Reading Help Peter-pan BY J. M. BARRIE
`
` "We were still discussing it, you remember," says Mr. Darling, `
` "when Nana came in with Michael's medicine. You will never carry `
` the bottle in your mouth again, Nana, and it is all my fault." `
` `
` Strong man though he was, there is no doubt that he had behaved `
` rather foolishly over the medicine. If he had a weakness, it was `
` for thinking that all his life he had taken medicine boldly, and `
` so now, when Michael dodged the spoon in Nana's mouth, he had `
` said reprovingly, "Be a man, Michael." `
` `
` "Won't; won't!" Michael cried naughtily. Mrs. Darling left the `
` room to get a chocolate for him, and Mr. Darling thought this `
` showed want of firmness. `
` `
` "Mother, don't pamper him," he called after her. "Michael, `
` when I was your age I took medicine without a murmur. I said, `
` `Thank you, kind parents, for giving me bottles to make we `
` well.'" `
` `
` He really thought this was true, and Wendy, who was now in her `
` night-gown, believed it also, and she said, to encourage `
` Michael, "That medicine you sometimes take, father, is much `
` nastier, isn't it?" `
` `
` "Ever so much nastier," Mr. Darling said bravely, "and I would `
` take it now as an example to you, Michael, if I hadn't lost the `
` bottle." `
` `
` He had not exactly lost it; he had climbed in the dead of night `
` to the top of the wardrobe and hidden it there. What he did not `
` know was that the faithful Liza had found it, and put it back on `
` his wash-stand. `
` `
` "I know where it is, father," Wendy cried, always glad to be of `
` service. "I'll bring it," and she was off before he could stop `
` her. Immediately his spirits sank in the strangest way. `
` `
` "John," he said, shuddering, "it's most beastly stuff. It's `
` that nasty, sticky, sweet kind." `
` `
` "It will soon be over, father," John said cheerily, and then in `
` rushed Wendy with the medicine in a glass. `
` `
` "I have been as quick as I could," she panted. `
` `
` "You have been wonderfully quick," her father retorted, with a `
` vindictive politeness that was quite thrown away upon her. `
` "Michael first," he said doggedly. `
` `
` "Father first," said Michael, who was of a suspicious nature. `
` `
` "I shall be sick, you know," Mr. Darling said threateningly. `
` `
` "Come on, father," said John. `
` `
` "Hold your tongue, John," his father rapped out. `
` `
` Wendy was quite puzzled. "I thought you took it quite easily, `
` father." `
` `
` "That is not the point," he retorted. "The point is, that `
` there is more in my glass that in Michael's spoon." His proud `
` heart was nearly bursting. "And it isn't fair: I would say it `
` though it were with my last breath; it isn't fair." `
` `
` "Father, I am waiting," said Michael coldly. `
` `
` "It's all very well to say you are waiting; so am I waiting." `
` `
` "Father's a cowardly custard." `
` `
` "So are you a cowardly custard." `
` `
` "I'm not frightened." `
` `
` "Neither am I frightened." `
` `
` "Well, then, take it." `
` `
` "Well, then, you take it." `
` `
` Wendy had a splendid idea. "Why not both take it at the same `
` time?" `
` `
` "Certainly," said Mr. Darling. "Are you ready, Michael?" `
` `
` Wendy gave the words, one, two, three, and Michael took his `
` medicine, but Mr. Darling slipped his behind his back. `
` `
` There was a yell of rage from Michael, and "O father!" Wendy `
` exclaimed. `
` `
` "What do you mean by `O father'?" Mr. Darling demanded. "Stop `
` that row, Michael. I meant to take mine, but I -- I missed it." `
` `
` It was dreadful the way all the three were looking at him, just `
` as if they did not admire him. "Look here, all of you," he said `
` entreatingly, as soon as Nana had gone into the bathroom. "I `
` have just thought of a splendid joke. I shall pour my medicine `
` into Nana's bowl, and she will drink it, thinking it is milk!" `
` `
` It was the colour of milk; but the children did not have their `
` father's sense of humour, and they looked at him reproachfully as `
` he poured the medicine into Nana's bowl. "What fun!" he said `
` doubtfully, and they did not dare expose him when Mrs. Darling `
` and Nana returned. `
` `
` "Nana, good dog," he said, patting her, "I have put a little `
