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Peter’s Goat
“ButIthinkitisrathernicetobelikeone,”shesaidinawoman’scontradictoryway.“And,Peter,dear,thoughIcan’tgivethemmyfur,Iwouldn’tmindtheirbuildinginit.Fancyanestinmyneckwithlittlespottyeggsinit!Oh,Peter,howperfectlylovely!”
ButastheydrewneartheSerpentine,sheshiveredalittle,andsaid,“OfcourseIshallgoandseemotheroften,quiteoften.ItisnotasifIwassayinggood-byeforevertomother,itisnotintheleastlikethat.”
“Oh,no,”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.
“Ifshedoesn’tbaryouout,”saidPeterhuskily.
“Thedoor,”repliedMaimie,“willalways,alwaysbeopen,andmotherwillalwaysbewaitingatitforme.
