Peter Pan - Wendy's Story

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
Chapter eleven, Peter Pan. This is a LibriVox recording. All
LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information
all to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. This reading
by Lucy Bourgoyne Peter Pan by J. M. Barry, Chapter eleven,

(00:25):
Wendy's Story. Listen, then said Wendy set them down to
her story, with Michael at her feet and seven boys
in the bed. There was once a gentleman. I had
rather he had been a lady, curly, said I wish
he had been a white rat, said NIBBs quiet. Their

(00:46):
mother admonished them there was a lady also, And oh, mummy,
cried the first twin. You mean that there is a
lady also, don't you? She is not dead, is she? Oh? No,
I am awfully glad she isn't dead, said Tootles. Are
you glad? John? Of course I am. Are you glad?

(01:10):
Nibs rather, are you glad? Twins? We are glad? Oh dear,
sighed Wendy. Little less noise there. Peter cooled out, determined
that she should have fair play, however beastly a story
it might be. In his opinion, the gentleman's name Wendy continued,

(01:31):
was mister Darling and her name was missus Darling. I
knew them, John said, to annoy the others. I think
I knew them, said Michael, rather doubtfully. They were married,
you know, explained Wendy. And what do you think they
had white rats, cried NIBBs. Inspired No, it's awfully puzzling,

(01:56):
said Tootles, who knew the story by heart. Quite Tootles.
They had three descendants. What is descendants? Well, you are
one twin. Did you hear that, John, I am a descendant.
Descendants are only children, said John. Oh dear, Oh dear,
sighed Wendy. Now these three children had a faithful nurse

(02:20):
called Nana, but mister Darling was angry with her and
chained her up in the yard, and so all the
children flew away. It's an awfully good story, said NIBBs.
They flew away. Wendy continued to the neverland where the
lost children are? I just thought they did, Curly broke

(02:41):
in excitedly. I don't know how it is, but I
just thought they did. Oh, Wendy cried Tootles. Was one
of the lost children, called Tootles, Yes, he was, I
am in a story. Hooray, I am in a story, NIBBs,
Hush now, I want you to consider the feelings of

(03:02):
the unhappy parents with all their children flown away. Oh,
they all moaned, though they were not really considering the
feelings of the unhappy parents. One jot think of the
empty beds. Ooh, it's awfully sad, the first twin said, cheerfully.
I don't see how it can have a happy ending,

(03:25):
said the second twin, Do you, Nibs, I'm frightfully anxious
if you knew how great is a mother's love, Wendy
told them triumphantly, you would have no fear. She had
now come to the part that Peter hated. I do
like a mother's love, said Tootles, hitting Nibs with a pillow.

(03:47):
Do you like a mother's love, Nibs, I do, just
said NIBBs, hitting back. You see, Wendy said complacently. Our
heroine knew that the would always leave the window open
for her children to fly back by. So they stayed
away for years and had a lovely time. Did they

(04:10):
ever go back? Let us now, said Wendy, bracing herself
up for her finest effort. Take a peep into the future,
and they all gave themselves the twist that makes peeps
into the future easier. Years have rolled by. And who
is this elegant lady of uncertain age alighting at London station? Oh, Wendy,

(04:35):
who is she cried NIBBs, every bit as excited as
if he didn't know. Can it be? Yes? No, it
is the fair Wendy. Oh. And who are the two
noble portly figures accompanying her, now grown to man's estate?
Can they be John and Michael? They are? Oh see

(05:00):
my brothers, says Wendy, pointing upwards. There is the window
still standing open. Ah. Now we are rewarded for our
sublime faith in a mother's love. So up they flew
to their mummy and daddy, and pen cannot describe the
happy scene over which we draw a veil. That was

(05:22):
the story, and they were as pleased with it as
the fair narrow to herself. Everything just as it should be,
you see. Off we skip like the most heartless things
in the world, which is what children are, but so attractive,
and we have an entirely selfish time. And then when