` milk into your bowl, Nana." `
` `
` Nana wagged her tail, ran to the medicine, and began lapping `
` it. Then she gave Mr. Darling such a look, not an angry look: `
` she showed him the great red tear that makes us so sorry for `
` noble dogs, and crept into her kennel. `
` `
` Mr. Darling was frightfully ashamed of himself, but he would `
` not give in. In a horrid silence Mrs. Darling smelt the bowl. `
` "O George," she said, "it's your medicine!" `
` `
` "It was only a joke," he roared, while she comforted her boys, `
` and Wendy hugged Nana. "Much good," he said bitterly, "my `
` wearing myself to the bone trying to be funny in this house." `
` `
` And still Wendy hugged Nana. "That's right," he shouted. `
` "Coddle her! Nobody coddles me. Oh dear no! I am only the `
` breadwinner, why should I be coddled--why, why, why!" `
` `
` "George," Mrs. Darling entreated him, "not so loud; the `
` servants will hear you." Somehow they had got into the way of `
` calling Liza the servants. `
` `
` "Let them!" he answered recklessly. "Bring in the whole world. `
` But I refuse to allow that dog to lord it in my nursery for an `
` hour longer." `
` `
` The children wept, and Nana ran to him beseechingly, but he `
` waved her back. He felt he was a strong man again. "In vain, in `
` vain," he cried; "the proper place for you is the yard, and there `
` you go to be tied up this instant." `
` `
` "George, George," Mrs. Darling whispered, "remember what I told `
` you about that boy." `
` `
` Alas, he would not listen. He was determined to show who was `
` master in that house, and when commands would not draw Nana from `
` the kennel, he lured her out of it with honeyed words, and `
` seizing her roughly, dragged her from the nursery. He was `
` ashamed of himself, and yet he did it. It was all owing to his `
` too affectionate nature, which craved for admiration. When he `
` had tied her up in the back-yard, the wretched father went and `
` sat in the passage, with his knuckles to his eyes. `
` `
` In the meantime Mrs. Darling had put the children to bed in `
` unwonted silence and lit their night-lights. They could hear `
` Nana barking, and John whimpered, "It is because he is chaining `
` her up in the yard," but Wendy was wiser. `
` `
` "That is not Nana's unhappy bark," she said, little guessing `
` what was about to happen; "that is her bark when she smells `
` danger." `
` `
` Danger! `
` `
` "Are you sure, Wendy?" `
` `
` "Oh, yes." `
` `
` Mrs. Darling quivered and went to the window. It was securely `
` fastened. She looked out, and the night was peppered with stars. `
` They were crowding round the house, as if curious to see what was `
` to take place there, but she did not notice this, nor that one or `
` two of the smaller ones winked at her. Yet a nameless fear `
` clutched at her heart and made her cry, "Oh, how I wish that I `
` wasn't going to a party to-night!" `
` `
` Even Michael, already half asleep, knew that she was perturbed, `
` and he asked, "Can anything harm us, mother, after the night- `
` lights are lit?" `
` `
` "Nothing, precious," she said; "they are the eyes a mother `
` leaves behind her to guard her children." `
` `
` She went from bed to bed singing enchantments over them, and `
` little Michael flung his arms round her. "Mother," he cried, `
` "I'm glad of you." They were the last words she was to hear from `
` him for a long time. `
` `
` No. 27 was only a few yards distant, but there had been a `
` slight fall of snow, and Father and Mother Darling picked their `
` way over it deftly not to soil their shoes. They were already `
` the only persons in the street, and all the stars were watching `
` them. Stars are beautiful, but they may not take an active part `
` in anything, they must just look on for ever. It is a punishment `
` put on them for something they did so long ago that no star now `
` knows what it was. So the older ones have become glassy-eyed and `
` seldom speak (winking is the star language), but the little ones `
` still wonder. They are not really friendly to Peter, who had a `
` mischievous way of stealing up behind them and trying to blow `
` them out; but they are so fond of fun that they were on his side `
` to-night, and anxious to get the grown-ups out of the way. So `
