Wendy’s Story

           ’Listen,then,’saidWendy,settlingdowntoherstory,withMichaelatherfeetandsevenboysinthebed.’Therewasonceagentleman——’

           ’Ihadratherhehadbeenalady,’Curlysaid.

           ’Iwishhehadbeenawhiterat,’saidNibs.

           ’Quiet,’theirmotheradmonishedthem.’Therewasaladyalso,and——’

           ’Omummy,’criedthefirsttwin,’youmeanthatthereisaladyalso,don’tyou?Sheisnotdead,isshe?’

           ’Ohno.’

           ’Iamawfullygladsheisn’tdead,’saidTootles.’Areyouglad,John?’

           ’OfcourseIam.’

           ’Areyouglad,Nibs?’

           ’Rather.’

           ’Areyouglad,Twins?’

           ’Wearejustglad.’

           ’Ohdear,’sighedWendy.

           ’Littlelessnoisethere,’Petercalledout,determinedthatsheshouldhavefairplay,howeverbeastlyastoryitmightbeinhisopinion.

           ’Thegentleman’sname,’Wendycontinued,’wasMr.Darling,andhernamewasMrs.Darling.’

           ’Iknewthem,’Johnsaid,toannoytheothers.

           ’IthinkIknewthem,’saidMichaelratherdoubtfully.

           ’Theyweremarried,youknow,’explainedWendy,’andwhatdoyouthinktheyhad?’

           ’Whiterats,’criedNibs,inspired.

           ’No.’

           ’It’sawfullypuzzling,’saidTootles,whoknewthestorybyheart.

           ’Quiet,Tootles.Theyhadthreedescendants.’

           ’Whatisdescendants?’

           ’Well,youareone,Twin.

           ’Doyouhearthat,John?Iamadescendant.’

           ’Descendantsareonlychildren,’saidJohn.

           ’Ohdear,ohdear,’sighedWendy.’NowthesethreechildrenhadafaithfulnursecalledNana;butMr.