dare say you have heard, some have tried from the nursery window, with
perfectly awful results, having neglected to have their shoulders first
touched magically; but Gregory Bruce Avory wanted to fly in a more regular
and scientific manner. He wanted to fly like an engineer. To his mind,
indeed, the flying part of "Peter Pan" was the least fascinating; he
preferred the underground home, and the fight with the Indians, and the
mechanism of the crocodile. For a short time, in fact, his only ambition
had been to be the crocodile's front half.

Janet, on the other hand, liked Nana and the pathetic motherly parts the
best; Robert's favourite was Smee, and often at meal times he used to say,
"Woe is me, I have no knife"; while Hester was happiest in the lagoon
scene. This difference of taste in one small family shows how important it
is for anyone who writes a play to put a lot of variety into it.

Janet, the eldest, was also the most practical. She was, in fact, towards
the others almost more of a younger mother than an elder sister. Not that
Mrs. Avory neglected them at all; but Janet relieved her of many little
duties. She always knew when their feet were likely to be wet, and Robert
had once said that she had "stocking changing on the brain." She could
cook, too, especially cakes, and the tradesmen had a great respect for her
judgment when she went shopping. She knew when a joint would be too fat,
and you should see her pointing out the bone!

Janet was a tall girl, and very active, and, in spite of her
responsibilities, very jolly. She played hockey as well almost as a boy,
which is, of course, saying everything, and her cricket was good, too. Her
bowling was fast and straight, and usually too much for Robert, who knew,
however, the initials of all the gentlemen and the Christian names and
birthplaces of most of the professionals. Gregory could not bear cricket,