Hullo, Wendy, he said, not noticing any difference, for he was
thinking chiefly of himself; and in the dim light her white dress might
have been the nightgown in which he had seen her first.
Hullo, Peter, she replied faintly, squeezing herself as small as
possible. Something inside her was crying Woman, Woman, let go of me.
Hullo, where is John? he asked, suddenly missing the third bed.
John is not here now, she gasped.
Is Michael asleep? he asked, with a careless glance at Jane.
Yes, she answered; and now she felt that she was untrue to Jane as
well as to Peter.
That is not Michael, she said quickly, lest a judgment should fall on
her.
Peter looked. Hullo, is it a new one?
Yes.
Boy or girl?
Girl.
Now surely he would understand; but not a bit of it.
Peter, she said, faltering, are you expecting me to fly away with
you?
Of course; that is why I have come. He added a little sternly, Have
you forgotten that this is spring cleaning time?
She knew it was useless to say that he had let many spring cleaning
times pass.
I can t come, she said apologetically, I have forgotten how to fly.
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