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give me that wish？〃
Now this question vexed them； for were he to return to his mother
they should lose his music； so the Queen tilted her nose
contemptuously and said； 〃Pooh； ask for a much bigger wish than
that。〃
〃Is that quite a little wish？〃 he inquired。
〃As little as this；〃 the Queen answered； putting her hands near
each other。
〃What size is a big wish？〃 he asked。
She measured it off on her skirt and it was a very handsome
length。
Then Peter reflected and said； 〃Well； then； I think I shall have
two little wishes instead of one big one。〃
Of course； the fairies had to agree； though his cleverness rather
shocked them； and he said that his first wish was to go to his
mother； but with the right to return to the Gardens if he found
her disappointing。 His second wish he would hold in reserve。
They tried to dissuade him； and even put obstacles in the way。
〃I can give you the power to fly to her house；〃 the Queen said；
〃but I can't open the door for you。
〃The window I flew out at will be open；〃 Peter said confidently。
〃Mother always keeps it open in the hope that I may fly back。〃
〃How do you know？〃 they asked； quite surprised； and； really；
Peter could not explain how he knew。
〃I just do know；〃 he said。
So as he persisted in his wish； they had to grant it。 The way
they gave him power to fly was this： They all tickled him on the
shoulder； and soon he felt a funny itching in that part and then
up he rose higher and higher and flew away out of the Gardens and
over the house…tops。
It was so delicious that instead of flying straight to his old
home he skimmed away over St。 Paul's to the Crystal Palace and
back by the river and Regent's Park； and by the time he reached
his mother's window he had quite made up his mind that his second
wish should be to become a bird。
The window was wide open； just as he knew it would be； and in he
fluttered； and there was his mother lying asleep。 Peter alighted
softly on the wooden rail at the foot of the bed and had a good
look at her。 She lay with her head on her hand； and the hollow
in the pillow was like a nest lined with her brown wavy hair。 He
remembered； though he had long forgotten it； that she always gave
her hair a holiday at night。 How sweet the frills of her night…
gown were。 He was very glad she was such a pretty mother。
But she looked sad； and he knew why she looked sad。 One of her
arms moved as if it wanted to go round something； and he knew
what it wanted to go round。
〃Oh； mother；〃 said Peter to himself； 〃if you just knew who is
sitting on the rail at the foot of the bed。〃
Very gently he patted the little mound that her feet made； and he
could see by her face that she liked it。 He knew he had but to
say 〃Mother〃 ever so softly； and she would wake up。 They always
wake up at once if it is you that says their name。 Then she
would give such a joyous cry and squeeze him tight。 How nice
that would be to him； but oh； how exquisitely delicious it would
be to her。 That I am afraid is how Peter regarded it。 In
returning to his mother he never doubted that he was giving her
the greatest treat a woman can have。 Nothing can be more
splendid； he thought； than to have a little boy of your own。 How
proud of him they are； and very right and proper； too。
But why does Peter sit so long on the rail； why does he not tell
his mother that he has come back？
I quite shrink from the truth； which is that he sat there in two
minds。 Sometimes he looked longingly at his mother； and
sometimes he looked longingly at the window。 Certainly it would
be pleasant to be her boy again； but； on the other hand； what
times those had been in the Gardens！ Was he so sure that he
would enjoy wearing clothes again？ He popped off the bed and
opened some drawers to have a look at his old garments。 They
were still there； but he could not remember how you put them on。
The socks； for instance； were they worn on the hands or on the
feet？ He was about to try one of them on his hand； when he had a
great adventure。 Perhaps the drawer had creaked； at any rate；
his mother woke up； for he heard her say 〃Peter；〃 as if it was
the most lovely word in the language。 He remained sitting on the
floor and held his breath； wondering how she knew that he had
come back。 If she said 〃Peter〃 again； he meant to cry 〃Mother〃
and run to her。 But she spoke no more； she made little moans
only； and when next he peeped at her she was once more asleep；
with tears on her face。
It made Peter very miserable； and what do you think was the first
thing he did？ Sitting on the rail at the foot of the bed； he
played a beautiful lullaby to his mother on his pipe。 He had
made it up himself out of the way she said 〃Peter；〃 and he never
stopped playing until she looked happy。
He thought this so clever of him that he could scarcely resist
wakening her to hear her say； 〃Oh； Peter； how exquisitely you
play。〃 However； as she now seemed comfortable； he again cast
looks at the window。 You must not think that he meditated flying
away and never coming back。 He had quite decided to be his
mother's boy； but hesitated about beginning to…night。 It was the
second wish which troubled him。 He no longer meant to make it a
wish to be a bird； but not to ask for a second wish seemed
wasteful； and； of course； he could not ask for it without
returning to the fairies。 Also； if he put off asking for his
wish too long it might go bad。 He asked himself if he had not
been hardhearted to fly away without saying good…bye to Solomon。
〃I should like awfully to sail in my boat just once more；〃 he
said wistfully to his sleeping mother。 He quite argued with her
as if she could hear him。 〃It would be so splendid to tell the
birds of this adventure；〃 he said coaxingly。 〃I promise to come
back；〃 he said solemnly and meant it； too。
And in the end； you know； he flew away。 Twice he came back from
the window； wanting to kiss his mother； but he feared the delight
of it might waken her； so at last he played her a lovely kiss on
his pipe； and then he flew back to the Gardens。
Many nights and even months passed before he asked the fairies
for his second wish； and I am not sure that I quite know why he
delayed so long。 One reason was that he had so many good…byes to
say； not only to his particular friends； but to a hundred
favourite spots。 Then he had his last sail； and his very last
sail； and his last sail of all； and so on。 Again； a number of
farewell feasts were given in his honour； and another comfortable
reason was that； after all； there was no hurry； for his mother
would never weary of waiting for him。 This last reason
displeased old Solomon； for it was an encouragement to the birds
to procrastinate。 Solomon had several excellent mottoes for
keeping them at their work； such as 〃Never put off laying to…day；
because you can lay to…morrow；〃 a