Reading Help Peter-pan BY J. M. BARRIE
would tear them. The bluff strident words struck the note `
` sailors understood, and they cheered him lustily. Then a few `
` sharp orders were given, and they turned the ship round, and nosed `
` her for the mainland. `
` `
` Captain Pan calculated, after consulting the ship's chart, that `
` if this weather lasted they should strike the Azores about the `
` 21st of June, after which it would save time to fly. `
` `
` Some of them wanted it to be an honest ship and others were in `
` favour of keeping it a pirate; but the captain treated them as `
` dogs, and they dared not express their wishes to him even in a `
` round robin [one person after another, as they had to Cpt. Hook]. `
` Instant obedience was the only safe thing. Slightly got a dozen `
` for looking perplexed when told to take soundings. The general `
` feeling was that Peter was honest just now to lull Wendy's `
` suspicions, but that there might be a change when the new suit `
` was ready, which, against her will, she was making for him out of `
` some of Hook's wickedest garments. It was afterwards whispered `
` among them that on the first night he wore this suit he sat long `
` in the cabin with Hook's cigar-holder in his mouth and one hand `
` clenched, all but for the forefinger, which he bent and held `
` threateningly aloft like a hook. `
` `
` Instead of watching the ship, however, we must now return to `
` that desolate home from which three of our characters had taken `
` heartless flight so long ago. It seems a shame to have neglected `
` No. 14 all this time; and yet we may be sure that Mrs. Darling `
` does not blame us. If we had returned sooner to look with `
` sorrowful sympathy at her, she would probably have cried, "Don't `
` be silly; what do I matter? Do go back and keep an eye on the `
` children." So long as mothers are like this their children will `
` take advantage of them; and they may lay to [bet on] that. `
` `
` Even now we venture into that familiar nursery only because its `
` lawful occupants are on their way home; we are merely hurrying on `
` in advance of them to see that their beds are properly aired and `
` that Mr. and Mrs. Darling do not go out for the evening. We are `
` no more than servants. Why on earth should their beds be `
` properly aired, seeing that they left them in such a thankless `
` hurry? Would it not serve them jolly well right if they came `
` back and found that their parents were spending the week-end in `
` the country? It would be the moral lesson they have been in need `
` of ever since we met them; but if we contrived things in this way `
` Mrs. Darling would never forgive us. `
` `
` One thing I should like to do immensely, and that is to tell `
` her, in the way authors have, that the children are coming back, `
` that indeed they will be here on Thursday week. This would spoil `
` so completely the surprise to which Wendy and John and Michael `
` are looking forward. They have been planning it out on the ship: `
` mother's rapture, father's shout of joy, Nana's leap through the `
` air to embrace them first, when what they ought to be prepared `
` for is a good hiding. How delicious to spoil it all by breaking `
` the news in advance; so that when they enter grandly Mrs. Darling `
` may not even offer Wendy her mouth, and Mr. Darling may exclaim `
` pettishly, "Dash it all, here are those boys again." However, we `
` should get no thanks even for this. We are beginning to know `
` Mrs. Darling by this time, and may be sure that she would upbraid `
` us for depriving the children of their little pleasure. `
` `
` "But, my dear madam, it is ten days till Thursday week; so that `
` by telling you what's what, we can save you ten days of `
` unhappiness." `
` `
` "Yes, but at what a cost! By depriving the children of ten `
` minutes of delight." `
` `
` "Oh, if you look at it in that way!" `
` `
` "What other way is there in which to look at it?" `
` `
` You see, the woman had no proper spirit. I had meant to say `
` extraordinarily nice things about her; but I despise her, and not `
` one of them will I say now. She does not really need to be told `
` to have things ready, for they are ready. All the beds are aired, `
` and she never leaves the house, and observe, the window is open. `
` For all the use we are to her, we might well go back to the ship. `
` However, as we are here we may as well stay and look on. That is `
` all we are, lookers-on. Nobody really wants us. So let us watch `
` and say jaggy things, in the hope that some of them will hurt. `
` `
` The only change to be seen in the night-nursery is that between `
` nine and six the kennel is no longer there. When the children `
` flew away, Mr. Darling felt in his bones that all the blame was `
` his for having chained Nana up, and that from first to last she `
` had been wiser than he. Of course, as we have seen, he was quite `
` a simple man; indeed he might have passed for a boy again if he `
` had been able to take his baldness off; but he had also a noble `
` sense of justice and a lion's courage to do what seemed right to `
` him; and having thought the matter out with anxious care after `
