When Wendy Grew Up

           Ihopeyouwanttoknowwhatbecameoftheotherboys.TheywerewaitingbelowtogiveWendytimetoexplainaboutthem;andwhentheyhadcountedfivehundredtheywentup.Theywentupbythestair,becausetheythoughtthiswouldmakeabetterimpression.TheystoodinarowinfrontofMrs.Darling,withtheirhatsoff,andwishingtheywerenotwearingtheirpirateclothes.Theysaidnothing,buttheireyesaskedhertohavethem.TheyoughttohavelookedatMr.Darlingalso,buttheyforgotabouthim.

           OfcourseMrs.Darlingsaidatoncethatshewouldhavethem;butMr.Darlingwascuriouslydepressed,andtheysawthatheconsideredsixaratherlargenumber.

           ’Imustsay,’hesaidtoWendy,’thatyoudon’tdothingsbyhalves,’agrudgingremarkwhichthetwinsthoughtwaspointedatthem.

           Thefirsttwinwastheproudone,andheasked,flushing,’Doyouthinkweshouldbetoomuchofahandful,sir?Becauseifsowecangoaway.’

           ’Father!’Wendycried,shocked;butstillthecloudwasonhim.Heknewhewasbehavingunworthily,buthecouldnothelpit.

           ’Wecouldliedoubledup,’saidNibs.

           ’Ialwayscuttheirhairmyself,’saidWendy.

           ’George!’Mrs.Darlingexclaimed,painedtoseeherdearoneshowinghimselfinsuchanunfavourablelight.

           Thenheburstintotears,andthetruthcameout.Hewasasgladtohavethemasshewas,hesaid,buthethoughttheyshouldhaveaskedhisconsentaswellashers,insteadoftreatinghimasacypherinhisownhouse.

           ’Idon’tthinkheisacypher,’Tootlescriedinstantly.’Doyouthinkheisacypher,Curly?’

           ’No,Idon’t.