The Home Under The Ground

           OneofthefirstthingsPeterdidnextdaywastomeasureWendyandJohnandMichaelforhollowtrees.Hook,youremember,hadsneeredattheboysforthinkingtheyneededatreeapiece,butthiswasignorance,forunlessyourtreefittedyouitwasdifficulttogoupanddown,andnotwooftheboyswerequitethesamesize.Onceyoufitted,youdrewinyourbreathatthetop,anddownyouwentatexactlytherightspeed,whiletoascendyoudrewinandletoutalternately,andsowriggledup.Ofcourse,whenyouhavemasteredtheactionyouareabletodothesethingswithoutthinkingofthem,andthennothingcanbemoregraceful.

           Butyousimplymustfit,andPetermeasuresyouforyourtreeascarefullyasforasuitofclothes:theonlydifferencebeingthattheclothesaremadetofityou,whileyouhavetobemadetofitthetree.Usuallyitisdonequiteeasily,asbyyourwearingtoomanygarmentsortoofew;butifyouarebumpyinawkwardplacesortheonlyavailabletreeisanoddshape,Peterdoessomethingstoyou,andafterthatyoufit.Onceyoufit,greatcaremustbetakentogoonfitting,andthis,asWendywastodiscovertoherdelight,keepsawholefamilyinperfectcondition.

           WendyandMichaelfittedtheirtreesatthefirsttry,butJohnhadtobealteredalittle.

           Afterafewdays’practicetheycouldgoupanddownasgailyasbucketsinawell.Andhowardentlytheygrewtolovetheirhomeundertheground;especiallyWendy.