Питер Пэн в Кенсингтонском Саду
The Little house
’Ithinkyoushouldnot,’Maimiereplied,whichsoperplexedthemthattheysaidpetulantlytherewasnoarguingwithher.’Iwouldn’taskitofyou,’sheassuredthem,’ifIthoughtitwaswrong,’andofcourseafterthistheycouldnotwellcarrytales.Theythensaid,’Well-a-day,’and’Suchislife,’fortheycanbefrightfullysarcastic;butshefeltsorryforthoseofthemwhohadnocrutches,andshesaidgood-naturedly,’BeforeIgotothefairies’ball,Ishouldliketotakeyouforawalkoneatatime;youcanleanonme,youknow.’
Atthistheyclappedtheirhands,andsheescortedthemuptheBabyWalkandbackagain,oneatatime,puttinganarmorafingerroundtheveryfrail,settingtheirlegrightwhenitgottooridiculous,andtreatingtheforeignonesquiteascourteouslyastheEnglish,thoughshecouldnotunderstandawordtheysaid.
Theybehavedwellonthewhole,thoughsomewhimperedthatshehadnottakenthemasfarasshetookNancyorGraceorDorothy,andothersjaggedher,butitwasquiteunintentional,andshewastoomuchofaladytocryout.Somuchwalkingtiredher,andshewasanxioustobeofftotheball,butshenolongerfeltafraid.Thereasonshefeltnomorefearwasthatitwasnownight-time,andinthedark,youremember,Maimiewasalwaysratherstrange.
Theywerenowlothtolethergo,for,’Ifthefairiesseeyou,’theywarnedher,’theywillmischiefyou—stabyoutodeath,orcompelyoutonursetheirchildren,orturnyouintosomethingtedious,likeanevergreenoak.’Astheysaidthistheylookedwithaffectedpityatanevergreenoak,forinwintertheyareveryenviousoftheevergreens.
’Oh,la!’repliedtheoakbitingly,’howdeliciouslycosyitistostandherebuttonedtotheneckandwatchyoupoornakedcreaturesshivering.’
