Reading Help Peter-pan BY J. M. BARRIE
"Let us now," said Wendy, bracing herself up for her finest `
` effort, "take a peep into the future"; and they all gave `
` themselves the twist that makes peeps into the future easier. `
` "Years have rolled by, and who is this elegant lady of uncertain `
` age alighting at London Station?" `
` `
` "O Wendy, who is she?" cried Nibs, every bit as excited as if `
` he didn't know. `
` `
` "Can it be -- yes -- no -- it is -- the fair Wendy!" `
` `
` "Oh!" `
` `
` "And who are the two noble portly figures accompanying her, now `
` grown to man's estate? Can they be John and Michael? They are!" `
` `
` "Oh!" `
` `
` "`See, dear brothers,' says Wendy pointing upwards, `there is `
` the window still standing open. Ah, now we are rewarded for our `
` sublime faith in a mother's love.' So up they flew to their `
` mummy and daddy, and pen cannot describe the happy scene, over `
` which we draw a veil." `
` `
` That was the story, and they were as pleased with it as the `
` fair narrator herself. Everything just as it should be, you see. `
` Off we skip like the most heartless things in the world, which is `
` what children are, but so attractive; and we have an entirely `
` selfish time, and then when we have need of special attention we `
` nobly return for it, confident that we shall be rewarded instead `
` of smacked. `
` `
` So great indeed was their faith in a mother's love that they `
` felt they could afford to be callous for a bit longer. `
` `
` But there was one there who knew better, and when Wendy `
` finished he uttered a hollow groan. `
` `
` "What is it, Peter?" she cried, running to him, thinking he was `
` ill. She felt him solicitously, lower down than his chest. `
` "Where is it, Peter?" `
` `
` "It isn't that kind of pain," Peter replied darkly. `
` `
` "Then what kind is it?" `
` `
` "Wendy, you are wrong about mothers." `
` `
` They all gathered round him in affright, so alarming was his `
` agitation; and with a fine candour he told them what he had `
` hitherto concealed. `
` `
` "Long ago," he said, "I thought like you that my mother would `
` always keep the window open for me, so I stayed away for moons `
` and moons and moons, and then flew back; but the window was `
` barred, for mother had forgotten all about me, and there was `
` another little boy sleeping in my bed." `
` `
` I am not sure that this was true, but Peter thought it was `
` true; and it scared them. `
` `
` "Are you sure mothers are like that?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` So this was the truth about mothers. The toads! `
` `
` Still it is best to be careful; and no one knows so quickly as `
` a child when he should give in. "Wendy, let us [let's] go home," `
` cried John and Michael together. `
` `
` "Yes," she said, clutching them. `
` `
` "Not to-night?" asked the lost boys bewildered. They knew in `
` what they called their hearts that one can get on quite well `
` without a mother, and that it is only the mothers who think you `
` can't. `
` `
` "At once," Wendy replied resolutely, for the horrible thought `
` had come to her: "Perhaps mother is in half mourning by this `
` time." `
` `
` This dread made her forgetful of what must be Peter's feelings, `
` and she said to him rather sharply, "Peter, will you make the `
` necessary arrangements?" `
` `
` "If you wish it," he replied, as coolly as if she had asked him `
` to pass the nuts. `
` `
` Not so much as a sorry-to-lose-you between them! If she did `
` not mind the parting, he was going to show her, was Peter, that `
` neither did he. `
` `
` But of course he cared very much; and he was so full of wrath `
` against grown-ups, who, as usual, were spoiling everything, that `
` as soon as he got inside his tree he breathed intentionally quick `
` short breaths at the rate of about five to a second. He did this `
` because there is a saying in the Neverland that, every time you `
` breathe, a grown-up dies; and Peter was killing them off `
` vindictively as fast as possible. `
` `
` Then having given the necessary instructions to the redskins he `
` returned to the home, where an unworthy scene had been enacted in `
` his absence. Panic-stricken at the thought of losing Wendy the `
` lost boys had advanced upon her threateningly. `
` `
` "It will be worse than before she came," they cried. `
` `
` "We shan't let her go." `
` `
` "Let's keep her prisoner." `
` `
` "Ay, chain her up." `
` `
` In her extremity an instinct told her to which of them to turn. `
` `
` "Tootles," she cried, "I appeal to you." `
` `
` Was it not strange? She appealed to Tootles, quite the `
` silliest one. `
` `
` Grandly, however, did Tootles respond. For that one moment he `
` dropped his silliness and spoke with dignity. `
` `
` "I am just Tootles," he said, "and nobody minds me. But the `
` first who does not behave to Wendy like an English gentleman I `
` will blood him severely." `
` `
` He drew back his hanger; and for that instant his sun was at `
` noon. The others held back uneasily. Then Peter returned, and `
` they saw at once that they would get no support from him. He `
` would keep no girl in the Neverland against her will. `
` `
` "Wendy," he said, striding up and down, "I have asked the `
` redskins to guide you through the wood, as flying tires you so." `
