Пітер Пен у Кенсінгтонському Саді

           ItmadePeterverymiserable,andwhatdoyouthinkwasthefirstthinghedid?Sittingontherailatthefootofthebed,heplayedabeautifullullabytohismotheronhispipe.Hehadmadeituphimselfoutofthewayshesaid’Peter,’andheneverstoppedplayinguntilshelookedhappy.

           Hethoughtthissocleverofhimthathecouldscarcelyresistwakeninghertohearhersay,’OPeter,howexquisitelyyouplay!’However,asshenowseemedcomfortable,heagaincastlooksatthewindow.Youmustnotthinkthathemeditatedflyingawayandnevercomingback.Hehadquitedecidedtobehismother’sboy,buthesitatedaboutbeginningto-night.Itwasthesecondwishwhichtroubledhim.Henolongermeanttomakeitawishtobeabird,butnottoaskforasecondwishseemedwasteful,and,ofcourse,hecouldnotaskforitwithoutreturningtothefairies.Also,ifheputoffaskingforhiswishtoolongitmightgobad.Heaskedhimselfifhehadnotbeenhard-heartedtoflyawaywithoutsayinggood-byetoSolomon.’Ishouldlikeawfullytosailinmyboatjustoncemore,’hesaidwistfullytohissleepingmother.Hequitearguedwithherasifshecouldhearhim.’Itwouldbesosplendidtotellthebirdsofthisadventure,’hesaidcoaxingly.’Ipromisetocomeback,’hesaidsolemnly,andmeantit,too.

           Andintheend,youknow,heflewaway.Twicehecamebackfromthewindow,wantingtokisshismother,buthefearedthedelightofitmightwakenher,soatlastheplayedheralovelykissonhispipe,andthenheflewbacktotheGardens.

           Manynights,andevenmonths,passedbeforeheaskedthefairiesforhissecondwish;andIamnotsurethatIquiteknowwhyhedelayedsolong.Onereasonwasthathehadsomanygood-byestosay,notonlytohisparticularfriends,buttoahundredfavouritespots.Thenhehadhislastsail,andhisverylastsail,andhislastsailofall,andsoon.