Peter’s Goat

           Maimiefeltquiteshy,butPeterknewnotwhatshywas.

           ’Ihopeyouhavehadagoodnight,’hesaidearnestly.

           ’Thankyou,’shereplied,’Iwassocosyandwarm.Butyou’—andshelookedathisnakednessawkwardly—’don’tyoufeeltheleastbitcold?’

           NowcoldwasanotherwordPeterhadforgotten,soheanswered,’Ithinknot,butImaybewrong:youseeIamratherignorant.Iamnotexactlyaboy;SolomonsaysIamaBetwixt-and-Between.’

           ’Sothatiswhatitiscalled,’saidMaimiethoughtfully.

           ’That’snotmyname,’heexplained,’mynameisPeterPan.’

           ’Yes,ofcourse,’shesaid,’Iknow,everybodyknows.’

           Youcan’tthinkhowpleasedPeterwastolearnthatallthepeopleoutsidethegatesknewabouthim.HebeggedMaimietotellhimwhattheyknewandwhattheysaid,andshedidso.Theyweresittingbythistimeonafallentree;PeterhadclearedoffthesnowforMaimie,buthesatonasnowybithimself.

           ’Squeezecloser,’Maimiesaid.

           ’Whatisthat?’heasked,andsheshowedhim,andthenhedidit.Theytalkedtogetherandhefoundthatpeopleknewagreatdealabouthim,butnoteverything,notthathehadgonebacktohismotherandbeenbarredout,forinstance,andhesaidnothingofthistoMaimie,foritstillhumiliatedhim.