Foolish Tootles was standing like a conqueror over Wendy's bodywhen the other boys sprang, armed, from their trees.

"You are too late," he cried proudly, "I have shot the Wendy. Peter will be so pleased with me."

Overhead Tinker Bell shouted "Silly ass!" and darted intohiding. The others did not hear her. They had crowded roundWendy, and as they looked a terrible silence fell upon the wood. If Wendy's heart had been beating they would all have heard it.

Slightly was the first to speak. "This is no bird," he said ina scared voice. "I think this must be a lady."

"A lady?" said Tootles, and fell a-trembling.

"And we have killed her," Nibs said hoarsely.

They all whipped off their caps.

"Now I see," Curly said: "Peter was bringing her to us." Hethrew himself sorrowfully on the ground.

"A lady to take care of us at last," said one of the twins,"and you have killed her!"

They were sorry for him, but sorrier for themselves, and whenhe took a step nearer them they turned from him.

Tootles' face was very white, but there was a dignity about himnow that had never been there before.

"I did it," he said, reflecting. "When ladies used to come tome in dreams, I said, `Pretty mother, pretty mother.' But whenat last she really came, I shot her."

He moved slowly away.

"Don't go," they called in pity.

"I must," he answered, shaking; "I am so afraid of Peter."

It was at this tragic moment that they heard a sound which madethe heart of every one of them rise to his mouth. They heardPeter crow.

"Peter!" they cried, for it was always thus that he signalledhis return.

"Hide her," they whispered, and gathered hastily around Wendy. But Tootles stood aloof.

Again came that ringing crow, and Peter dropped in front ofthem. "Greetings, boys," he cried, and mechanically theysaluted, and then again was silence.

He frowned.

"I am back," he said hotly, "why do you not cheer?"

They opened their mouths, but the cheers would not come. Heoverlooked it in his haste to tell the glorious tidings.

"Great news, boys," he cried, "I have brought at last a motherfor you all."

Still no sound, except a little thud from Tootles as he droppedon his knees.

"Have you not seen her?" asked Peter, becoming troubled. "Sheflew this way."

"Ah me!" once voice said, and another said, "Oh, mournful day."

Tootles rose. "Peter," he said quietly, "I will show her toyou," and when the others would still have hidden her he said,"Back, twins, let Peter see."

So they all stood back, and let him see, and after he hadlooked for a little time he did not know what to do next.

"She is dead," he said uncomfortably. "Perhaps she isfrightened at being dead."

He thought of hopping off in a comic sort of way till he wasout of sight of her, and then never going near the spot any more. They would all have been glad to follow if he had done this.

But there was the arrow. He took it from her heart and facedhis band.

"Whose arrow?" he demanded sternly.

"Mine, Peter," said Tootles on his knees.

"Oh, dastard hand," Peter said, and he raised the arrow to useit as a dagger.

Tootles did not flinch. He bared his breast. "Strike, Peter,"he said firmly, "strike true."

Twice did Peter raise the arrow, and twice did his hand fall. "I cannot strike," he said with awe, "there is something stays myhand."

All looked at him in wonder, save Nibs, who fortunately lookedat Wendy.

"It is she," he cried, "the Wendy lady, see, her arm!"

Wonderful to relate [tell], Wendy had raised her arm. Nibsbent over her and listened reverently. "I think she said, `PoorTootles,'" he whispered.

"She lives," Peter said briefly.

Slightly cried instantly, "The Wendy lady lives."

Then Peter knelt beside her and found his button. You remembershe had put it on a chain that she wore round her neck.

"See," he said, "the arrow struck against this. It is the kissI gave her. It has saved her life."

"I remember kisses," Slightly interposed quickly, "let me see it. Ay, that's a kiss."

Peter did not hear him. He was begging Wendy to get betterquickly, so that he could show her the mermaids. Of course shecould not answer yet, being still in a frightful faint; but fromoverhead came a wailing note.

"Listen to Tink," said Curly, "she is crying because the Wendy lives."

Then they had to tell Peter of Tink's crime, and almost neverhad they seen him look so stern.

"Listen, Tinker Bell," he cried, "I am your friend no more. Begone from me for ever."

