That was the story , and they were as pleased with it as the fair narrator 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 we have need of special attention we nobly return 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 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 is n't that kind of pain , '' Peter replied darkly . `` Then 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 candour he told them what he had hitherto concealed . `` Long ago , '' he said , `` I thought like you that my mother would always keep the window open for me , so I stayed away for moons and moons and moons , 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 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 -LSB- let 's -RSB- go home , '' XXXXX John and Michael together .
Are afford barred cried finished forgotten gathered return sleeping thought