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"╨┼╘┼╥ ╨┴╬" ["╨ETER ╨AN ┴ND ╫ENDY"] (1911) ┬Y: ╙IR ╩AMES ═ATTHEW ┬ARRIE ╙COTTISH NOVELIST AND PLAYWRIGHT (B.09-═AY-1860, D.19-╩UN-1937) ┴ ═ILLENNIUM ╞ULCRUM ┼DITION ├OPYRIGHTED (├) 1991 BY ─UNCAN ╥ESEARCH, ╔NC. ─ISTRIBUTION ╠IMITED TO THE ╒NITED ╙TATES OF ┴MERICA. ├HAPTER 03 ├╧═┼ ┴╫┴┘, ├╧═┼ ┴╫┴┘! ├-001: ╞OR A MOMENT AFTER ═R. AND ═RS. ─ARLING LEFT THE HOUSE THE ├-002: NIGHT-LIGHTS BY THE BEDS OF THE THREE CHILDREN CONTINUED TO BURN ├-003: CLEARLY. ╘HEY WERE AWFULLY NICE LITTLE NIGHT-LIGHTS, AND ONE ├-004: CANNOT HELP WISHING THAT THEY COULD HAVE KEPT AWAKE TO SEE ╨ETER; ├-005: BUT ╫ENDY'S LIGHT BLINKED AND GAVE SUCH A YAWN THAT THE OTHER TWO ├-006: YAWNED ALSO, AND BEFORE THEY COULD CLOSE THEIR MOUTHS ALL THE ├-007: THREE WENT OUT. ├-008: ╘HERE WAS ANOTHER LIGHT IN THE ROOM NOW, A THOUSAND TIMES ├-009: BRIGHTER THAN THE NIGHT-LIGHTS, AND IN THE TIME WE HAVE TAKEN TO ├-010: SAY THIS, IT HAD BEEN IN ALL THE DRAWERS IN THE NURSERY, LOOKING ├-011: FOR ╨ETER'S SHADOW, RUMMAGED THE WARDROBE AND TURNED EVERY POCKET ├-012: INSIDE OUT. ╔T WAS NOT REALLY A LIGHT; IT MADE THIS LIGHT BY ├-013: FLASHING ABOUT SO QUICKLY, BUT WHEN IT CAME TO REST FOR A SECOND ├-014: YOU SAW IF WAS A FAIRY, NO LONGER THAN YOUR HAND, BUT STILL ├-015: GROWING. ╔T WAS A GIRL CALLED ╘INKER ┬ELL EXQUISITELY GOWNED IN ├-016: A SKELETON LEAF, CUT LOW AND SQUARE, THROUGH WHICH HER FIGURE ├-017: COULD BE SEEN TO THE BEST ADVANTAGE. ╙HE WAS SLIGHTLY INCLINED ├-018: TO ┼═┬╧╬╨╧╔╬╘ [PLUMP HOURGLASS FIGURE]. ├-019: ┴ MOMENT AFTER THE FAIRY'S ENTRANCE THE WINDOW WAS BLOWN OPEN ├-020: BY THE BREATHING OF THE LITTLE STARS, AND ╨ETER DROPPED IN. ╚E ├-021: HAD CARRIED ╘INKER ┬ELL PART OF THE WAY, AND HIS HAND WAS STILL ├-022: MESSY WITH THE FAIRY DUST. ├-023: "╘INKER ┬ELL," HE CALLED SOFTLY, AFTER MAKING SURE THAT THE ├-024: CHILDREN WERE ASLEEP, "╘INK, WHERE ARE YOU?" ╙HE WAS IN A JUG ├-025: FOR THE MOMENT, AND LIKING IT EXTREMELY; SHE HAD NEVER BEEN IN A ├-026: JUG BEFORE. ├-027: "╧H, DO COME OUT OF THAT JUG, AND TELL ME, DO YOU KNOW WHERE ├-028: THEY PUT MY SHADOW?" ├-029: ╘HE LOVELIEST TINKLE AS OF GOLDEN BELLS ANSWERED HIM. ╔T IS ├-030: THE FAIRY LANGUAGE. ┘OU ORDINARY CHILDREN CAN NEVER HEAR IT, BUT ├-031: IF YOU WERE TO HEAR IT YOU WOULD KNOW THAT YOU HAD HEARD IT ONCE ├-032: BEFORE. ├-033: ╘INK SAID THAT THE SHADOW WAS IN THE BIG BOX. ╙HE MEANT THE ├-034: CHEST OF DRAWERS, AND ╨ETER JUMPED AT THE DRAWERS, SCATTERING ├-035: THEIR CONTENTS TO THE FLOOR WITH BOTH HANDS, AS KINGS TOSS ├-036: HA'PENCE TO THE CROWD. ╔N A MOMENT HE HAD RECOVERED HIS SHADOW, ├-037: AND IN HIS DELIGHT HE FORGOT THAT HE HAD SHUT ╘INKER ┬ELL UP IN ├-038: THE DRAWER. ├-039: ╔F HE THOUGHT AT ALL, BUT ╔ DON'T BELIEVE HE EVER THOUGHT, IT ├-040: WAS THAT HE AND HIS SHADOW, WHEN BROUGHT NEAR EACH OTHER, WOULD ├-041: JOIN LIKE DROPS OF WATER, AND WHEN THEY DID NOT HE WAS APPALLED. ├-042: ╚E TRIED TO STICK IT ON WITH SOAP FROM THE BATHROOM, BUT THAT ├-043: ALSO FAILED. ┴ SHUDDER PASSED THROUGH ╨ETER, AND HE SAT ON THE ├-044: FLOOR AND CRIED. ├-045: ╚IS SOBS WOKE ╫ENDY, AND SHE SAT UP IN BED. ╙HE WAS NOT ├-046: ALARMED TO SEE A STRANGER CRYING ON THE NURSERY FLOOR; SHE WAS ├-047: ONLY PLEASANTLY INTERESTED. ├-048: "┬OY," SHE SAID COURTEOUSLY, "WHY