Peter Breaks Through

           Allchildren,exceptone,growup.Theysoonknowthattheywillgrowup,andthewayWendyknewwasthis.Onedaywhenshewastwoyearsoldshewasplayinginagarden,andshepluckedanotherflowerandranwithittohermother.Isupposeshemusthavelookedratherdelightful,forMrs.Darlingputherhandtoherheartandcried,’Oh,whycan’tyouremainlikethisforever!’Thiswasallthatpassedbetweenthemonthesubject,buthenceforthWendyknewthatshemustgrowup.Youalwaysknowafteryouaretwo.Twoisthebeginningoftheend.

           Ofcoursetheylivedat14,anduntilWendycamehermotherwasthechiefone.Shewasalovelylady,witharomanticmindandsuchasweetmockingmouth.Herromanticmindwaslikethetinyboxes,onewithintheother,thatcomefromthepuzzlingEast,howevermanyyoudiscoverthereisalwaysonemore;andhersweetmockingmouthhadonekissonitthatWendycouldneverget,thoughthereitwas,perfectlyconspicuousintheright-handcorner.

           ThewayMr.Darlingwonherwasthis:themanygentlemenwhohadbeenboyswhenshewasagirldiscoveredsimultaneouslythattheylovedher,andtheyallrantoherhousetoproposetoherexceptMr.Darling,whotookacabandnippedinfirst,andsohegother.Hegotallofher,excepttheinnermostboxandthekiss.Heneverknewaboutthebox,andintimehegaveuptryingforthekiss.WendythoughtNapoleoncouldhavegotit,butIcanpicturehimtrying,andthengoingoffinapassion,slammingthedoor.

           Mr.DarlingusedtoboasttoWendythathermothernotonlylovedhimbutrespectedhim.