ChapterI.PETERBREAKSTHROUGH
Alle
Allchildren,exceptone,growop
up.Theysoonknowthatthey
vil
willgrowup,andthemåde
wayWendyknewwasthis.One
dag
daywhenshewastwoyearsgammel
oldshewasplayinginagarden,og
andshepluckedanotherflowerog
andranwithittohermor
mother.Isupposeshemust
have
havelookedratherdelightful,forMrs.Darlinglagde
putherhandtoherhjerte
heartandcried,“Oh,whycan’tyouremainlikethisforever!”Thiswas
alt
allthatpassedbetweenthemondet
thesubject,buthenceforthWendyvidste
knewthatshemustgrowop
up.Youalwaysknowafteryouare
to
two.Twoisthebeginningofthe
enden
end.Ofcoursetheylivedat14,
og
anduntilWendycamehermor
motherwasthechiefone.Shewasalovely
dame
lady,witharomanticmindog
andsuchasweetmockingmouth.Herromantic
sind
mindwaslikethetinyboxes,onewithintheanden
other,thatcomefromthepuzzlingEast,howevermange
manyyoudiscoverthereisaltid
alwaysonemore;andher
søde
sweetmockingmouthhadonekissonitthatWendykunne
couldneverget,thoughthereitwas,perfectlyconspicuousintheright-handcorner.The
måde
wayMr.Darlingwonherwasdenne
this:themanygentlemenwhohadbeenboys
da
whenshewasagirldiscoveredsimultaneouslythattheyelskede
lovedher,andtheyallløb
rantoherhousetoproposetoherexceptMr.Darling,whotog
tookacabandnippedinførst
first,andsohegother.He
fik
gotallofher,exceptden
theinnermostboxandthekiss.He
aldrig
neverknewaboutthebox,og
andintimehegaveupforsøge
tryingforthekiss.WendythoughtNapoleoncould
have
havegotit,butIkan
canpicturehimtrying,andthengå
goingoffinapassion,slammingthedøren
door.Mr.
DarlingusedtoboasttoWendythather
mor
mothernotonlylovedhimmen
butrespectedhim.Hewas
en
oneofthosedeeponesder
whoknowaboutstocksandshares.Of
selvfølgelig
coursenoonereallyknows,men
buthequiteseemedtoknow,og
andheoftensaidstockswereop
upandsharesweredowninamåde
waythatwouldhavemadeenhver
anywomanrespecthim.Mrs.
Darlingwas
gift
marriedinwhite,andatførste
firstshekeptthebooksperfectly,næsten
almostgleefully,asifitwereagame,notsomeget
muchasaBrusselssproutwasmissing;men
butbyandbywholecauliflowersdroppedud
out,andinsteadofthemder
therewerepicturesofbabiesuden
withoutfaces.Shedrewthem
da
whensheshouldhavebeentottingop
up.TheywereMrs.Darling’sguesses.