` `
` "Thank you, Peter." `
` `
` "Then," he continued, in the short sharp voice of one `
` accustomed to be obeyed, "Tinker Bell will take you across the `
` sea. Wake her, Nibs." `
` `
` Nibs had to knock twice before he got an answer, though Tink `
` had really been sitting up in bed listening for some time. `
` `
` "Who are you? How dare you? Go away," she cried. `
` `
` "You are to get up, Tink," Nibs called, "and take Wendy on a `
` journey." `
` `
` Of course Tink had been delighted to hear that Wendy was going; `
` but she was jolly well determined not to be her courier, and she `
` said so in still more offensive language. Then she pretended to `
` be asleep again. `
` `
` "She says she won't!" Nibs exclaimed, aghast at such `
` insubordination, whereupon Peter went sternly toward the young `
` lady's chamber. `
` `
` "Tink," he rapped out, "if you don't get up and dress at once I `
` will open the curtains, and then we shall all see you in your `
` negligee [nightgown]." `
` `
` This made her leap to the floor. "Who said I wasn't getting `
` up?" she cried. `
` `
` In the meantime the boys were gazing very forlornly at Wendy, `
` now equipped with John and Michael for the journey. By this time `
` they were dejected, not merely because they were about to lose `
` her, but also because they felt that she was going off to `
` something nice to which they had not been invited. Novelty was `
` beckoning to them as usual. `
` `
` Crediting them with a nobler feeling Wendy melted. `
` `
` "Dear ones," she said, "if you will all come with me I feel `
` almost sure I can get my father and mother to adopt you." `
` `
` The invitation was meant specially for Peter, but each of the `
` boys was thinking exclusively of himself, and at once they jumped `
` with joy. `
` `
` "But won't they think us rather a handful?" Nibs asked in the `
` middle of his jump. `
` `
` "Oh no," said Wendy, rapidly thinking it out, "it will only `
` mean having a few beds in the drawing-room; they can be hidden `
` behind the screens on first Thursdays." `
` `
` "Peter, can we go?" they all cried imploringly. They took it `
` for granted that if they went he would go also, but really they `
` scarcely cared. Thus children are ever ready, when novelty `
` knocks, to desert their dearest ones. `
` `
` "All right," Peter replied with a bitter smile, and immediately `
` they rushed to get their things. `
` `
` "And now, Peter," Wendy said, thinking she had put everything `
` right, "I am going to give you your medicine before you go." She `
` loved to give them medicine, and undoubtedly gave them too much. `
` Of course it was only water, but it was out of a bottle, and `
`
` effort, "take a peep into the future"; and they all gave `
` themselves the twist that makes peeps into the future easier. `
` "Years have rolled by, and who is this elegant lady of uncertain `
` age alighting at London Station?" `
` `
` "O Wendy, who is she?" cried Nibs, every bit as excited as if `
` he didn't know. `
` `
` "Can it be -- yes -- no -- it is -- the fair Wendy!" `
` `
` "Oh!" `
` `
` "And who are the two noble portly figures accompanying her, now `
` grown to man's estate? Can they be John and Michael? They are!" `
` `
` "Oh!" `
` `
` "`See, dear brothers,' says Wendy pointing upwards, `there is `
` the window still standing open. Ah, now we are rewarded for our `
` sublime faith in a mother's love.' So up they flew to their `
` mummy and daddy, and pen cannot describe the happy scene, over `
` which we draw a veil." `
` `
` That was the story, and they were as pleased with it as the `
` fair narrator herself. Everything just as it should be, you see. `
` Off we skip like the most heartless things in the world, which is `
` what children are, but so attractive; and we have an entirely `
` selfish time, and then when we have need of special attention we `
` nobly return for it, confident that we shall be rewarded instead `
` of smacked. `
` `
` So great indeed was their faith in a mother's love that they `
` felt they could afford to be callous for a bit longer. `
` `
` But there was one there who knew better, and when Wendy `
` finished he uttered a hollow groan. `
` `
` "What is it, Peter?" she cried, running to him, thinking he was `
` ill. She felt him solicitously, lower down than his chest. `
` "Where is it, Peter?" `
` `
` "It isn't that kind of pain," Peter replied darkly. `
` `
` "Then what kind is it?" `
` `
` "Wendy, you are wrong about mothers." `
` `
` They all gathered round him in affright, so alarming was his `
` agitation; and with a fine candour he told them what he had `
` hitherto concealed. `
` `
` "Long ago," he said, "I thought like you that my mother would `
` always keep the window open for me, so I stayed away for moons `
` and moons and moons, and then flew back; but the window was `
` barred, for mother had forgotten all about me, and there was `
` another little boy sleeping in my bed." `
` `
` I am not sure that this was true, but Peter thought it was `
` true; and it scared them. `
` `
` "Are you sure mothers are like that?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` So this was the truth about mothers. The toads! `
` `
` Still it is best to be careful; and no one knows so quickly as `
