He was a brave man , but for a moment he had to stop there and wipe his brow , which was dripping like a candle . Then , silently , he let himself go into the unknown . He arrived unmolested at the foot of the shaft , and stood still again , biting at his breath , which had almost left him . As his eyes became accustomed to the dim light various objects in the home under the trees took shape ; but the only one on which his greedy gaze rested , long sought for and found at last , was the great bed . On the bed lay Peter fast asleep . Unaware of the tragedy being enacted above , Peter had continued , for a little time after the children left , to play gaily on his pipes : no doubt rather a forlorn attempt to prove to himself that he did not care . Then he decided not to take his medicine , so as to grieve Wendy . Then he lay down on the bed outside the coverlet , to vex her still more ; for she had always tucked them inside it , because you never know that you may not grow chilly at the turn of the night . Then he nearly cried ; but it struck him how indignant she would be if he laughed instead ; so he laughed a haughty laugh and fell asleep in the middle of it . Sometimes , though not often , he had dreams , and they were more painful than the dreams of other boys . For hours he could not be separated from these dreams , though he wailed piteously in them . They had to do , I think , with the riddle of his existence . At such times it had been Wendy 's custom to take him out of bed and sit with him on her lap , soothing him in dear ways of her own invention , and when he grew calmer to put him back to bed before he quite woke up , so that he should not know of the indignity to which she had subjected him . But on this occasion he had fallen at once into a dreamless sleep . One arm dropped over the edge of the bed , one leg was arched , and the unfinished part of his laugh was stranded on his mouth , which was open , showing the little pearls . Thus defenceless Hook found him . He stood silent at the foot of the tree looking across the chamber at his enemy . Did no feeling of compassion disturb his sombre breast ? The man was not wholly evil ; he loved flowers -LRB- I have been told -RRB- and sweet music -LRB- he was himself no mean performer on the harpsichord -RRB- ; and , let it be frankly admitted , the idyllic nature of the scene stirred him profoundly . Mastered by his better self he would have returned reluctantly up the tree , but for one thing .
What stayed him was XXXXX 's impertinent appearance as he slept .
Peter Wendy existence hours indignity laugh left middle night riddle