They were not only new trousers , but they were the first he had ever had with braid on them , and he had had to bite his lip to prevent the tears coming . Of course Mrs. Darling brushed him , but he began to talk again about its being a mistake to have a dog for a nurse . `` George , Nana is a treasure . '' `` No doubt , but I have an uneasy feeling at times that she looks upon the children as puppies . '' `` Oh no , dear one , I feel sure she knows they have souls . '' `` I wonder , '' Mr. Darling said thoughtfully , `` I wonder . '' It was an opportunity , his wife felt , for telling him about the boy . At first he pooh-poohed the story , but he became thoughtful when she showed him the shadow . `` It is nobody I know , '' he said , examining it carefully , `` but it does look a scoundrel . '' `` We were still discussing it , you remember , '' says Mr. Darling , `` when Nana came in with Michael 's medicine . You will never carry the bottle in your mouth again , Nana , and it is all my fault . '' Strong man though he was , there is no doubt that he had behaved rather foolishly over the medicine . If he had a weakness , it was for thinking that all his life he had taken medicine boldly , and so now , when Michael dodged the spoon in Nana 's mouth , he had said reprovingly , `` Be a man , Michael . '' `` Wo n't ; wo n't ! '' Michael cried naughtily . Mrs. Darling left the room to get a chocolate for him , and Mr. Darling thought this showed want of firmness . `` Mother , do n't pamper him , '' he called after her . `` Michael , when I was your age I took medicine without a murmur . I said , ` Thank you , kind parents , for giving me bottles to make me well . ' '' He really thought this was true , and Wendy , who was now in her night-gown , believed it also , and she said , to encourage Michael , `` That medicine you sometimes take , father , is much nastier , is n't it ? ''
`` Ever so much nastier , '' Mr. XXXXX said bravely , `` and I would take it now as an example to you , Michael , if I had n't lost the bottle . ''
Darling Michael Mother Nana Wendy braid father first left lip