Chapter X. THE HAPPY HOME · page 21 2101“Michael takes after you.”102She went to him and put her hand on his shoulder.103“Dear Peter,” she said, “with such a large family, of course, I have now passed my best, but you don’t want to change me, do you?”104“No, Wendy.”105Certainly he did not want a change, but he looked at her uncomfortably, blinking, you know, like one not sure whether he was awake or asleep.106“Peter, what is it?”107“I was just thinking,” he said, a little scared.108“It is only make-believe, isn’t it, that I am their father?”109“Oh yes,” Wendy said primly.110“You see,” he continued apologetically, “it would make me seem so old to be their real father.”111“But they are ours, Peter, yours and mine.”112“But not really, Wendy?” he asked anxiously.113“Not if you don’t wish it,” she replied; and she distinctly heard his sigh of relief.checked by a teacher114“Peter,” she asked, trying to speak firmly, “what are your exact feelings to me?”115“Those of a devoted son, Wendy.”116“I thought so,” she said, and went and sat by herself at the extreme end of the room.117“You are so queer,” he said, frankly puzzled, “and Tiger Lily is just the same.118There is something she wants to be to me, but she says it is not my mother.”119“No, indeed, it is not,” Wendy replied with frightful emphasis.120Now we know why she was prejudiced against the redskins.121“Then what is it?”122“It isn’t for a lady to tell.”123“Oh, very well,” Peter said, a little nettled.124“Perhaps Tinker Bell will tell me.”125“Oh yes, Tinker Bell will tell you,” Wendy retorted scornfully.126“She is an abandoned little creature.”127Here Tink, who was in her bedroom, eavesdropping, squeaked out something impudent.128“She says she glories in being abandoned,” Peter interpreted.129He had a sudden idea.130“Perhaps Tink wants to be my mother?”131“You silly ass!” cried Tinker Bell in a passion.132She had said it so often that Wendy needed no translation.133“I almost agree with her,” Wendy snapped.134Fancy Wendy snapping!135But she had been much tried, and she little knew what was to happen before the night was out.136If she had known she would not have snapped.137None of them knew.138Perhaps it was best not to know.139Their ignorance gave them one more glad hour; and as it was to be their last hour on the island, let us rejoice that there were sixty glad minutes in it.140They sang and danced in their night-gowns.141Such a deliciously creepy song it was, in which they pretended to be frightened at their own shadows, little witting that so soon shadows would close in upon them, from whom they would shrink in real fear.142So uproariously gay was the dance, and how they buffeted each other on the bed and out of it!143It was a pillow fight rather than a dance, and when it was finished, the pillows insisted on one bout more, like partners who know that they may never meet again.144The stories they told, before it was time for Wendy’s good-night story!145Even Slightly tried to tell a story that night, but the beginning was so fearfully dull that it appalled not only the others but himself, and he said gloomily:146“Yes, it is a dull beginning.147I say, let us pretend that it is the end.”148And then at last they all got into bed for Wendy’s story, the story they loved best, the story Peter hated.149Usually when she began to tell this story he left the room or put his hands over his ears; and possibly if he had done either of those things this time they might all still be on the island.150But to-night he remained on his stool; and we shall see what happened.1 2← previousChapter IX. THE NEVER BIRDnext →Chapter XI. WENDY’S STORY↑ back to Peter PanThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg16/11/page/2/