ARE YOU CRYING?" ├-049: ╨ETER COULD BE EXCEEDING POLITE ALSO, HAVING LEARNED THE GRAND ├-050: MANNER AT FAIRY CEREMONIES, AND HE ROSE AND BOWED TO HER ├-051: BEAUTIFULLY. ╙HE WAS MUCH PLEASED, AND BOWED BEAUTIFULLY TO HIM ├-052: FROM THE BED. ├-053: "╫HAT'S YOUR NAME?" HE ASKED. ├-054: "╫ENDY ═OIRA ┴NGEL ─ARLING," SHE REPLIED WITH SOME ├-055: SATISFACTION. "╫HAT IS YOUR NAME?" ├-056: "╨ETER ╨AN." ├-057: ╙HE WAS ALREADY SURE THAT HE MUST BE ╨ETER, BUT IT DID SEEM A ├-058: COMPARATIVELY SHORT NAME. ├-059: "╔S THAT ALL?" ├-060: "┘ES," HE SAID RATHER SHARPLY. ╚E FELT FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT ├-061: IT WAS A SHORTISH NAME. ├-062: "╔'M SO SORRY," SAID ╫ENDY ═OIRA ┴NGELA. ├-063: "╔T DOESN'T MATTER," ╨ETER GULPED. ├-064: ╙HE ASKED WHERE HE LIVED. ├-065: "╙ECOND TO THE RIGHT," SAID ╨ETER, "AND THEN STRAIGHT ON TILL ├-066: MORNING." ├-067: "╫HAT A FUNNY ADDRESS!' ├-068: ╨ETER HAD A SINKING. ╞OR THE FIRST TIME HE FELT THAT PERHAPS ├-069: IT WAS A FUNNY ADDRESS. ├-070: "╬O, IT ISN'T," HE SAID. ├-071: "╔ MEAN," ╫ENDY SAID NICELY, REMEMBERING THAT SHE WAS HOSTESS, ├-072: "IS THAT WHAT THEY PUT ON THE LETTERS?" ├-073: ╚E WISHED SHE HAD NOT MENTIONED LETTERS. ├-074: "─ON'T GET ANY LETTERS," HE SAID CONTEMPTUOUSLY. ├-075: "┬UT YOUR MOTHER GETS LETTERS?" ├-076: "─ON'T HAVE A MOTHER," HE SAID. ╬OT ONLY HAD HE NO MOTHER, BUT ├-077: HE HAD NOT THE SLIGHTEST DESIRE TO HAVE ONE. ╚E THOUGHT THEM ├-078: VERY OVER-RATED PERSONS. ╫ENDY, HOWEVER, FELT AT ONCE THAT SHE ├-079: WAS IN THE PRESENCE OF A TRAGEDY. ├-080: "╧ ╨ETER, NO WONDER YOU WERE CRYING," SHE SAID, AND GOT OUT OF ├-081: BED AND RAN TO HIM. ├-082: "╔ WASN'T CRYING ABOUT MOTHERS," HE SAID RATHER INDIGNANTLY. ├-083: "╔ WAS CRYING BECAUSE ╔ CAN'T GET MY SHADOW TO STICK ON. ├-084: ┬ESIDES, ╔ WASN'T CRYING." ├-085: "╔T HAS COME OFF?" ├-086: "┘ES." ├-087: ╘HEN ╫ENDY SAW THE SHADOW ON THE FLOOR, LOOKING SO DRAGGLED, ├-088: AND SHE WAS FRIGHTFULLY SORRY FOR ╨ETER. "╚OW AWFUL!" SHE SAID, ├-089: BUT SHE COULD NOT HELP SMILING WHEN SHE SAW THAT HE HAD BEEN ├-090: TRYING TO STICK IT ON WITH SOAP. ╚OW EXACTLY LIKE A BOY! ├-091: ╞ORTUNATELY SHE KNEW AT ONCE WHAT TO DO. "╔T MUST BE SEWN ON," ├-092: SHE SAID, JUST A LITTLE PATRONISINGLY. ├-093: "╫HAT'S SEWN?" HE ASKED. ├-094: "┘OU'RE DREADFULLY IGNORANT." ├-095: "╬O, ╔'M NOT." ├-096: ┬UT SHE WAS EXULTING IN HIS IGNORANCE. "╔ SHALL SEW IT ON FOR ├-097: YOU, MY LITTLE MAN," SHE SAID, THOUGH HE WAS TALL AS HERSELF, AND ├-098: SHE GOT OUT HER HOUSEWIFE [SEWING BAG], AND SEWED THE SHADOW ON ├-099: TO ╨ETER'S FOOT. ├-100: "╔ DARESAY IT WILL HURT A LITTLE," SHE WARNED HIM. ├-101: "╧H, ╔ SHAN'T CRY," SAID ╨ETER, WHO WAS ALREADY OF THE OPINION ├-102: THAT HE HAD NEVER CRIED IN HIS LIFE. ┴ND HE CLENCHED HIS TEETH ├-103: AND DID NOT CRY, AND SOON HIS SHADOW WAS BEHAVING PROPERLY, ├-104: THOUGH STILL A LITTLE CREASED. ├-105: "╨ERHAPS ╔ SHOULD HAVE IRONED IT," ╫ENDY SAID THOUGHTFULLY, ├-106: BUT ╨ETER, BOYLIKE, WAS INDIFFERENT TO APPEARANCES, AND HE WAS ├-107: NOW JUMPING ABOUT IN THE WILDEST GLEE. ┴LAS, HE HAD ALREADY ├-108: FORGOTTEN THAT HE OWED HIS BLISS TO ╫ENDY. ╚E THOUGHT HE HAD ├-109: ATTACHED THE SHADOW HIMSELF. "╚OW CLEVER ╔ AM!" HE CROWED ├-110: RAPTUROUSLY, "OH, THE CLEVERNESS OF ME!" ├-111: ╔T IS HUMILIATING