I rather wonder at the bird, for though he had been nice to her, he had also sometimes tormented her.

I can suppose only that, like Mrs.Darling and the rest of them, she was melted because he had all his first teeth.
She called out to him what she had come for, and he called out to her what she was doing there; but of course neither of them understood the other's language.

In fanciful stories people can talk to the birds freely, and I wish for the moment I could pretend that this were such a story, and say that Peter replied intelligently to the Never bird; but truth is best, and I want to tell you only what really happened.

Well, not only could they not understand each other, but they forgot their manners.
"I--want--you--to--get--into--the--nest," the bird called, speaking as slowly and distinctly as possible, "and--then--you--can--drift--ashore, but--I--am--too--tired--to--bring--it--any--nearer--so--you--must--try to--swim--to--it." "What are you quacking about ?" Peter answered.

"Why don't you let the nest drift as usual ?" "I--want--you--" the bird said, and repeated it all over.
Then Peter tried slow and distinct.
"What--are--you--quacking--about ?" and so on.
The Never bird became irritated; they have very short tempers.
"You dunderheaded little jay," she screamed, "Why don't you do as I tell you ?" Peter felt that she was calling him names, and at a venture he retorted hotly: "So are you!" Then rather curiously they both snapped out the same remark: "Shut up!" "Shut up!" Nevertheless the bird was determined to save him if she could, and by one last mighty effort she propelled the nest against the rock.