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are； and he replied； 〃Thank you；〃 and held out his hand； thinking
she had offered to put something into it。 This was a great shock
to her； but she felt she could not explain without shaming him；
so with charming delicacy she gave Peter a thimble which happened
to be in her pocket； and pretended that it was a kiss。 Poor
little boy！ he quite believed her； and to this day he wears it on
his finger； though there can be scarcely anyone who needs a
thimble so little。 You see； though still a tiny child； it was
really years and years since he had seen his mother； and I
daresay the baby who had supplanted him was now a man with
whiskers。
But you must not think that Peter Pan was a boy to pity rather
than to admire； if Maimie began by thinking this； she soon found
she was very much mistaken。 Her eyes glistened with admiration
when he told her of his adventures； especially of how he went to
and fro between the island and the Gardens in the Thrush's Nest。
〃How romantic；〃 Maimie exclaimed； but it was another unknown
word； and he hung his head thinking she was despising him。
〃I suppose Tony would not have done that？〃 he said very humbly。
〃Never； never！〃 she answered with conviction； 〃he would have been
afraid。〃
〃What is afraid？〃 asked Peter longingly。 He thought it must be
some splendid thing。 〃I do wish you would teach me how to be
afraid； Maimie；〃 he said。
〃I believe no one could teach that to you；〃 she answered
adoringly； but Peter thought she meant that he was stupid。 She
had told him about Tony and of the wicked thing she did in the
dark to frighten him （she knew quite well that it was wicked）；
but Peter misunderstood her meaning and said； 〃Oh； how I wish I
was as brave as Tony。〃
It quite irritated her。 〃You are twenty thousand times braver
than Tony；〃 she said； 〃you are ever so much the bravest boy I
ever knew！〃
He could scarcely believe she meant it； but when be did believe
he screamed with joy。
〃And if you want very much to give me a kiss；〃 Maimie said； 〃you
can do it。〃
Very reluctantly Peter began to take the thimble off his finger。
He thought she wanted it back。
〃I don't mean a kiss；〃 she said hurriedly； 〃I mean a thimble。〃
〃What's that？〃 Peter asked。
〃It's like this；〃 she said； and kissed him。
〃I should love to give you a thimble；〃 Peter said gravely； so he
gave her one。 He gave her quite a number of thimbles； and then a
delightful idea came into his head！ 〃Maimie；〃 he said； 〃will you
marry me？〃
Now； strange to tell； the same idea had come at exactly the same
time into Maimie's head。 〃I should like to；〃 she answered； 〃but
will there be room in your boat for two？〃
〃If you squeeze close；〃 he said eagerly。
〃Perhaps the birds would be angry？〃
He assured her that the birds would love to have her； though I am
not so certain of it myself。 Also that there were very few birds
in winter。 〃Of course they might want your clothes；〃 he had to
admit rather falteringly。
She was somewhat indignant at this。
〃They are always thinking of their nests；〃 he said
apologetically； 〃and there are some bits of you〃he stroked the
fur on her pelisse〃that would excite them very much。〃
〃They sha'n't have my fur；〃 she said sharply。
〃No；〃 he said； still fondling it； however； 〃no！ Oh； Maimie；〃 he
said rapturously； 〃do you know why I love you？ It is because you
are like a beautiful nest。〃
Somehow this made her uneasy。 〃I think you are speaking more
like a bird than a boy now；〃 she said； holding back； and indeed
he was even looking rather like a bird。 〃After all；〃 she said；
〃you are only a Betwixt…and…Between。〃 But it hurt him so much
that she immediately added； 〃It must be a delicious thing to be。〃
〃Come and be one then； dear Maimie；〃 he implored her； and they
set off for the boat； for it was now very near Open…Gate time。
〃And you are not a bit like a nest；〃 he whispered to please her。
〃But I think it is rather nice to be like one；〃 she said in a
woman's contradictory way。 〃And； Peter； dear； though I can't
give them my fur； I wouldn't mind their building in it。 Fancy a
nest in my neck with little spotty eggs in it！ Oh； Peter； how
perfectly lovely！〃
But as they drew near the Serpentine； she shivered a little； and
said； 〃Of course I shall go and see mother often； quite often。
It is not as if I was saying good…bye for ever to mother； it is
not in the least like that。〃
〃Oh； no；〃 answered Peter； but in his heart he knew it was very
like that； and he would have told her so had he not been in a
quaking fear of losing her。 He was so fond of her； he felt he
could not live without her。 〃She will forget her mother in time；
and be happy with me；〃 he kept saying to himself； and he hurried
her on； giving her thimbles by the way。
But even when she had seen the boat and exclaimed ecstatically
over its loveliness； she still talked tremblingly about her
mother。 〃You know quite well； Peter； don't you；〃 she said； 〃that
I wouldn't come unless I knew for certain I could go back to
mother whenever I want to？ Peter； say it！〃
He said it； but he could no longer look her in the face。
〃If you are sure your mother will always want you；〃 he added
rather sourly。
〃The idea of mother's not always wanting me！〃 Maimie cried； and
her face glistened。
〃If she doesn't bar you out；〃 said Peter huskily。
〃The door；〃 replied Maimie； 〃will always； always be open； and
mother will always be waiting at it for me。〃
〃Then；〃 said Peter； not without grimness； 〃step in； if you feel
so sure of her；〃 and he helped Maimie into the Thrush's Nest。
〃But why don't you look at me？〃 she asked； taking him by the arm。
Peter tried hard not to look； he tried to push off； then he gave
a great gulp and jumped ashore and sat down miserably in the
snow。
She went to him。 〃What is it； dear； dear Peter？〃 she said；
wondering。
〃Oh； Maimie；〃 he cried； 〃it isn't fair to take you with me if you
think you can go back。 Your mother〃he gulped again〃you don't
know them as well as I do。〃
And then he told her the woful story of how he had been barred
out； and she gasped all the time。 〃But my mother；〃 she said； 〃my
mother〃
〃Yes； she would；〃 said Peter； 〃they are all the same。 I daresay
she is looking for another one already。〃
Maimie said aghast； 〃I can't believe it。 You see； when you went
away your mother had none； but my mother has Tony； and surely
they are satisfied when they have one。〃
Peter replied bitterly； 〃You should see the letters Solomon gets
from ladies who have six。〃
Just then they heard a grating creak； followed by creak； creak；
all round the Gardens。 It was the Opening of the Gates； and
Peter jumped nervously into his boat。 He knew Maimie would not
come with him now； and he was trying bravely not to cry。 But
Maimie was sobbing painfully。
〃If I should be too late