TO HAVE TO CONFESS THAT THIS CONCEIT OF ├-112: ╨ETER WAS ONE OF HIS MOST FASCINATING QUALITIES. ╘O PUT IT WITH ├-113: BRUTAL FRANKNESS, THERE NEVER WAS A COCKIER BOY. ├-114: ┬UT FOR THE MOMENT ╫ENDY WAS SHOCKED. "┘OU CONCEIT ├-115: [BRAGGART]," SHE EXCLAIMED, WITH FRIGHTFUL SARCASM; "OF COURSE ╔ ├-116: DID NOTHING!" ├-117: "┘OU DID A LITTLE," ╨ETER SAID CARELESSLY, AND CONTINUED TO ├-118: DANCE. ├-119: "┴ LITTLE!" SHE REPLIED WITH HAUTEUR [PRIDE]; "IF ╔ AM NO USE ├-120: ╔ CAN AT LEAST WITHDRAW," AND SHE SPRANG IN THE MOST DIGNIFIED ├-121: WAY INTO BED AND COVERED HER FACE WITH THE BLANKETS. ├-122: ╘O INDUCE HER TO LOOK UP HE PRETENDED TO BE GOING AWAY, AND ├-123: WHEN THIS FAILED HE SAT ON THE END OF THE BED AND TAPPED HER ├-124: GENTLY WITH HIS FOOT. "╫ENDY," HE SAID, "DON'T WITHDRAW. ╔ ├-125: CAN'T HELP CROWING, ╫ENDY, WHEN ╔'M PLEASED WITH MYSELF." ╙TILL ├-126: SHE WOULD NOT LOOK UP, THOUGH SHE WAS LISTENING EAGERLY. "╫ENDY," ├-127: HE CONTINUED, IN A VOICE THAT NO WOMAN HAS EVER YET BEEN ABLE TO ├-128: RESIST, "╫ENDY, ONE GIRL IS MORE USE THAN TWENTY BOYS." ├-129: ╬OW ╫ENDY WAS EVERY INCH A WOMAN, THOUGH THERE WERE NOT VERY ├-130: MANY INCHES, AND SHE PEEPED OUT OF THE BED-CLOTHES. ├-131: "─O YOU REALLY THINK SO, ╨ETER?" ├-132: "┘ES, ╔ DO." ├-133: "╔ THINK IT'S PERFECTLY SWEET OF YOU," SHE DECLARED, "AND ╔'LL ├-134: GET UP AGAIN," AND SHE SAT WITH HIM ON THE SIDE OF THE BED. ╙HE ├-135: ALSO SAID SHE WOULD GIVE HIM A KISS IF HE LIKED, BUT ╨ETER DID ├-136: NOT KNOW WHAT SHE MEANT, AND HE HELD OUT HIS HAND EXPECTANTLY. ├-137: "╙URELY YOU KNOW WHAT A KISS IT?" SHE ASKED, AGHAST. ├-138: "╔ SHALL KNOW WHEN YOU GIVE IT TO ME," HE REPLIED STIFFLY, AND ├-139: NOT TO HURT HIS FEELING SHE GAVE HIM A THIMBLE. ├-140: "╬OW," SAID HE, "SHALL ╔ GIVE YOU A KISS?" AND SHE REPLIED ├-141: WITH A SLIGHT PRIMNESS, "╔F YOU PLEASE." ╙HE MADE HERSELF RATHER ├-142: CHEAP BY INCLINING HER FACE TOWARD HIM, BUT HE MERELY DROPPED AN ├-143: ACORN BUTTON INTO HER HAND, SO SHE SLOWLY RETURNED HER FACE TO ├-144: WHERE IT HAD BEEN BEFORE, AND SAID NICELY THAT SHE WOULD WEAR HIS ├-145: KISS ON THE CHAIN AROUND HER NECK. ╔T WAS LUCKY THAT SHE DID PUT ├-146: IT ON THAT CHAIN, FOR IT WAS AFTERWARDS TO SAVE HER LIFE. ├-147: ╫HEN PEOPLE IN OUR SET ARE INTRODUCED, IT IS CUSTOMARY FOR ├-148: THEM TO ASK EACH OTHER'S AGE, AND SO ╫ENDY, WHO ALWAYS LIKED TO ├-149: DO THE CORRECT THING, ASKED ╨ETER HOW OLD HE WAS. ╔T WAS NOT ├-150: REALLY A HAPPY QUESTION TO HAS HIM; IT WAS LIKE AN EXAMINATION ├-151: PAPER THAT ASKS GRAMMAR, WHEN WHAT YOU WANT TO BE ASKED IS ╦INGS ├-152: OF ┼NGLAND. ├-153: "╔ DON'T KNOW," HE REPLIED UNEASILY, "BUT ╔ AM QUITE YOUNG." ├-154: ╚E REALLY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT, HE HAD MERELY SUSPICIONS, BUT HE ├-155: SAID AT A VENTURE, "╫ENDY, ╔ RAN AWAY THE DAY ╔ WAS BORN." ├-156: ╫ENDY WAS QUITE SURPRISED, BUT INTERESTED; AND SHE INDICATED ├-157: IN THE CHARMING DRAWING-ROOM MANNER, BY A TOUCH ON HER NIGHT- ├-158: GOWN, THAT HE COULD SIT NEARER HER. ├-159: "╔T WAS BECAUSE ╔ HEARD FATHER AND MOTHER," HE EXPLAINED IN A ├-160: LOW VOICE, "TALKING ABOUT WHAT ╔ WAS TO BE WHEN ╔ BECAME A MAN." ├-161: ╚E WAS EXTRAORDINARILY AGITATED NOW. "╔ DON'T WANT EVER TO BE A ├-162: MAN," HE SAID WITH PASSION. "╔ WANT ALWAYS TO