsasleep,hedidenterhiscoracle(asMasterFrancisPrettywouldhavesaid)anddepartoutoftheisland.Andfirst,heknewnotwhy,helookedupward,withhishandsclasped,andfromthatmomenthiseyeswerepinnedtothewest.
Hehadpromisedthethrushestobeginbymakingshortvoyages,withthemashisguides,butfarawayhesawtheKensingtonGardensbeckoningtohimbeneaththebridge,andhecouldnotwait.Hisfacewasflushed,butheneverlookedback;therewasanexultationinhislittlebreastthatdroveoutfear.WasPetertheleastgallantoftheEnglishmarinerswhohavesailedwestwardtomeettheUnknown?
