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 see, the woman had no proper spirit.

I had meant to say extraordinarily nice things about her; but I despise her, and not one of them will I say now.

She does not really need to be told to have things ready, for they are ready.

All the beds are aired, and she never leaves the house, and observe, the window is open.