BE A LITTLE BOY ├-163: AND TO HAVE FUN. ╙O ╔ RAN AWAY TO ╦ENSINGTON ╟ARDENS AND LIVED A ├-164: LONG LONG TIME AMONG THE FAIRIES." ├-165: ╙HE GAVE HIM A LOOK OF THE MOST INTENSE ADMIRATION, AND HE ├-166: THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE HE HAD RUN AWAY, BUT IT WAS REALLY BECAUSE ├-167: HE KNEW FAIRIES. ╫ENDY HAD LIVED SUCH A HOME LIFE THAT TO KNOW ├-168: FAIRIES STRUCK HER AS QUITE DELIGHTFUL. ╙HE POURED OUT QUESTIONS ├-169: ABOUT THEM, TO HIS SURPRISE, FOR THEY WERE RATHER A NUISANCE ├-170: TO HIM, GETTING IN HIS WAY AND SO ON, AND INDEED HE SOMETIMES ├-171: HAD TO GIVE THEM A HIDING [SPANKING]. ╙TILL, HE LIKED THEM ├-172: ON THE WHOLE, AND HE TOLD HER ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF FAIRIES. ├-173: "┘OU SEE, ╫ENDY, WHEN THE FIRST BABY LAUGHED FOR THE FIRST ├-174: TIME, ITS LAUGH BROKE INTO A THOUSAND PIECES, AND THEY ALL WENT ├-175: SKIPPING ABOUT, AND THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF FAIRIES." ├-176: ╘EDIOUS TALK THIS, BUT BEING A STAY-AT-HOME SHE LIKED IT. ├-177: "┴ND SO," HE WENT ON GOOD-NATUREDLY, "THERE OUGHT TO BE ONE ├-178: FAIRY FOR EVERY BOY AND GIRL." ├-179: "╧UGHT TO BE? ╔SN'T THERE?" ├-180: "╬O. ┘OU SEE CHILDREN KNOW SUCH A LOT NOW, THEY SOON DON'T ├-181: BELIEVE IN FAIRIES, AND EVERY TIME A CHILD SAYS, '╔ DON'T BELIEVE ├-182: IN FAIRIES,' THERE IS A FAIRY SOMEWHERE THAT FALLS DOWN DEAD." ├-183: ╥EALLY, HE THOUGHT THEY HAD NOW TALKED ENOUGH ABOUT FAIRIES, ├-184: AND IT STRUCK HIM THAT ╘INKER ┬ELL WAS KEEPING VERY QUIET. "╔ ├-185: CAN'T THINK WHERE SHE HAS GONE TO," HE SAID, RISING, AND HE ├-186: CALLED ╘INK BY NAME. ╫ENDY'S HEART WENT FLUTTER WITH A SUDDEN ├-187: THRILL. ├-188: "╨ETER," SHE CRIED, CLUTCHING HIM, "YOU DON'T MEAN TO TELL ME ├-189: THAT THERE IS A FAIRY IN THIS ROOM!" ├-190: "╙HE WAS HERE JUST NOW," HE SAID A LITTLE IMPATIENTLY. "┘OU ├-191: DON'T HEAR HER, DO YOU?" AND THEY BOTH LISTENED. ├-192: "╘HE ONLY SOUND ╔ HEAR," SAID ╫ENDY, "IS LIKE A TINKLE OF ├-193: BELLS." ├-194: "╫ELL, THAT'S ╘INK, THAT'S THE FAIRY LANGUAGE. ╔ THINK ╔ HEAR ├-195: HER TOO." ├-196: ╘HE SOUND COME FROM THE CHEST OF DRAWERS, AND ╨ETER MADE A ├-197: MERRY FACE. ╬O ONE COULD EVER LOOK QUITE SO MERRY AS ╨ETER, AND ├-198: THE LOVELIEST OF GURGLES WAS HIS LAUGH. ╚E HAD HIS FIRST LAUGH ├-199: STILL. ├-200: "╫ENDY," HE WHISPERED GLEEFULLY, "╔ DO BELIEVE ╔ SHUT HER UP ├-201: IN THE DRAWER!" ├-202: ╚E LET POOR ╘INK OUT OF THE DRAWER, AND SHE FLEW ABOUT THE ├-203: NURSERY SCREAMING WITH FURY. "┘OU SHOULDN'T SAY SUCH THINGS," ├-204: ╨ETER RETORTED. "╧F COURSE ╔'M VERY SORRY, BUT HOW COULD ╔ KNOW ├-205: YOU WERE IN THE DRAWER?" ├-206: ╫ENDY WAS NOT LISTENING TO HIM. "╧ ╨ETER," SHE CRIED, "IF SHE ├-207: WOULD ONLY STAND STILL AND LET ME SEE HER!" ├-208: "╘HEY HARDLY EVER STAND STILL," HE SAID, BUT FOR ONE MOMENT ├-209: ╫ENDY SAW THE ROMANTIC FIGURE COME TO REST ON THE CUCKOO CLOCK. ├-210: "╧ THE LOVELY!" SHE CRIED, THOUGH ╘INK'S FACE WAS STILL DISTORTED ├-211: WITH PASSION. ├-212: "╘INK," SAID ╨ETER AMIABLY, "THIS LADY WAYS SHE WISHES YOU ├-213: WERE HER FAIRY." ├-214: ╘INKER ┬ELL ANSWERED INSOLENTLY. ├-215: "╫HAT DOES SHE SAY, ╨ETER?" ├-216: ╚E HAD TO TRANSLATE. "╙HE IS NOT VERY POLITE. ╙HE SAYS YOU ├-217: ARE A GREAT [HUGE] UGLY GIRL, AND THAT SHE IS MY