Wendy
kom
camefirst,thenJohn,thenMichael.For
en
aweekortwoafterWendykom
cameitwasdoubtfulwhethertheyville
wouldbeabletokeephende
her,asshewasanothermouthtofeed.Mr.Darlingwasfrightfullyproudofher,
men
buthewasveryhonourable,og
andhesatontheedgeofMrs.Darling’sseng
bed,holdingherhandandcalculatingexpenses,mens
whileshelookedathimimploringly.She
ville
wantedtoriskit,comewhatmight,men
butthatwasnothismåde
way;hiswaywaswithapencil
og
andapieceofpaper,og
andifsheconfusedhimmed
withsuggestionshehadtobeginatthebeginningigen
again.“Nowdon’tinterrupt,”hewouldbegof
hende
her.“Ihaveonepoundseventeen
her
here,andtwoandsixattheoffice;I
kan
cancutoffmycoffeeattheoffice,sayti
tenshillings,makingtwonineog
andsix,withyoureighteenog
andthreemakesthreenineseven,med
withfivenaughtnaughtinmycheque-bookmakeseightnineseven—whoisthatmoving?—eightnineseven,dotog
andcarryseven—don’tspeak,myown—andthepoundyoulenttothatmand
manwhocametothedoor—quiet,child—dotog
andcarrychild—there,you’vedoneit!—didIsayninenineseven?ja
yes,Isaidninenineseven;thequestion
er
is,canwetryitforet
ayearonninenineseven?”“Ofcoursewe
kan
can,George,”shecried.ButshewasprejudicedinWendy’sfavour,
og
andhewasreallythegrandercharacteroftheto
two.“Remembermumps,”hewarnedher
næsten
almostthreateningly,andoffhegik
wentagain.“Mumpsonepound,
at
thatiswhatIhavesat
putdown,butIdaresayitvil
willbemorelikethirtyshillings—don’tspeak—measlesonefem
five,Germanmeasleshalfaguinea,gør
makestwofifteensix—don’twaggleyourfinger—whooping-cough,sige
sayfifteenshillings”—andsoonitwent,og
anditaddedupdifferentlyhver
eachtime;butatlastWendy
lige
justgotthrough,withmumpsreducedtotwelveseks
six,andthetwokindsofmeaslestreatedasen
one.Therewasthesameexcitement
over
overJohn,andMichaelhadendda
evenanarrowersqueak;but
begge
bothwerekept,andsoon,youkunne
mighthaveseenthethreeofthemgå
goinginarowtoMiss
MissFulsom’sKindergartenschool,accompaniedbytheirnurse.Mrs.
Darling
elskede
lovedtohaveeverythingjustso,og
andMr.Darlinghadapassionforbeingpræcis
exactlylikehisneighbours;so,of
selvfølgelig
course,theyhadanurse.Astheywere
fattige
poor,owingtotheamountofmilkthebørnene
childrendrank,thisnursewasaprimNewfoundlandhund
dog,calledNana,whohadbelongedtoikke
nooneinparticularuntiltheDarlingsengagedhende
her.Shehadalwaysthought
børnene
childrenimportant,however,andtheDarlingshavde
hadbecomeacquaintedwithherinKensingtonGardens,hvor
whereshespentmostofhersparetimepeepingintoperambulators,og
andwasmuchhatedbycarelessnursemaids,whomshefulgte
followedtotheirhomesandcomplainedoftotheirmistresses.Sheprovedtobe
helt
quiteatreasureofanurse.Hvor
Howthoroughshewasatbath-time,og
andupatanymomentofden
thenightifoneofherchargesgjorde
madetheslightestcry.Of
selvfølgelig
courseherkennelwasinthenursery.Shehadageniusfor
vide
knowingwhenacoughisating
thingtohavenopatiencemed
withandwhenitneedsstockingomkring
aroundyourthroat.Shebelievedtoher
sidste
lastdayinold-fashionedremediessom
likerhubarbleaf,andmadelyde
soundsofcontemptoverallthisnew-fangledtale
talkaboutgerms,andsoon.Itwas
en
alessoninproprietytose
seeherescortingthechildrentoschool,gå
walkingsedatelybytheirsidenår
whentheywerewellbehaved,og
andbuttingthembackintolinehvis
iftheystrayed.OnJohn’sfooterdaysshe
aldrig
neveronceforgothissweater,og
andsheusuallycarriedanumbrellainhermouthintilfælde
caseofrain.Thereis
et
aroominthebasementofMissFulsom’sskole
schoolwherethenurseswait.They
sad
satonforms,whileNanalå
layonthefloor,butthatwastheeneste
onlydifference.Theyaffectedtoignoreherasof
en
aninferiorsocialstatustothemselves,og
andshedespisedtheirlightsnak
talk.SheresentedvisitstothenurseryfromMrs.Darling’sfriends,
men
butiftheydidcomesheførst
firstwhippedoffMichael’spinaforeog
andputhimintotheonemed
withbluebraiding,andsmoothedoutWendyog
andmadeadashatJohn’shår
hair.Nonurserycouldpossibly
have
havebeenconductedmorecorrectly,og
andMr.Darlingknewit,men
yethesometimeswondereduneasilywhethertheneighbourstalte
talked.Hehadhispositioninthe
byen
citytoconsider.Nanaalsotroubledhiminanother
måde
way.Hehadsometimesafeeling
at
thatshedidnotadmireham
him.“Iknowsheadmiresyoutremendously,George,”Mrs.Darling
ville
wouldassurehim,andthensheville
wouldsigntothechildrentobespeciallynicetofar
father.Lovelydancesfollowed,inwhich
den
theonlyotherservant,Liza,wasundertiden
sometimesallowedtojoin.Such
en
amidgetshelookedinherlongskirtog
andmaid’scap,thoughshehavde
hadsworn,whenengaged,thatsheville
wouldneverseetenagain.Den
Thegaietyofthoseromps!Og
AndgayestofallwasMrs.Darling,som
whowouldpirouettesowildlyat
thatallyoucouldseeofherwasthekiss,og
andthenifyouhaddashedatheryoukunne
mighthavegotit.There
aldrig
neverwasasimplerhappierfamilie
familyuntilthecomingofPeterPan.Mrs.
