Пітер Пен і Венді

           Themosthauntingtimeatwhichtoseethemisattheturnofthemoon,whentheyutterstrangewailingcries;butthelagoonisdangerousformortalsthen,anduntiltheeveningofwhichwehavenowtotell,Wendyhadneverseenthelagoonbymoonlight,lessfromfear,forofcoursePeterwouldhaveaccompaniedher,thanbecauseshehadstrictrulesabouteveryonebeinginbedbyseven.Shewasoftenatthelagoon,however,onsunnydaysafterrain,whenthemermaidscomeupinextraordinarynumberstoplaywiththeirbubbles.Thebubblesofmanycoloursmadeinrainbowwatertheytreatasballs,hittingthemgailyfromonetoanotherwiththeirtails,andtryingtokeepthemintherainbowtilltheyburst.Thegoalsareateachendoftherainbow,andthekeepersonlyareallowedtousetheirhands.Sometimeshundredsofmermaidswillbeplayinginthelagoonatatime,anditisquiteaprettysight.

           Butthemomentthechildrentriedtojoinintheyhadtoplaybythemselves,forthemermaidsimmediatelydisappeared.Neverthelesswehaveproofthattheysecretlywatchedtheinterlopers,andwerenotabovetakinganideafromthem;forJohnintroducedanewwayofhittingthebubble,withtheheadinsteadofthehand,andthemermaidgoal-keepersadoptedit.ThisistheonemarkthatJohnhasleftontheNeverland.

           Itmustalsohavebeenratherprettytoseethechildrenrestingonarockforhalfanhouraftertheirmiddaymeal.Wendyinsistedontheirdoingthis,andithadtobearealresteventhoughthemealwasmake-believe.