FAIRY. ├-218: ╚E TRIED TO ARGUE WITH ╘INK. "┘OU KNOW YOU CAN'T BE MY FAIRY, ├-219: ╘INK, BECAUSE ╔ AM AN GENTLEMAN AND YOU ARE A LADY." ├-220: ╘O THIS ╘INK REPLIED IN THESE WORDS, "┘OU SILLY ASS," AND ├-221: DISAPPEARED INTO THE BATHROOM. "╙HE IS QUITE A COMMON FAIRY," ├-222: ╨ETER EXPLAINED APOLOGETICALLY, "SHE IS CALLED ╘INKER ┬ELL ├-223: BECAUSE SHE MENDS THE POTS AND KETTLES [TINKER = TIN WORKER]." ├-224: [╙IMILAR TO "CINDER" PLUS "ELLE" TO GET ├INDERELLA] ├-225: ╘HEY WERE TOGETHER IN THE ARMCHAIR BY THIS TIME, AND ╫ENDY ├-226: PLIED HIM WITH MORE QUESTIONS. ├-227: "╔F YOU DON'T LIVE IN ╦ENSINGTON ╟ARDENS NOW --" ├-228: "╙OMETIMES ╔ DO STILL." ├-229: "┬UT WHERE DO YOU LIVE MOSTLY NOW?" ├-230: "╫ITH THE LOST BOYS." ├-231: "╫HO ARE THEY?" ├-232: "╘HEY ARE THE CHILDREN WHO FALL OUT OF THEIR PERAMBULATORS ├-233: [BABY CARRIAGES] WHEN THE NURSE IS LOOKING THE OTHER WAY. ╔F THEY ├-234: ARE NOT CLAIMED IN SEVEN DAYS THEY ARE SENT FAR AWAY TO THE ├-235: ╬EVERLAND TO DEFRAY EXPENSES. ╔'M CAPTAIN." ├-236: "╫HAT FUN IT MUST BE!" ├-237: "┘ES," SAID CUNNING ╨ETER, "BUT WE ARE RATHER LONELY. ┘OU SEE ├-238: WE HAVE NO FEMALE COMPANIONSHIP." ├-239: "┴RE NONE OF THE OTHERS GIRLS?" ├-240: "╧H, NO; GIRLS, YOU KNOW, ARE MUCH TOO CLEVER TO FALL OUT OF ├-241: THEIR PRAMS [SHORT FOR PERAMBULATOR]." ├-242: ╘HIS FLATTERED ╫ENDY IMMENSELY. "╔ THINK," SHE SAID, "IT IS ├-243: PERFECTLY LOVELY THE WAY YOU TALK ABOUT GIRLS; ╩OHN THERE JUST ├-244: DESPISES US." ├-245: ╞OR REPLY ╨ETER ROSE AND KICKED ╩OHN OUT OF BED, BLANKETS AND ├-246: ALL; ONE KICK. ╘HIS SEEMED TO ╫ENDY RATHER FORWARD FOR A FIRST ├-247: MEETING, AND SHE TOLD HIM WITH SPIRIT THAT HE WAS NOT CAPTAIN IN ├-248: HER HOUSE. ╚OWEVER, ╩OHN CONTINUED TO SLEEP SO PLACIDLY ON THE ├-249: FLOOR THAT SHE ALLOWED HIM TO REMAIN THERE. "┴ND ╔ KNOW YOU MEANT ├-250: TO BE KIND," SHE SAID, RELENTING, "SO YOU MAY GIVE ME A KISS." ├-251: ╞OR THE MOMENT SHE HAD FORGOTTEN HIS IGNORANCE ABOUT KISSES. ├-252: "╔ THOUGHT YOU WOULD WANT IT BACK," HE SAID A LITTLE BITTERLY, ├-253: AND OFFERED TO RETURN HER THE THIMBLE. ├-254: "╧H DEAR," SAID THE NICE ╫ENDY, "╔ DON'T MEAN A KISS, ╔ MEAN A ├-255: THIMBLE." ├-256: "╫HAT'S THAT?" ├-257: "╔T'S LIKE THIS." ╙HE KISSED HIM. ├-258: "╞UNNY!" SAID ╨ETER GRAVELY. "╬OW SHALL ╔ GIVE YOU A THIMBLE?" ├-259: "╔F YOU WISH TO," SAID ╫ENDY, KEEPING HER HEAD ERECT THIS ├-260: TIME. ├-261: ╨ETER THIMBLED HER, AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY SHE SCREECHED. ├-262: "╫HAT IS IT, ╫ENDY?" ├-263: "╔T WAS EXACTLY AS IF SOMEONE WERE PULLING MY HAIR." ├-264: "╘HAT MUST HAVE BEEN ╘INK. ╔ NEVER KNEW HER SO NAUGHTY ├-265: BEFORE." ├-266: ┴ND INDEED ╘INK WAS DARTING ABOUT AGAIN, USING OFFENSIVE ├-267: LANGUAGE. ├-268: "╙HE SAYS SHE WILL DO THAT TO YOU, ╫ENDY, EVERY TIME ╔ GIVE ├-269: YOU A THIMBLE." ├-270: "┬UT WHY?" ├-271: "╫HY, ╘INK?" ├-272: ┴GAIN ╘INK REPLIED, "┘OU SILLY ASS." ╨ETER COULD NOT ├-273: UNDERSTAND WHY, BUT ╫ENDY UNDERSTOOD, AND SHE WAS JUST SLIGHTLY ├-274: DISAPPOINTED WHEN HE ADMITTED THAT HE CAME TO THE NURSERY WINDOW ├-275: NOT TO SEE HER BUT TO LISTEN TO STORIES. ├-276: "┘OU SEE, ╔ DON'T KNOW ANY STORIES. ╬ONE OF THE LOST BOYS ├-277: KNOWS ANY STORIES." ├-278: "╚OW PERFECTLY AWFUL," ╫ENDY SAID. ├-279: "─O YOU KNOW," ╨ETER ASKED "WHY SWALLOWS