It was afterwards whispered among them that on the first night he wore this suit he sat long in the cabin with Hook 's cigar-holder in his mouth and one hand clenched , all but for the forefinger , which he bent and held threateningly aloft like a hook . Instead of watching the ship , however , we must now return to that desolate home from which three of our characters had taken heartless flight so long ago . It seems a shame to have neglected No. 14 all this time ; and yet we may be sure that Mrs. Darling does not blame us . If we had returned sooner to look with sorrowful sympathy at her , she would probably have cried , `` Do n't be silly ; what do I matter ? Do go back and keep an eye on the children . '' So long as mothers are like this their children will take advantage of them ; and they may lay to -LSB- bet on -RSB- that . Even now we venture into that familiar nursery only because its lawful occupants are on their way home ; we are merely hurrying on in advance of them to see that their beds are properly aired and that Mr. and Mrs. Darling do not go out for the evening . We are no more than servants . Why on earth should their beds be properly aired , seeing that they left them in such a thankless hurry ? Would it not serve them jolly well right if they came back and found that their parents were spending the week-end in the country ? It would be the moral lesson they have been in need of ever since we met them ; but if we contrived things in this way Mrs. Darling would never forgive us . One thing I should like to do immensely , and that is to tell her , in the way authors have , that the children are coming back , that indeed they will be here on Thursday week . This would spoil so completely the surprise to which Wendy and John and Michael are looking forward . They have been planning it out on the ship : mother 's rapture , father 's shout of joy , Nana 's leap through the air to embrace them first , when what they ought to be prepared for is a good hiding . How delicious to spoil it all by breaking the news in advance ; so that when they enter grandly Mrs. Darling may not even offer Wendy her mouth , and Mr. Darling may exclaim pettishly , `` Dash it all , here are those boys again . '' However , we should get no thanks even for this . We are beginning to know Mrs. Darling by this time , and may be sure that she would upbraid us for depriving the children of their little pleasure . `` But , my dear madam , it is ten days till Thursday week ; so that by telling you what 's what , we can save you ten days of unhappiness . '' `` Yes , but at what a cost ! By depriving the children of ten minutes of delight . ''
`` Oh , if you XXXXX at it in that way ! ''
coming cried forgive get look looking serve tell whispered wore