Of course it was to this that Peter had been luring them.
Michael was ready: he wanted to see how long it took him to do a
billion miles. But Wendy hesitated.
Mermaids! said Peter again.
Oo!
And there are pirates.
Pirates, cried John, seizing his Sunday hat, let us go at once.
It was just at this moment that Mr. and Mrs. Darling hurried with Nana
out of 27. They ran into the middle of the street to look up at the
nursery window; and, yes, it was still shut, but the room was ablaze
with light, and most heart-gripping sight of all, they could see in
shadow on the curtain three little figures in night attire circling
round and round, not on the floor but in the air.
Not three figures, four!
In a tremble they opened the street door. Mr. Darling would have rushed
upstairs, but Mrs. Darling signed him to go softly. She even tried to
make her heart go softly.
Will they reach the nursery in time? If so, how delightful for them,
and we shall all breathe a sigh of relief, but there will be no story.
On the other hand, if they are not in time, I solemnly promise that it
will all come right in the end.
They would have reached the nursery in time had it not been that the
little stars were watching them. Once again the stars blew the window
open, and that smallest star of all called out:
Cave, Peter!
Then Peter knew that there was not a moment to lose. Come, he cried
imperiously, and soared out at once into the night, followed by John
and Michael and Wendy.
34