(05:43):
we have need of special attention, we nobly returned for it,
confident that we shall be rewarded instead of smacked. So great,
indeed was their faith in a mother's love that they
felt they could afford to be callous for a bit longer.
But there was one there who knew better. And when

(06:04):
Wendy finished, he uttered a hollow groan. What is it, Peter,
she cried, running to him, thinking he was ill, She
felt him solicitously lower down than his chest. Where is it, Peter?
It isn't that kind of pain, Peter replied darkly. Then

(06:24):
what kind is it, Wendy? You are wrong about mothers?
They all gathered round him in affright. So alarming was
his agitation, and with a fine candor, he told them
what he had hitherto concealed long ago. He said, I thought,
like you that my mother would always keep the window

(06:47):
open for me. So I stayed away for moons and
moons and moon's and then flew back. But the window
was barred, for mother had forgotten all about me, and
there was another little boy sleeping in my bed. I
am not sure that this was true, but Peter thought
it was true, and it scared them. Are you sure

(07:11):
mothers are like that? Yes? So this was the truth
about mothers the toads. Still, it is best to be careful,
and no one knows so quickly as a child when
he should give in. Wendy, let us go home, cried
Michael and John together. Yes, she said, clutching them not

(07:34):
to night, asked the lost boys, bewildered, they knew in
what they called their hearts that one can get on
quite well without a mother, and that it is only
the mothers who think you can't. At once, Wendy replied resolutely,
for the horrible thought had come to her, perhaps mother

(07:55):
is in half mourning. By this time, this dread made
her figure getful of what must be Peter's feelings, and
she said to him rather sharply, Peter, will you make
the necessary arrangements if you wish it? He replied, as
curely as if she had asked him to pass the nuts,

(08:17):
not so much as a sorry to lose you between them,
if she did not mind the party he was going
to show her? Was Peter that neither did he, But
of course he cared very much, And he was so
full of wrath against grown ups, who, as usual were
spoiling everything, that as soon as he got inside his tree,

(08:40):
he breathed intentionally quick, short breaths at the rate of
about five to a second. He did this because there
is a saying in the Neverland that every time you breathe,
a grown up dies, and Peter was killing them off
vindictively as fast as possible. Then, having given the necessary

(09:02):
instructions to the Red Skins, he returned to the home,
where an unworthy scene had been enacted in his absence.
Panic stricken at the thought of losing Wendy, the Lost
Boys had advanced upon her, threateningly, it will be worse
than before she came, they cried. We shan't let her go.

(09:24):
Let's keep her prisoner, ay, chain her up. In her extremity,
an instinct told her to which of them to turn. Tootles,
she cried, I appeal to you. Was it not strange?
She appealed to Tootles, quite the silliest one grandly. However,

(09:45):
did Totles respond. For that one moment he dropped his
sillness and spoke with dignity. I am Distootles, he said,
And nobody minds me. But the first who does not
behave to Wendy like an inn English gentleman, I will
blood him severely. He drew back his hanger, and for

(10:06):
that instant his son was at noon. The others held
back uneasily. Then Peter returned, and they saw at once
that they would get no support from him. He would
keep no girl in the neverland against her will. Wendy,
he said, striding up and down. I have asked the

(10:27):
Redskins to guide you through the wood as flying tire
as you sow. Thank you, Peter. Then he continued, in
the short, sharp voice of one accustomed to be obeyed,
tinker Bell will take you across the sea. Wake her, NIBBs.
NIBBs had to knock twice before he got an answer,

(10:49):
though Tink had really been sitting up in bed listening
for some time. Who are you? How dare you go away?
She cried? You are to get up, Tink, Nibs called,
and take Wendy on a journey. Of course, Tink had
been delighted to hear that Wendy was going, but she

(11:10):
was jolly well determined not to be her career, and
she said so in still more offensive language. Then she
pretended to be asleep again. She says she won't, Nibs exclaimed,
aghast at such insubordination, whereupon Peter went sternly toward the

