Пітер Пен у Кенсінгтонському Саді

           Yousee,hehadnoonetotellhimhowchildrenreallyplay,forthefairiesareallmoreorlessinhidinguntildusk,andsoknownothing,andthoughthebirdspretendedthattheycouldtellhimagreatdeal,whenthetimefortellingcame,itwaswonderfulhowlittletheyreallyknew.Theytoldhimthetruthabouthide-and-seek,andheoftenplaysitbyhimself,buteventheducksontheRoundPondcouldnotexplaintohimwhatitisthatmakesthepondsofascinatingtoboys.Everynighttheduckshaveforgottenalltheeventsoftheday,exceptthenumberofpiecesofcakethrowntothem.Theyaregloomycreatures,andsaythatcakeisnotwhatitwasintheiryoungdays.

           SoPeterhadtofindoutmanythingsforhimself.HeoftenplayedshipsattheRoundPond,buthisshipwasonlyahoopwhichhehadfoundonthegrass.Ofcourse,hehadneverseenahoop,andhewonderedwhatyouplayatwiththem,anddecidedthatyouplayatpretendingtheyareboats.Thishoopalwayssankatonce,buthewadedinforit,andsometimeshedraggeditgleefullyroundtherimofthepond,andhewasquiteproudtothinkthathehaddiscoveredwhatboysdowithhoops.

           Anothertime,whenhefoundachild’spail,hethoughtitwasforsittingin,andhesatsohardinitthathecouldscarcelygetoutofit.Alsohefoundaballoon.ItwasbobbingaboutontheHump,quiteasifitwashavingagamebyitself,andhecaughtitafteranexcitingchase.Buthethoughtitwasaball,andJennyWrenhadtoldhimthatboyskickballs,sohekickedit;andafterthathecouldnotfinditanywhere.

           Perhapsthemostsurprisingthinghefoundwasaperambulator.Itwasunderalime-tree,neartheentrancetotheFairyQueen’sWinterPalace(whichiswithinthecircleofthesevenSpanishchestnuts),andPeterapproacheditwarily,forthebirdshadnevermentionedsuchthingstohim.