Біла пташка
Lock-Out Time
ItmadePeterverymiserable,andwhatdoyouthinkwasthefirstthinghedid?Sittingontherailatthefootofthebed,heplayedabeautifullullabytohismotheronhispipe.Hehadmadeituphimselfoutofthewayshesaid“Peter,”andheneverstoppedplayinguntilshelookedhappy.
Hethoughtthissocleverofhimthathecouldscarcelyresistwakeninghertohearhersay,“Oh,Peter,howexquisitelyyouplay.”However,asshenowseemedcomfortable,heagaincastlooksatthewindow.Youmustnotthinkthathemeditatedflyingawayandnevercomingback.Hehadquitedecidedtobehismother’sboy,buthesitatedaboutbeginningto-night.Itwasthesecondwishwhichtroubledhim.Henolongermeanttomakeitawishtobeabird,butnottoaskforasecondwishseemedwasteful,and,ofcourse,hecouldnotaskforitwithoutreturningtothefairies.Also,ifheputoffaskingforhiswishtoolongitmightgobad.Heaskedhimselfifhehadnotbeenhardheartedtoflyawaywithoutsayinggood-byetoSolomon.“Ishouldlikeawfullytosailinmyboatjustoncemore,”hesaidwistfullytohissleepingmother.Hequitearguedwithherasifshecouldhearhim.“Itwouldbesosplendidtotellthebirdsofthisadventure,”hesaidcoaxingly.“Ipromisetocomeback,”hesaidsolemnlyandmeantit,too.
Andintheend,youknow,heflewaway.Twicehecamebackfromthewindow,wantingtokisshismother,buthefearedthedelightofitmightwakenher,soatlastheplayedheralovelykissonhispipe,andthenheflewbacktotheGardens.