(11:31):
young lady's chamber tink, He rapped out. If you don't
get up and dress at once, I will open the
curtains and then we shall all see you in your
neglig Ooh. This made her leap to the floor. Who said,
I wasn't getting up, she cried. In the meantime, the
boys were gazing very forlornly at Wendy, now equipped with

(11:55):
John and Michael for the journey. By this time they
were dejected, not merely because they were about to lose her,
but also because they felt that she was going off
to something nice to which they had not been invited.
Novelty was beckoning to them as usual, crediting them with

(12:16):
a nobler feeling. Wendy melted. Dear ones, She said, if
you will all come with me, I feel almost sure
I can get my father and mother to adopt you.
The invitation was meant specially for Peter, but each of
the boys was thinking exclusively of himself, and at once

(12:38):
they jumped with joy. But won't they think is rather
a handful? NIBBs asked in the middle of his jump.
Oh no, said Wendy, rapidly, thinking it out. It will
only mean having a few beds in the drawing room.
They can be hidden behind the screens on first Thursdays. Peter,

(13:00):
can we go? They all cried, imploringly. They took it
for granted that if they went, he would go also,
But really they scarcely cared. Thus children are ever ready
when novelty knocks, to desert their dearest ones. All right,
Peter replied with a bitter smile, And immediately they rushed

(13:22):
to get their things. And now, Peter, Wendy said, thinking
she had put everything right, I am going to give
you your medicine before you go. She loved to give
the medicine, and undoubtedly gave them too much. Of course,
it was only water, but it was out of a bottle,

(13:45):
and she always shook the bottle and counted the drops,
which gave it a certain medicinal quality. On this occasion, however,
she did not give Peter his draft, for just as
she had prepared it, she saw a look on his
face that made her heart sink. Get your things, Peter,

(14:06):
she cried, shaking No, he answered, pretending indifference, I am
not going with you, Wendy, Yes, Peter, no. To show
that her departure would leave him unmoved. He skipped up
and down the room, playing gaily on his heartless pipes.

(14:26):
She had to run about after him, though it was
rather undignified to find your mother, she coaxed. Now, if
Peter had ever quite had a mother, he no longer
missed her. He could do very well without one. He
had thought them out and remembered only their bad points. No, no,

(14:49):
he told Wendy decisively. Perhaps she would say I was
old and I just want always to be a little
boy and to have fun. But Peter, no, And so
the others had to be told, Peter isn't coming, Peter
not coming. They gazed blankly at him, their sticks over

(15:12):
their backs, and on each stick a bundle. Their first
thought was that Peter was not going. He had probably
changed his mind about letting them go, but he was
far too proud for that. If you find your mother's,
he said darkly, I hope you will like them. The

(15:33):
awful cynizen of this made an uncomfortable impression, and most
of them begun to look rather doubtful. After all, their
faces said, were they not noodles to want to go? Now?
Then cried Peter. No, fuss, no blubbering, good bye, Wendy,

(15:53):
and he held out his hand cheeringly, quite as if
they must really go now, for he had some important
to do. She had to take his hand, and there
was no indication that he would prefer a thimble. You
will remember about changing your flannels, Peter, she said, lingering

(16:14):
over him. She was always so particular about their flannels. Yes,
and you will take your medicine. Yes. That seemed to
be everything, and an awkward pause followed. Peter, however, was
not the kind that breaks down before other people. Are

(16:35):
you ready, tinker Bell, he called out, Ay, Ay, then
lead the way. Tink darted up the nearest tree, but
no one followed her, for it was at this moment
that the pirates made their dreadful attack upon the Red Skins. Above,
where it all had been so still, the air was

(16:57):
rent with shreaks and the clash of deal. Below, there
was dead silence. Mouths opened and remained open. Wendy fell
on her knees, but her arms were extended toward Peter.
All arms were extended to him, as if suddenly blown
in his direction. They were beseeching him mutely not to

(17:21):
desert them as for Peter, he seized his sword the
same he thought he had slain barbecue with, and the
lust of battle was in his eye. End of Chapter eleven.