` the flight of the children, he went down on all fours and crawled `
` into the kennel. To all Mrs. Darling's dear invitations to him `
` to come out he replied sadly but firmly: `
` `
` "No, my own one, this is the place for me." `
` `
` In the bitterness of his remorse he swore that he would never `
` leave the kennel until his children came back. Of course this `
` was a pity; but whatever Mr. Darling did he had to do in excess, `
` otherwise he soon gave up doing it. And there never was a more `
` humble man than the once proud George Darling, as he sat in the `
` kennel of an evening talking with his wife of their children and `
` all their pretty ways. `
` `
` Very touching was his deference to Nana. He would not let her `
` come into the kennel, but on all other matters he followed her `
` wishes implicitly. `
` `
` Every morning the kennel was carried with Mr. Darling in it to `
` a cab, which conveyed him to his office, and he returned home in `
` the same way at six. Something of the strength of character of `
` the man will be seen if we remember how sensitive he was to the `
` opinion of neighbours: this man whose every movement now `
` attracted surprised attention. Inwardly he must have suffered `
` torture; but he preserved a calm exterior even when the young `
` criticised his little home, and he always lifted his hat `
` courteously to any lady who looked inside. `
` `
` It may have been Quixotic, but it was magnificent. Soon the `
` inward meaning of it leaked out, and the great heart of the `
` public was touched. Crowds followed the cab, cheering it `
` lustily; charming girls scaled it to get his autograph; `
` interviews appeared in the better class of papers, and society `
` invited him to dinner and added, "Do come in the kennel." `
` `
` On that eventful Thursday week, Mrs. Darling was in the night- `
` nursery awaiting George's return home; a very sad-eyed woman. `
` Now that we look at her closely and remember the gaiety of her in `
` the old days, all gone now just because she has lost her babes, I `
` find I won't be able to say nasty things about her after all. If `
` she was too fond of her rubbishy children, she couldn't help it. `
` Look at her in her chair, where she has fallen asleep. The `
` corner of her mouth, where one looks first, is almost withered `
` up. Her hand moves restlessly on her breast as if she had a `
` pain there. Some like Peter best, and some like Wendy best, but `
` I like her best. Suppose, to make her happy, we whisper to her `
` in her sleep that the brats are coming back. They are really `
` within two miles of the window now, and flying strong, but all `
` we need whisper is that they are on the way. Let's. `
` `
` It is a pity we did it, for she has started up, calling their `
` names; and there is no one in the room but Nana. `
` `
` "O Nana, I dreamt my dear ones had come back." `
` `
` Nana had filmy eyes, but all she could do was put her paw `
` gently on her mistress's lap; and they were sitting together thus `
` when the kennel was brought back. As Mr. Darling puts his head `
` out to kiss his wife, we see that his face is more worn than of `
` yore, but has a softer expression. `
` `
` He gave his hat to Liza, who took it scornfully; for she had no `
` imagination, and was quite incapable of understanding the motives `
` of such a man. Outside, the crowd who had accompanied the cab `
` home were still cheering, and he was naturally not unmoved. `
` `
` "Listen to them," he said; "it is very gratifying." `
` `
` "Lots of little boys," sneered Liza. `
` `
` "There were several adults to-day," he assured her with a faint `
` flush; but when she tossed her head he had not a word of reproof for `
` her. Social success had not spoilt him; it had made him sweeter. `
` For some time he sat with his head out of the kennel, talking with `
` Mrs. Darling of this success, and pressing her hand reassuringly `
` when she said she hoped his head would not be turned by it. `
` `
` "But if I had been a weak man," he said. "Good heavens, if I `
` had been a weak man!" `
` `
` "And, George," she said timidly, "you are as full of remorse as `
` ever, aren't you?" `
` `
` "Full of remorse as ever, dearest! See my punishment: living `
` in a kennel." `
` `
` "But it is punishment, isn't it, George? You are sure you are `
` not enjoying it?" `
` `
` "My love!" `
` `
` You may be sure she begged his pardon; and then, feeling `
` drowsy, he curled round in the kennel. `
` `
` "Won't you play me to sleep," he asked, "on the nursery piano?" `
` and as she was crossing to the day-nursery he added `
` thoughtlessly, "And shut that window. I feel a draught." `
` `
` "O George, never ask me to do that. The window must always be `
` left open for them, always, always." `
` `
` Now it was his turn to beg her pardon; and she went into the `
` day-nursery and played, and soon he was asleep; and while he `
` slept, Wendy and John and Michael flew into the room. `
` `
` Oh no. We have written it so, because that was the charming `
` arrangement planned by them before we left the ship; but `
` something must have happened since then, for it is not they who `