Darling
først
firstheardofPeterwhenshewastidyingop
upherchildren’sminds.Itisthenightlycustomofevery
god
goodmotherafterherchildrenareasleeptorummageintheirmindsog
andputthingsstraightfornæste
nextmorning,repackingintotheirproperplacesthemange
manyarticlesthathavewanderedduringthedagen
day.Ifyoucouldkeepawake(butof
selvfølgelig
courseyoucan’t)youwouldseeyouregen
ownmotherdoingthis,andyouville
wouldfinditveryinterestingtowatchhende
her.Itisquiteliketidying
op
updrawers.Youwouldseeheronherknees,Iexpect,lingeringhumorously
over
oversomeofyourcontents,wonderinghvor
whereonearthyouhadpickedthisting
thingup,makingdiscoveriessweetog
andnotsosweet,pressingthistohercheekasifitwereasniceasen
akitten,andhurriedlystowingthatud
outofsight.Whenyou
vågner
wakeinthemorning,thenaughtinessog
andevilpassionswithwhichyougik
wenttobedhavebeenfoldedupsmallog
andplacedatthebottomofyoursind
mindandonthetop,beautifullyaired,arespreadud
outyourprettierthoughts,readyforyoutoputon.Idon’t
ved
knowwhetheryouhaveeverseenamapofaperson’ssind
mind.Doctorssometimesdrawmapsof
andre
otherpartsofyou,andyoureget
ownmapcanbecomeintenselyinteresting,men
butcatchthemtryingtodrawet
amapofachild’ssind
mind,whichisnotonlyconfused,men
butkeepsgoingroundallthetiden
time.Therearezigzaglinesonit,just
ligesom
likeyourtemperatureonacard,og
andtheseareprobablyroadsintheisland,fortheNeverlandisaltid
alwaysmoreorlessanisland,med
withastonishingsplashesofcolourher
hereandthere,andcoralreefsog
andrakish-lookingcraftintheoffing,og
andsavagesandlonelylairs,og
andgnomeswhoaremostlytailors,og
andcavesthroughwhichariverløber
runs,andprinceswithsixelderbrothers,og
andahutfastgoingtodecay,og
andoneverysmallolddame
ladywithahookednose.Itwouldbean
let
easymapifthatwerealt
all,butthereisalsoførste
firstdayatschool,religion,fathers,theroundpond,needle-work,murders,hangings,verbsthattager
takethedative,chocolatepuddingdag
day,gettingintobraces,sayninety-nine,three-penceforpullingud
outyourtoothyourself,andsoon,og
andeitherthesearepartoftheislandeller
ortheyareanothermapviser
showingthrough,anditisalt
allratherconfusing,especiallyasintet
nothingwillstandstill.Of
selvfølgelig
coursetheNeverlandsvaryagooddeal.John’s,forinstance,
havde
hadalagoonwithflamingoesflyingover
overitatwhichJohnwasskød
shooting,whileMichael,whowasmeget
verysmall,hadaflamingomed
withlagoonsflyingoverit.Johnlivedinaboatturnedupsidedownonthesands,Michaelinawigwam,Wendyina
hus
houseofleavesdeftlysewnsammen
together.Johnhadnofriends,Michaelhadfriendsat
natten
night,Wendyhadapetwolfforsakenbyitsparents,men
butonthewholetheNeverlandshar
haveafamilyresemblance,andhvis
iftheystoodstillinen
arowyoucouldsayofthemat
thattheyhaveeachother’snose,og
andsoforth.Onthesemagicshores
børn
childrenatplayareforeverbeachingtheircoracles.We
også
toohavebeenthere;we
kan
canstillhearthesoundofthesurf,selv
