The Little House

           FoolishTootleswasstandinglikeaconqueroroverWendy’sbodywhentheotherboyssprang,armed,fromtheirtrees.

           ’Youaretoolate,’hecriedproudly,’IhaveshottheWendy.Peterwillbesopleasedwithme.’

           OverheadTinkerBellshouted’Sillyass!’anddartedintohiding.Theothersdidnothearher.TheyhadcrowdedroundWendy,andastheylookedaterriblesilencefelluponthewood.IfWendy’shearthadbeenbeatingtheywouldallhaveheardit.

           Slightlywasthefirsttospeak.’Thisisnobird,’hesaidinascaredvoice.’Ithinkitmustbealady.’

           ’Alady?’saidTootles,andfella-trembling.

           ’Andwehavekilledher,’Nibssaidhoarsely.

           Theyallwhippedofftheircaps.

           ’NowIsee,’Curlysaid;’Peterwasbringinghertous.’Hethrewhimselfsorrowfullyontheground.

           ’Aladytotakecareofusatlast,’saidoneofthetwins,’andyouhavekilledher.’

           Theyweresorryforhim,butsorrierforthemselves,andwhenhetookastepnearerthemtheyturnedfromhim.

           Tootles’facewasverywhite,buttherewasadignityabouthimnowthathadneverbeentherebefore.

           ’Ididit,’hesaid,reflecting.’Whenladiesusedtocometomeindreams,Isaid,"Prettymother,prettymother."Butwhenatlastshereallycame,Ishother.’

           Hemovedslowlyaway.

           ’Don’tgo,’theycalledinpity.

           ’Imust,’heanswered,shaking;’IamsoafraidofPeter.’

           Itwasatthistragicmomentthattheyheardasoundwhichmadetheheartofeveryoneofthemrisetohismouth.TheyheardPetercrow.