` have flown in, it is Peter and Tinker Bell. `
` `
`
` sailors understood, and they cheered him lustily. Then a few `
` sharp orders were given, and they turned the ship round, and nosed `
` her for the mainland. `
` `
` Captain Pan calculated, after consulting the ship's chart, that `
` if this weather lasted they should strike the Azores about the `
` 21st of June, after which it would save time to fly. `
` `
` Some of them wanted it to be an honest ship and others were in `
` favour of keeping it a pirate; but the captain treated them as `
` dogs, and they dared not express their wishes to him even in a `
` round robin [one person after another, as they had to Cpt. Hook]. `
` Instant obedience was the only safe thing. Slightly got a dozen `
` for looking perplexed when told to take soundings. The general `
` feeling was that Peter was honest just now to lull Wendy's `
` suspicions, but that there might be a change when the new suit `
` was ready, which, against her will, she was making for him out of `
` some of Hook's wickedest garments. It was afterwards whispered `
` among them that on the first night he wore this suit he sat long `
` in the cabin with Hook's cigar-holder in his mouth and one hand `
` clenched, all but for the forefinger, which he bent and held `
` threateningly aloft like a hook. `
` `
` Instead of watching the ship, however, we must now return to `
` that desolate home from which three of our characters had taken `
` heartless flight so long ago. It seems a shame to have neglected `
` No. 14 all this time; and yet we may be sure that Mrs. Darling `
` does not blame us. If we had returned sooner to look with `
` sorrowful sympathy at her, she would probably have cried, "Don't `
` be silly; what do I matter? Do go back and keep an eye on the `
` children." So long as mothers are like this their children will `
` take advantage of them; and they may lay to [bet on] that. `
` `
` Even now we venture into that familiar nursery only because its `
` lawful occupants are on their way home; we are merely hurrying on `
` in advance of them to see that their beds are properly aired and `
` that Mr. and Mrs. Darling do not go out for the evening. We are `
` no more than servants. Why on earth should their beds be `
` properly aired, seeing that they left them in such a thankless `
` hurry? Would it not serve them jolly well right if they came `
` back and found that their parents were spending the week-end in `
` the country? It would be the moral lesson they have been in need `
` of ever since we met them; but if we contrived things in this way `
` Mrs. Darling would never forgive us. `
` `
` One thing I should like to do immensely, and that is to tell `
` her, in the way authors have, that the children are coming back, `
` that indeed they will be here on Thursday week. This would spoil `
` so completely the surprise to which Wendy and John and Michael `
` are looking forward. They have been planning it out on the ship: `
` mother's rapture, father's shout of joy, Nana's leap through the `
` air to embrace them first, when what they ought to be prepared `
` for is a good hiding. How delicious to spoil it all by breaking `
` the news in advance; so that when they enter grandly Mrs. Darling `
` may not even offer Wendy her mouth, and Mr. Darling may exclaim `
` pettishly, "Dash it all, here are those boys again." However, we `
` should get no thanks even for this. We are beginning to know `
` Mrs. Darling by this time, and may be sure that she would upbraid `
` us for depriving the children of their little pleasure. `
` `
` "But, my dear madam, it is ten days till Thursday week; so that `
` by telling you what's what, we can save you ten days of `
` unhappiness." `
` `
` "Yes, but at what a cost! By depriving the children of ten `
` minutes of delight." `
` `
` "Oh, if you look at it in that way!" `
` `
` "What other way is there in which to look at it?" `
` `
` You see, the woman had no proper spirit. I had meant to say `
` extraordinarily nice things about her; but I despise her, and not `
` one of them will I say now. She does not really need to be told `
` to have things ready, for they are ready. All the beds are aired, `
` and she never leaves the house, and observe, the window is open. `
` For all the use we are to her, we might well go back to the ship. `
` However, as we are here we may as well stay and look on. That is `
` all we are, lookers-on. Nobody really wants us. So let us watch `
` and say jaggy things, in the hope that some of them will hurt. `
` `
` The only change to be seen in the night-nursery is that between `
` nine and six the kennel is no longer there. When the children `
` flew away, Mr. Darling felt in his bones that all the blame was `
` his for having chained Nana up, and that from first to last she `
` had been wiser than he. Of course, as we have seen, he was quite `
` a simple man; indeed he might have passed for a boy again if he `
` had been able to take his baldness off; but he had also a noble `
` sense of justice and a lion's courage to do what seemed right to `
` him; and having thought the matter out with anxious care after `
