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Peter’s Goat
’Afterall,’shesaid,’youareonlyaBetwixt-and-Between.’Butithurthimsomuchthatsheimmediatelyadded,’Itmustbeadeliciousthingtobe.’
’Comeandbeone,then,dearMaimie,’heimploredher,andtheysetofffortheboat,foritwasnowverynearOpen-Gatetime.’Andyouarenotabitlikeanest,’hewhisperedtopleaseher.
’ButIthinkitisrathernicetobelikeone,’shesaidinawoman’scontradictoryway.’And,Peter,dear,thoughIcan’tgivethemmyfur,Iwouldn’tmindtheirbuildinginit.Fancyanestinmyneckwithlittlespottyeggsinit!OPeter,howperfectlylovely!’
ButastheydrewneartheSerpentine,sheshiveredalittle,andsaid,’OfcourseIshallgoandseemotheroften,quiteoften.ItisnotasifIwassayinggood-byeforevertomother,itisnotintheleastlikethat.’
’Ohno,’answeredPeter,butinhisheartheknewitwasverylikethat,andhewouldhavetoldhersohadhenotbeeninaquakingfearoflosingher.Hewassofondofher,hefelthecouldnotlivewithouther.’Shewillforgethermotherintime,andbehappywithme,’hekeptsayingtohimself,andhehurriedheron,givingherthimblesbytheway.
Butevenwhenshehadseentheboatandexclaimedecstaticallyoveritsloveliness,shestilltalkedtremblinglyabouthermother.’Youknowquitewell,Peter,don’tyou,’shesaid,’thatIwouldn’tcomeunlessIknewforcertainIcouldgobacktomotherwheneverIwantto?Peter,sayit.’
Hesaidit,buthecouldnolongerlookherintheface.
’Ifyouaresureyourmotherwillalwayswantyou,’headdedrathersourly.
’Theideaofmother’snotalwayswantingme!’Maimiecried,andherfaceglistened.
