Біла пташка
Peter’s Goat
“Allyourwaysofplaying,”shesaidwithherbigeyesonhim,“arequite,quitewrong,andnotintheleastlikehowboysplay!”
PoorPeterutteredalittlemoanatthis,andhecriedforthefirsttimeforIknownothowlong.Maimiewasextremelysorryforhim,andlenthimherhandkerchief,buthedidn’tknowintheleastwhattodowithit,sosheshowedhim,thatistosay,shewipedhereyes,andthengaveitbacktohim,saying“Nowyoudoit,”butinsteadofwipinghisowneyeshewipedhers,andshethoughtitbesttopretendthatthiswaswhatshehadmeant.
Shesaid,outofpityforhim,“Ishallgiveyouakissifyoulike,”butthoughheonceknewhehadlongforgottenwhatkissesare,andhereplied,“Thankyou,”andheldouthishand,thinkingshehadofferedtoputsomethingintoit.Thiswasagreatshocktoher,butshefeltshecouldnotexplainwithoutshaminghim,sowithcharmingdelicacyshegavePeterathimblewhichhappenedtobeinherpocket,andpretendedthatitwasakiss.Poorlittleboy!hequitebelievedher,andtothisdayhewearsitonhisfinger,thoughtherecanbescarcelyanyonewhoneedsathimblesolittle.Yousee,thoughstillatinychild,itwasreallyyearsandyearssincehehadseenhismother,andIdaresaythebabywhohadsupplantedhimwasnowamanwithwhiskers.
ButyoumustnotthinkthatPeterPanwasaboytopityratherthantoadmire;ifMaimiebeganbythinkingthis,shesoonfoundshewasverymuchmistaken.