` the flight of the children, he went down on all fours and crawled `
` into the kennel. To all Mrs. Darling's dear invitations to him `
` to come out he replied sadly but firmly: `
` `
` "No, my own one, this is the place for me." `
` `
` In the bitterness of his remorse he swore that he would never `
` leave the kennel until his children came back. Of course this `
` was a pity; but whatever Mr. Darling did he had to do in excess, `
` otherwise he soon gave up doing it. And there never was a more `
` humble man than the once proud George Darling, as he sat in the `
` kennel of an evening talking with his wife of their children and `
` all their pretty ways. `
` `
` Very touching was his deference to Nana. He would not let her `
` come into the kennel, but on all other matters he followed her `
` wishes implicitly. `
` `
` Every morning the kennel was carried with Mr. Darling in it to `
` a cab, which conveyed him to his office, and he returned home in `
` the same way at six. Something of the strength of character of `
` the man will be seen if we remember how sensitive he was to the `
` opinion of neighbours: this man whose every movement now `
` attracted surprised attention. Inwardly he must have suffered `
` torture; but he preserved a calm exterior even when the young `
` criticised his little home, and he always lifted his hat `
` courteously to any lady who looked inside. `
` `
` It may have been Quixotic, but it was magnificent. Soon the `
` inward meaning of it leaked out, and the great heart of the `
` public was touched. Crowds followed the cab, cheering it `
` lustily; charming girls scaled it to get his autograph; `
` interviews appeared in the better class of papers, and society `
` invited him to dinner and added, "Do come in the kennel." `
` `
` On that eventful Thursday week, Mrs. Darling was in the night- `
` nursery awaiting George's return home; a very sad-eyed woman. `
` Now that we look at her closely and remember the gaiety of her in `
` the old days, all gone now just because she has lost her babes, I `
` find I won't be able to say nasty things about her after all. If `
` she was too fond of her rubbishy children, she couldn't help it. `
` Look at her in her chair, where she has fallen asleep. The `
` corner of her mouth, where one looks first, is almost withered `
` up. Her hand moves restlessly on her breast as if she had a `
` pain there. Some like Peter best, and some like Wendy best, but `
` I like her best. Suppose, to make her happy, we whisper to her `
` in her sleep that the brats are coming back. They are really `
` within two miles of the window now, and flying strong, but all `
` we need whisper is that they are on the way. Let's. `
` `
` It is a pity we did it, for she has started up, calling their `
` names; and there is no one in the room but Nana. `
` `
` "O Nana, I dreamt my dear ones had come back." `
` `
` Nana had filmy eyes, but all she could do was put her paw `
` gently on her mistress's lap; and they were sitting together thus `
` when the kennel was brought back. As Mr. Darling puts his head `
` out to kiss his wife, we see that his face is more worn than of `
` yore, but has a softer expression. `
` `
` He gave his hat to Liza, who took it scornfully; for she had no `
` imagination, and was quite incapable of understanding the motives `
` of such a man. Outside, the crowd who had accompanied the cab `
` home were still cheering, and he was naturally not unmoved. `
` `
` "Listen to them," he said; "it is very gratifying." `
` `
` "Lots of little boys," sneered Liza. `
` `
` "There were several adults to-day," he assured her with a faint `
` flush; but when she tossed her head he had not a word of reproof for `
` her. Social success had not spoilt him; it had made him sweeter. `
` For some time he sat with his head out of the kennel, talking with `
` Mrs. Darling of this success, and pressing her hand reassuringly `
` when she said she hoped his head would not be turned by it. `
` `
` "But if I had been a weak man," he said. "Good heavens, if I `
` had been a weak man!" `
` `
` "And, George," she said timidly, "you are as full of remorse as `
` ever, aren't you?" `
` `
` "Full of remorse as ever, dearest! See my punishment: living `
` in a kennel." `
` `
` "But it is punishment, isn't it, George? You are sure you are `
` not enjoying it?" `
` `
` "My love!" `
` `
` You may be sure she begged his pardon; and then, feeling `
` drowsy, he curled round in the kennel. `
` `
` "Won't you play me to sleep," he asked, "on the nursery piano?" `
` and as she was crossing to the day-nursery he added `
` thoughtlessly, "And shut that window. I feel a draught." `
` `
` "O George, never ask me to do that. The window must always be `
` left open for them, always, always." `
` `
` Now it was his turn to beg her pardon; and she went into the `
` day-nursery and played, and soon he was asleep; and while he `
` slept, Wendy and John and Michael flew into the room. `
` `
` Oh no. We have written it so, because that was the charming `
` arrangement planned by them before we left the ship; but `
` something must have happened since then, for it is not they who `
` have flown in, it is Peter and Tinker Bell. `
` `
`