They go on with their recollections . `` It was then that I rushed in like a tornado , was n't it ? '' Mr. Darling would say , scorning himself ; and indeed he had been like a tornado . Perhaps there was some excuse for him . He , too , had been dressing for the party , and all had gone well with him until he came to his tie . It is an astounding thing to have to tell , but this man , though he knew about stocks and shares , had no real mastery of his tie . Sometimes the thing yielded to him without a contest , but there were occasions when it would have been better for the house if he had swallowed his pride and used a made-up tie . This was such an occasion . He came rushing into the nursery with the crumpled little brute of a tie in his hand . `` Why , what is the matter , father dear ? '' `` Matter ! '' he yelled ; he really yelled . `` This tie , it will not tie . '' He became dangerously sarcastic . `` Not round my neck ! Round the bed-post ! Oh yes , twenty times have I made it up round the bed-post , but round my neck , no ! Oh dear no ! begs to be excused ! '' He thought Mrs. Darling was not sufficiently impressed , and he went on sternly , `` I warn you of this , mother , that unless this tie is round my neck we do n't go out to dinner to-night , and if I do n't go out to dinner to-night , I never go to the office again , and if I do n't go to the office again , you and I starve , and our children will be flung into the streets . ''
Even then Mrs. XXXXX was placid .
Darling Mr. bed-post contest hand nursery pride shares to-night tornado