` a child when he should give in. "Wendy, let us [let's] go home," `
` cried John and Michael together. `
` `
` "Yes," she said, clutching them. `
` `
` "Not to-night?" asked the lost boys bewildered. They knew in `
` what they called their hearts that one can get on quite well `
` without a mother, and that it is only the mothers who think you `
` can't. `
` `
` "At once," Wendy replied resolutely, for the horrible thought `
` had come to her: "Perhaps mother is in half mourning by this `
` time." `
` `
` This dread made her forgetful of what must be Peter's feelings, `
` and she said to him rather sharply, "Peter, will you make the `
` necessary arrangements?" `
` `
` "If you wish it," he replied, as coolly as if she had asked him `
` to pass the nuts. `
` `
` Not so much as a sorry-to-lose-you between them! If she did `
` not mind the parting, he was going to show her, was Peter, that `
` neither did he. `
` `
` But of course he cared very much; and he was so full of wrath `
` against grown-ups, who, as usual, were spoiling everything, that `
` as soon as he got inside his tree he breathed intentionally quick `
` short breaths at the rate of about five to a second. He did this `
` because there is a saying in the Neverland that, every time you `
` breathe, a grown-up dies; and Peter was killing them off `
` vindictively as fast as possible. `
` `
` Then having given the necessary instructions to the redskins he `
` returned to the home, where an unworthy scene had been enacted in `
` his absence. Panic-stricken at the thought of losing Wendy the `
` lost boys had advanced upon her threateningly. `
` `
` "It will be worse than before she came," they cried. `
` `
` "We shan't let her go." `
` `
` "Let's keep her prisoner." `
` `
` "Ay, chain her up." `
` `
` In her extremity an instinct told her to which of them to turn. `
` `
` "Tootles," she cried, "I appeal to you." `
` `
` Was it not strange? She appealed to Tootles, quite the `
` silliest one. `
` `
` Grandly, however, did Tootles respond. For that one moment he `
` dropped his silliness and spoke with dignity. `
` `
` "I am just Tootles," he said, "and nobody minds me. But the `
` first who does not behave to Wendy like an English gentleman I `
` will blood him severely." `
` `
` He drew back his hanger; and for that instant his sun was at `
` noon. The others held back uneasily. Then Peter returned, and `
` they saw at once that they would get no support from him. He `
` would keep no girl in the Neverland against her will. `
` `
` "Wendy," he said, striding up and down, "I have asked the `
` redskins to guide you through the wood, as flying tires you so." `
` `
` "Thank you, Peter." `
` `
` "Then," he continued, in the short sharp voice of one `
` accustomed to be obeyed, "Tinker Bell will take you across the `
` sea. Wake her, Nibs." `
` `
` Nibs had to knock twice before he got an answer, though Tink `
` had really been sitting up in bed listening for some time. `
` `
` "Who are you? How dare you? Go away," she cried. `
` `
` "You are to get up, Tink," Nibs called, "and take Wendy on a `
` journey." `
` `
` Of course Tink had been delighted to hear that Wendy was going; `
` but she was jolly well determined not to be her courier, and she `
` said so in still more offensive language. Then she pretended to `
` be asleep again. `
` `
` "She says she won't!" Nibs exclaimed, aghast at such `
` insubordination, whereupon Peter went sternly toward the young `
` lady's chamber. `
` `
` "Tink," he rapped out, "if you don't get up and dress at once I `
` will open the curtains, and then we shall all see you in your `
` negligee [nightgown]." `
` `
` This made her leap to the floor. "Who said I wasn't getting `
` up?" she cried. `
` `
` In the meantime the boys were gazing very forlornly at Wendy, `
` now equipped with John and Michael for the journey. By this time `
` they were dejected, not merely because they were about to lose `
` her, but also because they felt that she was going off to `
` something nice to which they had not been invited. Novelty was `
` beckoning to them as usual. `
` `
` Crediting them with a nobler feeling Wendy melted. `
` `
` "Dear ones," she said, "if you will all come with me I feel `
` almost sure I can get my father and mother to adopt you." `
` `
` The invitation was meant specially for Peter, but each of the `
` boys was thinking exclusively of himself, and at once they jumped `
` with joy. `
` `
` "But won't they think us rather a handful?" Nibs asked in the `
` middle of his jump. `
` `
` "Oh no," said Wendy, rapidly thinking it out, "it will only `
` mean having a few beds in the drawing-room; they can be hidden `
` behind the screens on first Thursdays." `
` `
` "Peter, can we go?" they all cried imploringly. They took it `
` for granted that if they went he would go also, but really they `
` scarcely cared. Thus children are ever ready, when novelty `
` knocks, to desert their dearest ones. `
` `
` "All right," Peter replied with a bitter smile, and immediately `
` they rushed to get their things. `
` `
` "And now, Peter," Wendy said, thinking she had put everything `
` right, "I am going to give you your medicine before you go." She `
` loved to give them medicine, and undoubtedly gave them too much. `
` Of course it was only water, but it was out of a bottle, and `
`