thoughweshalllandnomere
more.OfalldelectableislandstheNeverlandisthesnuggest
og
andmostcompact,notlargeog
andsprawly,youknow,withtediousdistancesmellem
betweenoneadventureandanother,men
butnicelycrammed.Whenyou
spiller
playatitbydaymed
withthechairsandtable-cloth,itisnotintheleastalarming,men
butinthetwominutesfør
beforeyougotosleepitbliver
becomesveryreal.Thatis
derfor
whytherearenight-lights.Occasionallyinhertravels
gennem
throughherchildren’smindsMrs.Darlingfandt
foundthingsshecouldnotforstå
understand,andofthesequitedet
themostperplexingwastheordet
wordPeter.Sheknewof
ikke
noPeter,andyethewasher
hereandthereinJohnog
andMichael’sminds,whileWendy’sbegantobescrawledallovermed
withhim.Thenamestood
ud
outinbolderlettersthannogen
anyoftheotherwords,og
andasMrs.Darlinggazedshefølte
feltthatithadanoddlycockyappearance.“Yes,heisrathercocky,”Wendyadmitted
med
withregret.Hermotherhadbeenquestioningher.
“But
hvem
whoishe,mypet?”“HeisPeterPan,you
ved
know,mother.”AtfirstMrs.Darlingdidnot
vidste
know,butafterthinkingbackintoherchildhoodshebare
justrememberedaPeterPander
whowassaidtolivewithdet
thefairies.Therewereoddstories
om
abouthim,asthatwhenbørn
childrendiedhewentpartofthevejen
waywiththem,sothattheyskulle
shouldnotbefrightened.She
havde
hadbelievedinhimatdet
thetime,butnowthatshewasgift
marriedandfullofsensesheganske
quitedoubtedwhethertherewasnogen
anysuchperson.“Besides,”she
sagde
saidtoWendy,“hewouldbegrownupbydette
thistime.”“Ohno,heisn’tgrownup,”Wendyassuredherconfidently,“andheis
lige
justmysize.”Shemeant
at
thathewashersizeinbåde
bothmindandbody;shedidn’t
vidste
knowhowsheknew,shejustvidste
knewit.Mrs.
DarlingconsultedMr.Darling,
men
buthesmiledpooh-pooh.“Markmywords,”he
sagde
said,“itissomenonsenseNanahar
hasbeenputtingintotheirheads;lige
justthesortofideaen
adogwouldhave.Leaveitalone,
og
anditwillblowover.”Men
Butitwouldnotblowover
overandsoonthetroublesomedreng
boygaveMrs.Darlingquiteet
ashock.Childrenhavethestrangestadventures
uden
withoutbeingtroubledbythem.Forinstance,they
kan
mayremembertomention,auge
weekaftertheeventhappened,thatda
whentheywereinthewoodtheyhavde
hadmettheirdeadfatherog
andhadagamewithham
him.Itwasinthiscasual
måde
waythatWendyonemorninggjorde
madeadisquietingrevelation.Someleavesof
et
atreehadbeenfoundonthenurseryfloor,whichcertainlywerenotthereda
whenthechildrenwenttoseng
bed,andMrs.Darlingwaspuzzlingover
overthemwhenWendysaidmed
withatolerantsmile:.“Ido
tror
believeitisthatPeteragain!”“Whateverdoyou
mener
mean,Wendy?”“Itissonaughtyofhimnottowipehisfeet,”Wendy
sagde
said,sighing.Shewasatidy
barn
child.Sheexplainedinquite
en
amatter-of-factwaythatshetroede
thoughtPetersometimescametothenurseryinthenatten
nightandsatonthefootofherseng
bedandplayedonhispipestoher.Unfortunatelyshe
aldrig
neverwoke,soshedidn’tvidste
knowhowsheknew,shebare
justknew.“Whatnonsenseyoutalk,precious.
