But they tried to look brave when Wendy was brought up . No words of mine can tell you how Wendy despised those pirates . To the boys there was at least some glamour in the pirate calling ; but all that she saw was that the ship had not been scrubbed for years . There was not a porthole , on the grimy glass of which you might not have written with your finger ` Dirty pig ' ; and she had already written it on several . But as the boys gathered round her she had no thought , of course , save for them . ` So , my beauty , ' said Hook , as if he spoke in syrup , ` you are to see your children walk the plank . ' Fine gentleman though he was , the intensity of his communings had soiled his ruff , and suddenly he knew that she was gazing at it . With a hasty gesture he tried to hide it , but he was too late . ` Are they to die ? ' asked Wendy , with a look of such frightful contempt that he nearly fainted . ` They are , ' he snarled . ` Silence all , ' he called gloatingly , ` for a mother 's last words to her children . ' At this moment Wendy was grand . ` These are my last words , dear boys , ' she said firmly . ' I feel that I have a message to you from your real mothers , and it is this : `` We hope our sons will die like English gentlemen . '' ' Even the pirates were awed ; and Tootles cried out hysterically , ' I am going to do what my mother hopes . What are you to do , Nibs ? ' ` What my mother hopes . What are you to do , Twin ? ' ` What my mother hopes .
John , what are -- ' But XXXXX had found his voice again .
Hook contempt course gesture message pirate plank ship syrup thought