Пітер Пен і Венді
The Little House
’
Theygurgledwithjoyatthis,forbythegreatestgoodluckthebranchestheyhadbroughtwerestickywithredsap,andallthegroundwascarpetedwithmoss.Astheyrattledupthelittlehousetheybrokeintosongthemselves:
’We’vebuiltthelittlewallsandroof
Andmadealovelydoor,
Sotellus,motherWendy,
Whatareyouwantingmore?’
Tothissheansweredrathergreedily:
’Oh,reallynextIthinkI’llhave
Gaywindowsallabout,
Withrosespeepingin,youknow,
Andbabiespeepingout.’
Withablowoftheirfiststheymadewindows,andlargeyellowleavesweretheblinds.Butroses——?
’Roses,’criedPetersternly.
Quicklytheymade-believetogrowtheloveliestrosesupthewalls.
Babies?
TopreventPeterorderingbabiestheyhurriedintosongagain:
’We’vemadetherosespeepingout,
Thebabesareatthedoor,
Wecannotmakeourselves,youknow,
’Coswe’vebeenmadebefore.’
Peter,seeingthistobeagoodidea,atoncepretendedthatitwashisown.Thehousewasquitebeautiful,andnodoubtWendywasverycosywithin,though,ofcourse,theycouldnolongerseeher.Peterstrodeupanddown,orderingfinishingtouches.Nothingescapedhiseagleeye.Justwhenitseemedabsolutelyfinished,
’There’snoknockeronthedoor,’hesaid.
Theywereveryashamed,butTootlesgavethesoleofhisshoe,anditmadeanexcellentknocker.
Absolutelyfinishednow,theythought.
Notabitofit.’There’snochimney,’Petersaid;’wemusthaveachimney.’
’Itcertainlydoesneedachimney,’saidJohnimportantly.ThisgavePeteranidea.