Ingen
Noonecangetintothehuset
housewithoutknocking.”“Ithinkhe
kommer
comesinbythewindow,”shesagde
said.“Mylove,itis
tre
threefloorsup.”“Werenot
det
theleavesatthefootofdet
thewindow,mother?”Itwas
helt
quitetrue;theleaveshadbeen
fundet
foundverynearthewindow.Mrs.
Darlingdidnotknowwhatto
tro
think,foritallseemedsonaturaltoWendythatyoukunne
couldnotdismissitbysige
sayingshehadbeendreaming.“Mychild,”
det
themothercried,“whydidyounotfortalte
tellmeofthisbefore?”“Iforgot,”
sagde
saidWendylightly.Shewasina
travlt
hurrytogetherbreakfast.Oh,surelyshe
må
musthavebeendreaming.But,on
den
theotherhand,therewereden
theleaves.Mrs.Darlingexaminedthem
meget
verycarefully;theywereskeletonleaves,
men
butshewassuretheydidnotkom
comefromanytreethatgrewinEngland.Shecrawledaboutthefloor,peeringatit
med
withacandleformarksofastrangefoot.Sherattledthepoker
op
upthechimneyandtappedthewalls.She
lod
letdownatapefromthewindowtothepavement,og
anditwasasheerdropofthirtyfeet,uden
withoutsomuchasaspouttoclimbop
upby.CertainlyWendyhadbeen
drømt
dreaming.ButWendyhadnotbeen
drømt
dreaming,astheverynextnat
nightshowed,thenightonwhichtheextraordinaryadventuresofdisse
thesechildrenmaybesaidtohave
havebegun.Onthenightwe
taler
speakofallthechildrenwereoncemoreinsengen
bed.IthappenedtobeNana’seveningoff,
og
andMrs.Darlinghadbathedthemog
andsungtothemtillen
onebyonetheyhadletgoherhånd
handandslidawayintothelandofsleep.Alle
Allwerelookingsosafeog
andcosythatshesmiledatherfearsnu
nowandsatdowntranquillybythefiretosew.Itwas
noget
somethingforMichael,whoonhisbirthdaywasgettingintoshirts.Thefirewaswarm,however,
og
andthenurserydimlylitbytre
threenight-lights,andpresentlythesewinglå
layonMrs.Darling’slap.Thenherheadnodded,oh,sogracefully.
Shewasasleep.
Se
Lookatthefourofdem
them,WendyandMichaeloverthere,Johnher
here,andMrs.Darlingbythefire.Der
Thereshouldhavebeenafourthnight-light.Mens
Whileshesleptshehaden
adream.ShedreamtthattheNeverland
havde
hadcometoonearandat
thatastrangeboyhadbrokenigennem
throughfromit.Hedidnotalarm
hende
her,forshethoughtshehavde
hadseenhimbeforeinthefacesofmange
manywomenwhohavenobørn
children.Perhapsheistobe
finde
foundinthefacesofnogle
somemothersalso.Butinher
drøm
dreamhehadrentthefilmder
thatobscurestheNeverland,andsheså
sawWendyandJohnandMichaelpeepinggennem
throughthegap.Thedreambyitself
ville
wouldhavebeenatrifle,men
butwhileshewasdreamingthewindowofthenurseryblewåbent
open,andaboydiddroponthefloor.Hewasaccompaniedbyastrange
lys
light,nobiggerthanyourfist,whichdartedabouttheroomlikealivingting
thingandIthinkitmå
musthavebeenthislightthatwakenedMrs.Darling.She
begyndte
startedupwithacry,og
andsawtheboy,andsomehowshevidste
knewatoncethathewasPeterPan.Hvis
IfyouorIorWendyhadbeenthereweshouldhave
haveseenthathewasverylikeMrs.Darling’skiss.Hewas
en
alovelyboy,cladinskeletonleavesog
andthejuicesthatoozeud
outoftreesbutthemest
mostentrancingthingabouthimwasthathehavde
hadallhisfirstteeth.ChapterII.THESHADOW
Mrs.