She flew on to his shoulder and pleaded, but he brushed heroff. Not until Wendy again raised her arm did he relentsufficiently to say, "Well, not for ever, but for a whole week."

Do you think Tinker Bell was grateful to Wendy for raising herarm? Oh dear no, never wanted to pinch her so much. Fairiesindeed are strange, and Peter, who understood them best, oftencuffed [slapped] them.

But what to do with Wendy in her present delicate state ofhealth?

"Let us carry her down into the house," Curly suggested.

"Ay," said Slightly, "that is what one does with ladies."

"No, no," Peter said, "you must not touch her. It would not besufficiently respectful."

"That," said Slightly, "is what I was thinking."

"But if she lies there," Tootles said, "she will die."

"Ay, she will die," Slightly admitted, "but there is no wayout."

"Yes, there is," cried Peter. "Let us build a little houseround her."

They were all delighted. "Quick," he ordered them, "bring meeach of you the best of what we have. Gut our house. Be sharp."

In a moment they were as busy as tailors the night before awedding. They skurried this way and that, down for bedding, upfor firewood, and while they were at it, who should appear butJohn and Michael. As they dragged along the ground they fellasleep standing, stopped, woke up, moved another step and sleptagain.

"John, John," Michael would cry, "wake up! Where is Nana,John, and mother?"

And then John would rub his eyes and mutter, "It is true, wedid fly."

You may be sure they were very relieved to find Peter.

"Hullo, Peter," they said.

"Hullo," replied Peter amicably, though he had quite forgottenthem. He was very busy at the moment measuring Wendy with hisfeet to see how large a house she would need. Of course he meantto leave room for chairs and a table. John and Michael watchedhim.

"Is Wendy asleep?" they asked.

"Yes."

"John," Michael proposed, "let us wake her and get her to makesupper for us," but as he said it some of the other boys rushedon carrying branches for the building of the house. "Look atthem!" he cried.

"Curly," said Peter in his most captainy voice, "see that theseboys help in the building of the house."

"Ay, ay, sir."

"Build a house?" exclaimed John.

"For the Wendy," said Curly.

"For Wendy?" John said, aghast. "Why, she is only a girl!"

"That," explained Curly, "is why we are her servants."

"You? Wendy's servants!"

"Yes," said Peter, "and you also. Away with them."

The astounded brothers were dragged away to hack and hew andcarry. "Chairs and a fender [fireplace] first," Peter ordered. "Then we shall build a house round them."

"Ay," said Slightly, "that is how a house is built; it allcomes back to me."

Peter thought of everything. "Slightly," he cried, "fetch adoctor."

"Ay, ay," said Slightly at once, and disappeared, scratching hishead. But he knew Peter must be obeyed, and he returned in amoment, wearing John's hat and looking solemn.

"Please, sir," said Peter, going to him, "are you a doctor?"

The difference between him and the other boys at such a timewas that they knew it was make-believe, while to him make-believeand true were exactly the same thing. This sometimes troubledthem, as when they had to make-believe that they had had theirdinners.

If they broke down in their make-believe he rapped them on theknuckles.

"Yes, my little man," Slightly anxiously replied, who hadchapped knuckles.

"Please, sir," Peter explained, "a lady lies very ill."

She was lying at their feet, but Slightly had the sense not tosee her.

"Tut, tut, tut," he said, "where does she lie?"

"In yonder glade."

"I will put a glass thing in her mouth," said Slightly, and hemade-believe to do it, while Peter waited. It was an anxiousmoment when the glass thing was withdrawn.

"How is she?" inquired Peter.

"Tut, tut, tut," said Slightly, "this has cured her."

"I am glad!" Peter cried.

"I will call again in the evening," Slightly said; "give herbeef tea out of a cup with a spout to it"; but after he hadreturned the hat to John he blew big breaths, which was his habiton escaping from a difficulty.

In the meantime the wood had been alive with the sound of axes;almost everything needed for a cosy dwelling already lay atWendy's feet.

"If only we knew," said one, "the kind of house she likesbest."

"Peter," shouted another, "she is moving in her sleep."

"Her mouth opens," cried a third, looking respectfully into it. "Oh, lovely!"

