Пітер Пен у Кенсінгтонському Саді

           ’DotheyknowthatIplaygamesexactlylikerealboys?’heaskedveryproudly.’OMaimie,pleasetellthem!’Butwhenherevealedhowheplayed,bysailinghishoopontheRoundPond,andsoon,shewassimplyhorrified.

           ’Allyourwaysofplaying,’shesaidwithherbigeyesonhim,’arequite,quitewrong,andnotintheleastlikehowboysplay.’

           PoorPeterutteredalittlemoanatthis,andhecriedforthefirsttimeforIknownothowlong.Maimiewasextremelysorryforhim,andlenthimherhandkerchief,buthedidn’tknowintheleastwhattodowithit,sosheshowedhim,thatistosay,shewipedhereyes,andthengaveitbacktohim,saying,’Nowyoudoit,’butinsteadofwipinghisowneyeshewipedhers,andshethoughtitbesttopretendthatthiswaswhatshehadmeant.

           Shesaidoutofpityforhim,’Ishallgiveyouakissifyoulike,’butthoughheonceknew,hehadlongforgottenwhatkissesare,andhereplied,’Thankyou,’andheldouthishand,thinkingshehadofferedtoputsomethingintoit.Thiswasagreatshocktoher,butshefeltshecouldnotexplainwithoutshaminghim,sowithcharmingdelicacyshegavePeterathimblewhichhappenedtobeinherpocket,andpretendedthatitwasakiss.Poorlittleboy!hequitebelievedher,andtothisdayhewearsitonhisfinger,thoughtherecanbescarcelyanyonewhoneedsathimblesolittle.Yousee,thoughstillatinychild,itwasreallyyearsandyearssincehehadseenhismother,andIdaresaythebabywhohadsupplantedhimwasnowamanwithwhiskers.

           ButyoumustnotthinkthatPeterPanwasaboytopityratherthantoadmire;ifMaimiebeganbythinkingthis,shesoonfoundshewasverymuchmistaken.