When he had tied her up in the back-yard , the wretched father went and sat in the passage , with his knuckles to his eyes . In the meantime Mrs. Darling had put the children to bed in unwonted silence and lit their night-lights . They could hear Nana barking , and John whimpered , `` It is because he is chaining her up in the yard , '' but Wendy was wiser . `` That is not Nana 's unhappy bark , '' she said , little guessing what was about to happen ; `` that is her bark when she smells danger . '' Danger ! `` Are you sure , Wendy ? '' `` Oh , yes . '' Mrs. Darling quivered and went to the window . It was securely fastened . She looked out , and the night was peppered with stars . They were crowding round the house , as if curious to see what was to take place there , but she did not notice this , nor that one or two of the smaller ones winked at her . Yet a nameless fear clutched at her heart and made her cry , `` Oh , how I wish that I was n't going to a party to-night ! '' Even Michael , already half asleep , knew that she was perturbed , and he asked , `` Can anything harm us , mother , after the night-lights are lit ? '' `` Nothing , precious , '' she said ; `` they are the eyes a mother leaves behind her to guard her children . '' She went from bed to bed singing enchantments over them , and little Michael flung his arms round her . `` Mother , '' he cried , `` I 'm glad of you . '' They were the last words she was to hear from him for a long time . No. 27 was only a few yards distant , but there had been a slight fall of snow , and Father and Mother Darling picked their way over it deftly not to soil their shoes . They were already the only persons in the street , and all the stars were watching them . Stars are beautiful , but they may not take an active part in anything , they must just look on for ever .
It is a punishment XXXXX on them for something they did so long ago that no star now knows what it was .
crowding flung guard harm knew leaves looked put quivered smells