"Perhaps she is going to sing in her sleep," said Peter. "Wendy, sing the kind of house you would like to have."

Immediately, without opening her eyes, Wendy began to sing:

"I wish I had a pretty house,The littlest ever seen,With funny little red wallsAnd roof of mossy green."

They gurgled with joy at this, for by the greatest good luckthe branches they had brought were sticky with red sap, and allthe ground was carpeted with moss. As they rattled up the littlehouse they broke into song themselves:

"We've built the little walls and roofAnd made a lovely door,So tell us, mother Wendy,What are you wanting more?"

To this she answered greedily:

"Oh, really next I think I'll haveGay windows all about,With roses peeping in, you know,And babies peeping out."

With a blow of their fists they made windows, and large yellowleaves were the blinds. But roses -- ?

"Roses," cried Peter sternly.

Quickly they made-believe to grow the loveliest roses up thewalls.

Babies?

To prevent Peter ordering babies they hurried into song again:

"We've made the roses peeping out,The babes are at the door,We cannot make ourselves, you know,'cos we've been made before."

Peter, seeing this to be a good idea, at once pretended that itwas his own. The house was quite beautiful, and no doubt Wendywas very cosy within, though, of course, they could no longer seeher. Peter strode up and down, ordering finishing touches. Nothing escaped his eagle eyes. Just when it seemed absolutelyfinished:

"There's no knocker on the door," he said.

They were very ashamed, but Tootles gave the sole of his shoe,and it made an excellent knocker.

Absolutely finished now, they thought.

Not of bit of it. "There's no chimney," Peter said; "we musthave a chimney."

"It certainly does need a chimney," said John importantly. This gave Peter an idea. He snatched the hat off John's head,knocked out the bottom [top], and put the hat on the roof. Thelittle house was so pleased to have such a capital chimney that,as if to say thank you, smoke immediately began to come out ofthe hat.

Now really and truly it was finished. Nothing remained to dobut to knock.

"All look your best," Peter warned them; "first impressions areawfully important."

He was glad no one asked him what first impressions are; theywere all too busy looking their best.

He knocked politely, and now the wood was as still as thechildren, not a sound to be heard except from Tinker Bell, who waswatching from a branch and openly sneering.

What the boys were wondering was, would any one answer theknock? If a lady, what would she be like?

The door opened and a lady came out. It was Wendy. They allwhipped off their hats.

She looked properly surprised, and this was just how they hadhoped she would look.

"Where am I?" she said.

Of course Slightly was the first to get his word in. "Wendylady," he said rapidly, "for you we built this house."

"Oh, say you're pleased," cried Nibs.

"Lovely, darling house," Wendy said, and they were the verywords they had hoped she would say.

"And we are your children," cried the twins.

Then all went on their knees, and holding out their arms cried,"O Wendy lady, be our mother."

"Ought I?" Wendy said, all shining. "Of course it'sfrightfully fascinating, but you see I am only a little girl. Ihave no real experience."

"That doesn't matter," said Peter, as if he were the onlyperson present who knew all about it, though he was really theone who knew least. "What we need is just a nice motherlyperson."

"Oh dear!" Wendy said, "you see, I feel that is exactly what Iam."

"It is, it is," they all cried; "we saw it at once."

"Very well," she said, "I will do my best. Come inside atonce, you naughty children; I am sure your feet are damp. Andbefore I put you to bed I have just time to finish the story ofCinderella."

In they went; I don't know how there was room for them, but youcan squeeze very tight in the Neverland. And that was the firstof the many joyous evenings they had with Wendy. By and by shetucked them up in the great bed in the home under the trees, butshe herself slept that night in the little house, and Peter keptwatch outside with drawn sword, for the pirates could be heardcarousing far away and the wolves were on the prowl. The littlehouse looked so cosy and safe in the darkness, with a brightlight showing through its blinds, and the chimney smokingbeautifully, and Peter standing on guard. After a time he fellasleep, and some unsteady fairies had to climb over him on theirway home from an orgy. Any of the other boys obstructing thefairy path at night they would have mischiefed, but they justtweaked Peter's nose and passed on.