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 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 preparing 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 look at it in that way . ' ` What other way is there in which to look at it ? '
You XXXXX , the woman had no proper spirit .
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