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his boat。 You must not think； however； that he was a coward； for
he came back next night with a crust in one hand and a stick in
the other； but the perambulator had gone； and he never saw
another one。 I have promised to tell you also about his paddle。
It was a child's spade which he had found near St。 Govor's Well；
and he thought it was a paddle。
Do you pity Peter Pan for making these mistakes？ If so； I think
it rather silly of you。 What I mean is that； of course； one must
pity him now and then； but to pity him all the time would be
impertinence。 He thought he had the most splendid time in the
Gardens； and to think you have it is almost quite as good as
really to have it。 He played without ceasing； while you often
waste time by being mad…dog or Mary…Annish。 He could be neither
of these things； for he had never heard of them； but do you think
he is to be pitied for that？
Oh； he was merry。 He was as much merrier than you； for instance；
as you are merrier than your father。 Sometimes he fell； like a
spinning…top； from sheer merriment。 Have you seen a greyhound
leaping the fences of the Gardens？ That is how Peter leaps them。
And think of the music of his pipe。 Gentlemen who walk home at
night write to the papers to say they heard a nightingale in the
Gardens； but it is really Peter's pipe they hear。 Of course； he
had no motherat least； what use was she to him？ You can be
sorry for him for that； but don't be too sorry； for the next
thing I mean to tell you is how he revisited her。 It was the
fairies who gave him the chance
XVI
Lock…Out Time
It is frightfully difficult to know much about the fairies； and
almost the only thing known for certain is that there are fairies
wherever there are children。 Long ago children were forbidden
the Gardens； and at that time there was not a fairy in the place；
then the children were admitted； and the fairies came trooping in
that very evening。 They can't resist following the children； but
you seldom see them； partly because they live in the daytime
behind the railings； where you are not allowed to go； and also
partly because they are so cunning。 They are not a bit cunning
after Lock…out； but until Lock…out； my word！
When you were a bird you knew the fairies pretty well； and you
remember a good deal about them in your babyhood； which it is a
great pity you can't write down； for gradually you forget； and I
have heard of children who declared that they had never once seen
a fairy。 Very likely if they said this in the Kensington
Gardens； they were standing looking at a fairy all the time。 The
reason they were cheated was that she pretended to be something
else。 This is one of their best tricks。 They usually pretend to
be flowers； because the court sits in the Fairies' Basin； and
there are so many flowers there； and all along the Baby Walk；
that a flower is the thing least likely to attract attention。
They dress exactly like flowers； and change with the seasons；
putting on white when lilies are in and blue for blue…bells； and
so on。 They like crocus and hyacinth time best of all； as they
are partial to a bit of colour； but tulips （except white ones；
which are the fairy…cradles） they consider garish； and they
sometimes put off dressing like tulips for days； so that the
beginning of the tulip weeks is almost the best time to catch
them。
When they think you are not looking they skip along pretty
lively； but if you look and they fear there is no time to hide；
they stand quite still； pretending to be flowers。 Then； after
you have passed without knowing that they were fairies； they rush
home and tell their mothers they have had such an adventure。 The
Fairy Basin； you remember； is all covered with ground…ivy （from
which they make their castor…oil）； with flowers growing in it
here and there。 Most of them really are flowers； but some of
them are fairies。 You never can be sure of them； but a good plan
is to walk by looking the other way； and then turn round sharply。
Another good plan； which David and I sometimes follow； is to
stare them down。 After a long time they can't help winking； and
then you know for certain that they are fairies。
There are also numbers of them along the Baby Walk； which is a
famous gentle place； as spots frequented by fairies are called。
Once twenty…four of them had an extraordinary adventure。 They
were a girls' school out for a walk with the governess； and all
wearing hyacinth gowns； when she suddenly put her finger to her
mouth； and then they all stood still on an empty bed and
pretended to be hyacinths。 Unfortunately； what the governess had
heard was two gardeners coming to plant new flowers in that very
bed。 They were wheeling a handcart with the flowers in it； and
were quite surprised to find the bed occupied。 〃Pity to lift
them hyacinths；〃 said the one man。 〃Duke's orders；〃 replied the
other； and； having emptied the cart； they dug up the boarding…
school and put the poor； terrified things in it in five rows。 Of
course； neither the governess nor the girls dare let on that they
were fairies； so they were carted far away to a potting…shed； out
of which they escaped in the night without their shoes； but there
was a great row about it among the parents； and the school was
ruined。
As for their houses； it is no use looking for them； because they
are the exact opposite of our houses。 You can see our houses by
day but you can't see them by dark。 Well； you can see their
houses by dark； but you can't see them by day； for they are the
colour of night； and I never heard of anyone yet who could see
night in the daytime。 This does not mean that they are black；
for night has its colours just as day has； but ever so much
brighter。 Their blues and reds and greens are like ours with a
light behind them。 The palace is entirely built of many…coloured
glasses； and is quite the loveliest of all royal residences； but
the queen sometimes complains because the common people will peep
in to see what she is doing。 They are very inquisitive folk； and
press quite hard against the glass； and that is why their noses
are mostly snubby。 The streets are miles long and very twisty；
and have paths on each side made of bright worsted。 The birds
used to steal the worsted for their nests； but a policeman has
been appointed to hold on at the other end。
One of the great differences between the fairies and us is that
they never do anything useful。 When the first baby laughed for
the first time； his laugh broke into a million pieces； and they
all went skipping about。 That was the beginning of fairies。
They look tremendously busy； you know； as if they had not a
moment to spare； but if you were to ask them what they are doing；
they could not tell you in the least。 They are frightfully
ignorant； and everything they do is make…believe。 They have a
postman； but he never calls except at Christmas with his litt