BUILD IN THE EAVES OF ├-280: HOUSES? ╔T IS TO LISTEN TO THE STORIES. ╧ ╫ENDY, YOUR MOTHER ├-281: WAS TELLING YOU SUCH A LOVELY STORY." ├-282: "╫HICH STORY WAS IT?" ├-283: "┴BOUT THE PRINCE WHO COULDN'T FIND THE LADY WHO WORE THE ├-284: GLASS SLIPPER." ├-285: "╨ETER," SAID ╫ENDY EXCITEDLY, "THAT WAS ├INDERELLA, AND HE ├-286: FOUND HER, AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER." ├-287: ╨ETER WAS SO GLAD THAT HE ROSE FROM THE FLOOR, WHERE THEY HAD ├-288: BEEN SITTING, AND HURRIED TO THE WINDOW. ├-289: "╫HERE ARE YOU GOING?" SHE CRIED WITH MISGIVING. ├-290: "╘O TELL THE OTHER BOYS." ├-291: "─ON'T GO ╨ETER," SHE ENTREATED, "╔ KNOW SUCH LOTS OF ├-292: STORIES." ├-293: ╘HOSE WERE HER PRECISE WORDS, SO THERE CAN BE NO DENYING THAT ├-294: IT WAS SHE WHO FIRST TEMPTED HIM. ├-295: ╚E CAME BACK, AND THERE WAS A GREEDY LOOK IN HIS EYES NOW ├-296: WHICH OUGHT TO HAVE ALARMED HER, BUT DID NOT. ├-297: "╧H, THE STORIES ╔ COULD TELL TO THE BOYS!" SHE CRIED, AND ├-298: THEN ╨ETER GRIPPED HER AND BEGAN TO DRAW HER TOWARD THE WINDOW. ├-299: "╠ET ME GO!" SHE ORDERED HIM. ├-300: "╫ENDY, DO COME WITH ME AND TELL THE OTHER BOYS." ├-301: ╧F COURSE SHE WAS VERY PLEASED TO BE ASKED, BUT SHE SAID, "╧H ├-302: DEAR, ╔ CAN'T. ╘HINK OF MUMMY! ┬ESIDES, ╔ CAN'T FLY." ├-303: "╔'LL TEACH YOU." ├-304: "╧H, HOW LOVELY TO FLY." ├-305: "╔'LL TEACH YOU HOW TO JUMP ON THE WIND'S BACK, AND THEN AWAY ├-306: WE GO." ├-307: "╧O!" SHE EXCLAIMED RAPTUROUSLY. ├-308: "╫ENDY, ╫ENDY, WHEN YOU ARE SLEEPING IN YOUR SILLY BED YOU ├-309: MIGHT BE FLYING ABOUT WITH ME SAYING FUNNY THINGS TO THE STARS." ├-310: "╧O!" ├-311: "┴ND, ╫ENDY, THERE ARE MERMAIDS." ├-312: "═ERMAIDS! ╫ITH TAILS?" ├-313: "╙UCH LONG TAILS." ├-314: "╧H," CRIED ╫ENDY, "TO SEE A MERMAID!" ├-315: ╚E HAD BECOME FRIGHTFULLY CUNNING. "╫ENDY," HE SAID, "HOW WE ├-316: SHOULD ALL RESPECT YOU." ├-317: ╙HE WAS WRIGGLING HER BODY IN DISTRESS. ╔T WAS QUITE AS IF SHE ├-318: WERE TRYING TO REMAIN ON THE NURSERY FLOOR. ├-319: ┬UT HE HAD NO PITY FOR HER. ├-320: "╫ENDY," HE SAID, THE SLY ONE, "YOU COULD TUCK US IN AT ├-321: NIGHT." ├-322: "╧O!" ├-323: "╬ONE OF US HAS EVER BEEN TUCKED IN AT NIGHT." ├-324: "╧O," AND HER ARMS WENT OUT TO HIM. ├-325: "┴ND YOU COULD DARN OUR CLOTHES, AND MAKE POCKETS FOR US. ╬ONE ├-326: OF US HAS ANY POCKETS." ├-327: ╚OW COULD SHE RESIST. "╧F COURSE IT'S AWFULLY FASCINATING!" ├-328: SHE CRIED. "╨ETER, WOULD YOU TEACH ╩OHN AND ═ICHAEL TO FLY TOO?" ├-329: "╔F YOU LIKE," HE SAID INDIFFERENTLY, AND SHE RAN TO ╩OHN AND ├-330: ═ICHAEL AND SHOOK THEM. "╫AKE UP," SHE CRIED, "╨ETER ╨AN HAS ├-331: COME AND HE IS TO TEACH US TO FLY." ├-332: ╩OHN RUBBED HIS EYES. "╘HEN ╔ SHALL GET UP," HE SAID. ╧F ├-333: COURSE HE WAS ON THE FLOOR ALREADY. "╚ALLO," HE SAID, "╔ AM UP!" ├-334: ═ICHAEL WAS UP BY THIS TIME ALSO, LOOKING AS SHARP AS A KNIFE ├-335: WITH SIX BLADES AND A SAW, BUT ╨ETER SUDDENLY SIGNED SILENCE. ├-336: ╘HEIR FACES ASSUMED THE AWFUL CRAFTINESS OF CHILDREN LISTENING ├-337: FOR SOUNDS FROM THE GROWN-UP WORLD. ┴LL WAS AS STILL AS SALT. ├-338: ╘HEN EVERYTHING WAS RIGHT. ╬O, STOP! ┼VERYTHING WAS WRONG. ├-339: ╬ANA, WHO HAD BEEN BARKING DISTRESSFULLY ALL THE EVENING, WAS ├-340: QUIET NOW. ╔T WAS HER SILENCE THEY HAD HEARD. ├-341: "╧UT WITH THE LIGHT! ╚IDE! ╤UICK!" CRIED ╩OHN, TAKING COMMAND ├-342: FOR THE ONLY TIME THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE ADVENTURE. ┴ND THUS WHEN ├-343: ╠IZA ENTERED, HOLDING ╬ANA, THE NURSERY SEEMED QUITE ITS OLD ├-344: SELF, VERY DARK, AND YOU WOULD HAVE SWORN YOU HEARD ITS THREE ├-345: WICKED INMATES BREATHING ANGELICALLY AS THEY SLEPT. ╘HEY WERE ├-346: REALLY DOING IT ARTFULLY FROM BEHIND THE WINDOW CURTAINS. ├-347: ╠IZA WAS IN A BAD TAMPER, FOR SHE WAS MIXING THE ├HRISTMAS ├-348: PUDDINGS IN THE KITCHEN, AND HAD BEEN DRAWN FROM THEM, WITH A ├-349: RAISIN STILL ON HER CHEEK, BY ╬ANA'S ABSURD SUSPICIONS. ╙HE ├-350: THOUGHT THE BEST WAY OF GETTING A LITTLE QUIET WAS TO TAKE ╬ANA ├-351: TO THE NURSERY FOR A MOMENT, BUT IN CUSTODY OF COURSE. ├-352: "╘HERE, YOU SUSPICIOUS BRUTE," SHE SAID, NOT SORRY THAT ╬ANA ├-353: WAS IN DISGRACE. "╘HEY ARE PERFECTLY SAFE, AREN'T THEY? ┼VERY ├-354: ONE OF THE LITTLE ANGELS SOUND ASLEEP IN BED. ╠ISTEN TO THEIR ├-355: GENTLE BREATHING." ├-356: ╚ERE ═ICHAEL, ENCOURAGED BY HIS SUCCESS, BREATHED SO LOUDLY ├-357: THAT THEY WERE NEARLY DETECTED. ╬ANA KNEW THAT KIND OF ├-358: BREATHING, AND SHE TRIED TO DRAG HERSELF OUT OF ╠IZA'S CLUTCHES. ├-359: ┬UT ╠IZA WAS DENSE. "╬O MORE OF IT, ╬ANA," SHE SAID STERNLY, ├-360: PULLING HER OUT OF THE ROOM. "╔ WARN YOU IF BARK AGAIN ╔ SHALL ├-361: GO STRAIGHT FOR MASTER AND MISSUS AND BRING THEM HOME FROM THE ├-362: PARTY, AND THEN, OH, WON'T MASTER WHIP YOU, JUST." ├-363: ╙HE TIED THE UNHAPPY DOG UP AGAIN, BUT DO YOU THINK ╬ANA ├-364: CEASED TO BARK? ┬RING MASTER AND MISSUS HOME FROM THE PARTY! ╫HY, ├-365: THAT WAS JUST WHAT SHE WANTED. ─O YOU THINK SHE CARED WHETHER SHE ├-366: WAS WHIPPED SO LONG AS HER CHARGES WERE SAFE? ╒NFORTUNATELY ╠IZA ├-367: RETURNED TO HER PUDDINGS, AND ╬ANA, SEEING THAT NO HELP WOULD ├-368: COME FROM HER, STRAINED AND STRAINED AT THE CHAIN UNTIL AT LAST ├-369: SHE BROKE IT. ╔N ANOTHER MOMENT SHE HAD BURST INTO THE DINING- ├-370: ROOM OF 27 AND FLUNG UP HER PAWS TO HEAVEN, HER MOST EXPRESSIVE ├-371: WAY OF MAKING A COMMUNICATION. ═R. AND ═RS. ─ARLING KNEW AT ONCE ├-372: THAT SOMETHING TERRIBLE WAS HAPPENING IN THEIR NURSERY, AND ├-373: WITHOUT A GOOD-BYE TO THEIR HOSTESS THEY RUSHED INTO THE STREET. ├-374: ┬UT IT WAS NOW TEN MINUTES SINCE THREE SCOUNDRELS HAD BEEN ├-375: BREATHING BEHIND THE CURTAINS, AND ╨ETER ╨AN CAN DO A GREAT DEAL ├-376: IN TEN MINUTES. ├-377: ╫E NOW RETURN TO THE NURSERY. ├-378: "╔T'S ALL RIGHT," ╩OHN ANNOUNCED, EMERGING FROM HIS HIDING- ├-379: PLACE. "╔ SAY, ╨ETER, CAN YOU REALLY FLY?" ├-380: ╔NSTEAD OF TROUBLING TO ANSWER HIM ╨ETER FLEW AROUND THE ROOM, ├-381: TAKING THE MANTELPIECE ON THE WAY. ├-382: "╚OW TOPPING!" SAID ╩OHN AND ═ICHAEL. ├-383: "╚OW SWEET!" CRIED ╫ENDY. ├-384: "┘ES, ╔'M SWEET, OH, ╔ AM SWEET!" SAID ╨ETER, FORGETTING HIS ├-385: MANNERS AGAIN. ├-386: ╔T LOOKED DELIGHTFULLY EASY, AND THEY TRIED IT FIRST FROM THE ├-387: FLOOR AND THEN FROM THE BEDS, BUT THEY ALWAYS WENT DOWN INSTEAD ├-388: OF UP. ├-389: "╔ SAY, HOW DO YOU DO IT?" ASKED ╩OHN, RUBBING HIS KNEE. ╚E ├-390: WAS QUITE A PRACTICAL BOY. ├-391: "┘OU JUST THINK LOVELY WONDERFUL THOUGHTS," ╨ETER EXPLAINED, ├-392: "AND THEY LIFT YOU UP IN THE AIR." ├-393: ╚E SHOWED THEM AGAIN. ├-394: "┘OU'RE SO NIPPY AT IT," ╩OHN SAID, "COULDN'T YOU DO IT VERY ├-395: SLOWLY ONCE?" ├-396: ╨ETER DID IT BOTH SLOWLY AND QUICKLY. "╔'VE GOT IT NOW, ├-397: ╫ENDY!" CRIED ╩OHN, BUT SOON HE FOUND HE HAD NOT. ╬OT ONE OF ├-398: THEM COULD FLY AN INCH, THOUGH EVEN ═ICHAEL WAS IN WORDS OF TWO ├-399: SYLLABLES, AND ╨ETER DID NOT KNOW ┴ FROM ┌. ├-400: ╧F COURSE ╨ETER HAD BEEN TRIFLING WITH THEM, FOR NO ONE CAN ├-401: FLY UNLESS THE FAIRY DUST HAS BEEN BLOWN ON HIM. ╞ORTUNATELY, AS ├-402: WE HAVE MENTIONED, ONE OF HIS HANDS WAS MESSY WITH IT, AND HE ├-403: BLEW SOME ON EACH OF THEM, WITH THE MOST SUPERB RESULTS. ├-404: "╬OW JUST WIGGLE YOUR SHOULDERS THIS WAY," HE SAID, "AND LET ├-405: GO." ├-406: ╘HEY WERE ALL ON THEIR BEDS, AND GALLANT ═ICHAEL LET GO FIRST. ├-407: ╚E DID NOT QUITE MEAN TO LET GO, BUT HE DID IT, AND IMMEDIATELY ├-408: HE WAS BORNE ACROSS THE ROOM. ├-409: "╔ FLEWED!" HE SCREAMED WHILE STILL IN MID-AIR. ├-410: ╩OHN LET GO AND MET ╫ENDY NEAR THE BATHROOM. ├-411: "╧H, LOVELY!" ├-412: "╧H, RIPPING!" ├-413: "╠OOK AT ME!" ├-414: "╠OOK AT ME!" ├-415: "╠OOK AT ME!" ├-416: ╘HEY WERE NOT NEARLY SO ELEGANT AS ╨ETER, THEY COULD NOT HELP ├-417: KICKING A LITTLE, BUT THEIR HEADS WERE BOBBING AGAINST THE ├-418: CEILING, AND THERE IS ALMOST NOTHING SO DELICIOUS AS THAT. ╨ETER ├-419: GAVE ╫ENDY A HAND AT FIRST, BUT HAD TO DESIST, ╘INK WAS SO ├-420: INDIGNANT. ├-421: ╒P AND DOWN THEY WENT, AND ROUND AND ROUND. ╚EAVENLY WAS ├-422: ╫ENDY'S WORD. ├-423: "╔ SAY," CRIED ╩OHN, "WHY SHOULDN'T WE ALL GO OUT?" ├-424: ╧F COURSE IT WAS TO THIS THAT ╨ETER HAD BEEN LURING THEM. ├-425: ═ICHAEL WAS READY: HE WANTED TO SEE HOW LONG IT TOOK HIM TO DO ├-426: A BILLION MILES. ┬UT ╫ENDY HESITATED. ├-427: "═ERMAIDS!" SAID ╨ETER AGAIN. ├-428: "╧O!" ├-429: "┴ND THERE ARE PIRATES." ├-430: "╨IRATES," CRIED ╩OHN, SEIZING HIS ╙UNDAY HAT, "LET US GO AT ├-431: ONCE." ├-432: ╔T WAS JUST AT THIS MOMENT THAT ═R. AND ═RS. ─ARLING HURRIED ├-433: WITH ╬ANA OUT OF 27. ╘HEY RAN INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET TO ├-434: LOOK UP AT THE NURSERY WINDOW; AND, YES, IT WAS STILL SHUT, BUT ├-435: THE ROOM WAS ABLAZE WITH LIGHT, AND MOST HEART-GRIPPING SIGHT OF ├-436: ALL, THEY COULD SEE IN SHADOW ON THE CURTAIN THREE LITTLE FIGURES ├-437: IN NIGHT ATTIRE CIRCLING ROUND AND ROUND, NOT ON THE FLOOR BUT IN ├-438: THE AIR. ├-439: ╬OT THREE FIGURES, FOUR! ├-440: ╔N A TREMBLE THEY OPENED THE STREET DOOR. ═R. ─ARLING WOULD ├-441: HAVE RUSHED UPSTAIRS, BUT ═RS. ─ARLING SIGNED HIM TO GO SOFTLY. ├-442: ╙HE EVEN TRIED TO MAKE HER HEART GO SOFTLY. ├-443: ╫ILL THEY REACH THE NURSERY IN TIME? ╔F SO, HOW DELIGHTFUL FOR ├-444: THEM, AND WE SHALL ALL BREATHE A SIGN OF RELIEF, BUT THERE WILL ├-445: BE NO STORY. ╧N THE OTHER HAND, IF THEY ARE NOT IN TIME, ╔ ├-446: SOLEMNLY PROMISE THAT IT WILL ALL COME RIGHT IN THE END. ├-447: ╘HEY WOULD HAVE REACHED THE NURSERY IN TIME HAD IT NOT BEEN ├-448: THAT THE LITTLE STARS WERE WATCHING THEM. ╧NCE AGAIN THE STARS ├-449: BLEW THE WINDOW OPEN, AND THAT SMALLEST STAR OF ALL CALLED OUT: ├-450: "├AVE, ╨ETER!" ├-451: ╘HEN ╨ETER KNEW THAT THERE WAS NOT A MOMENT TO LOSE. "├OME," ├-452: HE CRIED IMPERIOUSLY, AND SOARED OUT AT ONCE INTO THE NIGHT, ├-453: FOLLOWED BY ╩OHN AND ═ICHAEL AND ╫ENDY. ├-454: ═R. AND ═RS. ─ARLING AND ╬ANA RUSHED INTO THE NURSERY TOO ├-455: LATE. ╘HE BIRDS WERE FLOWN. [ ├ONTINUED IN ├HAPTER 04. ]