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.
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