`
` "We were still discussing it, you remember," says Mr. Darling, `
` "when Nana came in with Michael's medicine. You will never carry `
` the bottle in your mouth again, Nana, and it is all my fault." `
` `
` Strong man though he was, there is no doubt that he had behaved `
` rather foolishly over the medicine. If he had a weakness, it was `
` for thinking that all his life he had taken medicine boldly, and `
` so now, when Michael dodged the spoon in Nana's mouth, he had `
` said reprovingly, "Be a man, Michael." `
` `
` "Won't; won't!" Michael cried naughtily. Mrs. Darling left the `
` room to get a chocolate for him, and Mr. Darling thought this `
` showed want of firmness. `
` `
` "Mother, don't pamper him," he called after her. "Michael, `
` when I was your age I took medicine without a murmur. I said, `
` `Thank you, kind parents, for giving me bottles to make we `
` well.'" `
` `
` He really thought this was true, and Wendy, who was now in her `
` night-gown, believed it also, and she said, to encourage `
` Michael, "That medicine you sometimes take, father, is much `
` nastier, isn't it?" `
` `
` "Ever so much nastier," Mr. Darling said bravely, "and I would `
` take it now as an example to you, Michael, if I hadn't lost the `
` bottle." `
` `
` He had not exactly lost it; he had climbed in the dead of night `
` to the top of the wardrobe and hidden it there. What he did not `
` know was that the faithful Liza had found it, and put it back on `
` his wash-stand. `
` `
` "I know where it is, father," Wendy cried, always glad to be of `
` service. "I'll bring it," and she was off before he could stop `
` her. Immediately his spirits sank in the strangest way. `
` `
` "John," he said, shuddering, "it's most beastly stuff. It's `
` that nasty, sticky, sweet kind." `
` `
` "It will soon be over, father," John said cheerily, and then in `
` rushed Wendy with the medicine in a glass. `
` `
` "I have been as quick as I could," she panted. `
` `
` "You have been wonderfully quick," her father retorted, with a `
` vindictive politeness that was quite thrown away upon her. `
` "Michael first," he said doggedly. `
` `
` "Father first," said Michael, who was of a suspicious nature. `
` `
` "I shall be sick, you know," Mr. Darling said threateningly. `
` `
` "Come on, father," said John. `
` `
` "Hold your tongue, John," his father rapped out. `
` `
` Wendy was quite puzzled. "I thought you took it quite easily, `
` father." `
` `
` "That is not the point," he retorted. "The point is, that `
` there is more in my glass that in Michael's spoon." His proud `
` heart was nearly bursting. "And it isn't fair: I would say it `
` though it were with my last breath; it isn't fair." `
` `
` "Father, I am waiting," said Michael coldly. `
` `
` "It's all very well to say you are waiting; so am I waiting." `
` `
` "Father's a cowardly custard." `
` `
` "So are you a cowardly custard." `
` `
` "I'm not frightened." `
` `
` "Neither am I frightened." `
` `
` "Well, then, take it." `
` `
` "Well, then, you take it." `
` `
` Wendy had a splendid idea. "Why not both take it at the same `
` time?" `
` `
` "Certainly," said Mr. Darling. "Are you ready, Michael?" `
` `
` Wendy gave the words, one, two, three, and Michael took his `
` medicine, but Mr. Darling slipped his behind his back. `
` `
` There was a yell of rage from Michael, and "O father!" Wendy `
` exclaimed. `
` `
` "What do you mean by `O father'?" Mr. Darling demanded. "Stop `
` that row, Michael. I meant to take mine, but I -- I missed it." `
` `
` It was dreadful the way all the three were looking at him, just `
` as if they did not admire him. "Look here, all of you," he said `
` entreatingly, as soon as Nana had gone into the bathroom. "I `
` have just thought of a splendid joke. I shall pour my medicine `
` into Nana's bowl, and she will drink it, thinking it is milk!" `
` `
` It was the colour of milk; but the children did not have their `
` father's sense of humour, and they looked at him reproachfully as `
` he poured the medicine into Nana's bowl. "What fun!" he said `
` doubtfully, and they did not dare expose him when Mrs. Darling `
` and Nana returned. `
` `
` "Nana, good dog," he said, patting her, "I have put a little `
` milk into your bowl, Nana." `
