She called out to him what she had come for , and he called out to her what was she 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 was such a story , and say that Peter replied intelligently to the Never bird ; but truth is best , and I want to tell 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 do n'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 do n'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 . Then up she flew ; deserting her eggs , so as to make her meaning clear . Then at last he understood , and clutched the nest and waved his thanks to the bird as she fluttered overhead . It was not to receive his thanks , however , that she hung there in the sky ; it was not even to watch him get into the nest ; it was to see what he did with her eggs .
There were two large white eggs , and XXXXX lifted them up and reflected .
Peter course drift eggs jay language manners nest remark sky