Darlingscreamed,
og
and,asifinanswertoen
abell,thedooropened,og
andNanaentered,returnedfromhereveningud
out.Shegrowledandsprangattheboy,
som
wholeaptlightlythroughthewindow.Igen
AgainMrs.Darlingscreamed,thisgang
timeindistressforhim,forshethoughthewasdræbt
killed,andsherandownintothegaden
streettolookforhislille
littlebody,butitwasnotder
there;andshelookedup,
og
andintheblacknightshekunne
couldseenothingbutwhatshetroede
thoughtwasashootingstar.Shereturnedtothenursery,
og
andfoundNanawithsomethinginhermouth,som
whichprovedtobetheboy’sshadow.AsheleaptatthewindowNanahad
lukket
closeditquickly,toolatetofange
catchhim,buthisshadowhadnothadtid
timetogetout;slam
gik
wentthewindowandsnappeditud
off.YoumaybesureMrs.Darlingexaminedtheshadowcarefully,
men
butitwasquitetheordinaryslags
kind.Nanahadnodoubtofwhatwas
det
thebestthingtodomed
withthisshadow.Shehungit
ud
outatthewindow,meaning“Heissikker
suretocomebackforit;lad
letusputitwherehekan
cangetiteasilywithoutdisturbingthechildren.”Men
ButunfortunatelyMrs.Darlingcouldnotleaveithænge
hangingoutatthewindow,itså
lookedsolikethewashingog
andloweredthewholetoneofthehouse.Shethoughtof
vise
showingittoMr.Darling,men
buthewastottingupwintergreat-coatsforJohnog
andMichael,withawettowelomkring
aroundhisheadtokeephisbrainklar
clear,anditseemedashametotroubleham
him;besides,sheknewexactlywhathe
ville
wouldsay:“Itallcomesof
have
havingadogforanurse.”Shedecidedtorolltheshadow
op
upandputitawaycarefullyinen
adrawer,untilafittingopportunitykom
camefortellingherhusband.Ah
mig
me!Theopportunitycamea
uge
weeklater,onthatnever-to-be-forgottenFriday.Of
selvfølgelig
courseitwasaFriday.“Ioughtto
have
havebeenspeciallycarefulonen
aFriday,”sheusedtosige
sayafterwardstoherhusband,mens
whileperhapsNanawasonden
theothersideofher,holder
holdingherhand.“No,no,”Mr.Darling
altid
alwayssaid,“Iamresponsibleforitall.Jeg
I,GeorgeDarling,didit.Meaculpa,meaculpa.”
Hehadhad
en
aclassicaleducation.Theysatthus
nat
nightafternightrecallingthatfatalFriday,tillhver
everydetailofitwasstampedontheirbrainsog
andcamethroughontheanden
othersidelikethefacesonen
abadcoinage.“IfonlyI
havde
hadnotacceptedthatinvitationtodineat27,”Mrs.Darlingsagde
said.“IfonlyIhadnotpouredmymedicineintoNana’sbowl,”
sagde
saidMr.Darling.“IfonlyI
havde
hadpretendedtolikethemedicine,”waswhatNana’sweteyessagde
said.“Mylikingforparties,George.”
“Myfatalgiftofhumour,dearest.”
“Mytouchinessabouttrifles,
kære
dearmasterandmistress.”Then
en
oneormoreofthemville
wouldbreakdownaltogether;Nanaatthe
tænkte
thought,“It’strue,it’strue,theyoughtnottohave
havehadadogforen
anurse.”ManyatimeitwasMr.Darling
der
whoputthehandkerchieftoNana’seyes.“Thatfiend!”
Mr.Darlingwouldcry,
og
andNana’sbarkwastheechoofit,men
butMrs.DarlingneverupbraidedPeter;therewas
noget
somethingintheright-handcornerofhermouththatville
wantedhernottocallPeternames.Theywould
sad
sitthereintheemptynursery,recallingfondlyhver
everysmallestdetailofthatdreadfulevening.