` `
` Nana wagged her tail, ran to the medicine, and began lapping `
` it. Then she gave Mr. Darling such a look, not an angry look: `
` she showed him the great red tear that makes us so sorry for `
` noble dogs, and crept into her kennel. `
` `
` Mr. Darling was frightfully ashamed of himself, but he would `
` not give in. In a horrid silence Mrs. Darling smelt the bowl. `
` "O George," she said, "it's your medicine!" `
` `
` "It was only a joke," he roared, while she comforted her boys, `
` and Wendy hugged Nana. "Much good," he said bitterly, "my `
` wearing myself to the bone trying to be funny in this house." `
` `
` And still Wendy hugged Nana. "That's right," he shouted. `
` "Coddle her! Nobody coddles me. Oh dear no! I am only the `
` breadwinner, why should I be coddled--why, why, why!" `
` `
` "George," Mrs. Darling entreated him, "not so loud; the `
` servants will hear you." Somehow they had got into the way of `
` calling Liza the servants. `
` `
` "Let them!" he answered recklessly. "Bring in the whole world. `
` But I refuse to allow that dog to lord it in my nursery for an `
` hour longer." `
` `
` The children wept, and Nana ran to him beseechingly, but he `
` waved her back. He felt he was a strong man again. "In vain, in `
` vain," he cried; "the proper place for you is the yard, and there `
` you go to be tied up this instant." `
` `
` "George, George," Mrs. Darling whispered, "remember what I told `
` you about that boy." `
` `
` Alas, he would not listen. He was determined to show who was `
` master in that house, and when commands would not draw Nana from `
` the kennel, he lured her out of it with honeyed words, and `
` seizing her roughly, dragged her from the nursery. He was `
` ashamed of himself, and yet he did it. It was all owing to his `
` too affectionate nature, which craved for admiration. When he `
` had tied her up in the back-yard, the wretched father went and `
` sat in the passage, with his knuckles to his eyes. `
` `
` In the meantime Mrs. Darling had put the children to bed in `
` unwonted silence and lit their night-lights. They could hear `
` Nana barking, and John whimpered, "It is because he is chaining `
` her up in the yard," but Wendy was wiser. `
` `
` "That is not Nana's unhappy bark," she said, little guessing `
` what was about to happen; "that is her bark when she smells `
` danger." `
` `
` Danger! `
` `
` "Are you sure, Wendy?" `
` `
` "Oh, yes." `
` `
` Mrs. Darling quivered and went to the window. It was securely `
` fastened. She looked out, and the night was peppered with stars. `
` They were crowding round the house, as if curious to see what was `
` to take place there, but she did not notice this, nor that one or `
` two of the smaller ones winked at her. Yet a nameless fear `
` clutched at her heart and made her cry, "Oh, how I wish that I `
` wasn't going to a party to-night!" `
` `
` Even Michael, already half asleep, knew that she was perturbed, `
` and he asked, "Can anything harm us, mother, after the night- `
` lights are lit?" `
` `
` "Nothing, precious," she said; "they are the eyes a mother `
` leaves behind her to guard her children." `
` `
` She went from bed to bed singing enchantments over them, and `
` little Michael flung his arms round her. "Mother," he cried, `
` "I'm glad of you." They were the last words she was to hear from `
` him for a long time. `
` `
` No. 27 was only a few yards distant, but there had been a `
` slight fall of snow, and Father and Mother Darling picked their `
` way over it deftly not to soil their shoes. They were already `
` the only persons in the street, and all the stars were watching `
` them. Stars are beautiful, but they may not take an active part `
` in anything, they must just look on for ever. It is a punishment `
` put on them for something they did so long ago that no star now `
` knows what it was. So the older ones have become glassy-eyed and `
` seldom speak (winking is the star language), but the little ones `
` still wonder. They are not really friendly to Peter, who had a `
` mischievous way of stealing up behind them and trying to blow `
` them out; but they are so fond of fun that they were on his side `
` to-night, and anxious to get the grown-ups out of the way. So `
`