ChapterI.PETERBREAKSTHROUGH
Allchildren,
undtagen
exceptone,growup.Theysoonknowthattheywill
vokse
growup,andthewayWendyknewwasthis.Onedaywhenshewastwoyearsoldshewasplayinginagarden,andshepluckedanotherflowerandranwithittohermother.
Isupposeshemusthavelookedratherdelightful,forMrs.
Darling
Darlingputherhandtoherheartandcried,“Oh,whycan’tyouremainlikethisforever!”Thiswasallthatpassedbetweenthemonthesubject,buthenceforthWendyknewthatshemust
vokse
growup.Youalwaysknowafteryouaretwo.
Twoisthe
begyndelsen
beginningoftheend.Ofcoursetheylivedat14,anduntilWendycamehermotherwasthechiefone.
Shewasa
dejlig
lovelylady,witharomanticmindandsuchasweetmockingmund
mouth.Herromanticmindwaslikethetinyboxes,onewithintheother,thatcomefromthepuzzling
Østen
East,howevermanyyoudiscoverthereisalwaysonemore;andhersweetmocking
mund
mouthhadonekissonitthatWendycouldneverget,thoughthereitwas,perfectlyconspicuousintheright-handcorner.ThewayMr.
Darling
Darlingwonherwasthis:themanygentlemenwhohadbeenboyswhenshewasagirldiscoveredsimultaneouslythattheylovedher,andtheyallrantoherhousetoproposetoher
undtagen
exceptMr.Darling,whotookacabandnippedinfirst,andsohegother.Hegotallofher,
undtagen
excepttheinnermostboxandthekysset
kiss.Heneverknewaboutthebox,andintimehegaveuptryingforthe
kysset
kiss.WendythoughtNapoleoncouldhavegotit,butIcanpicturehimtrying,andthengoingoffinapassion,slammingthedoor.
Mr.
DarlingusedtoboasttoWendythathermothernotonlylovedhimbut
respekterede
respectedhim.Hewasoneofthosedeeponeswhoknowaboutstocksandshares.
Ofcoursenoonereallyknows,buthequiteseemedtoknow,andhe
ofte
oftensaidstockswereupandsharesweredowninawaythatwouldhavemadeanywomanrespektere
respecthim.Mrs.
Darlingwasmarriedinwhite,andatfirstshekeptthebooksperfectly,almostgleefully,asifitwereagame,notsomuchasaBrusselssproutwasmissing;
butbyandbywholecauliflowers
faldt
droppedout,andinsteadofthemtherewerepicturesofbabieswithoutfaces.Shedrewthemwhensheshouldhavebeentottingup.
TheywereMrs.Darling’sguesses.
Wendycamefirst,thenJohn,thenMichael.
ForaweekortwoafterWendycameitwasdoubtful
om
whethertheywouldbeabletokeepher,asshewasanothermund
mouthtofeed.Mr.Darlingwasfrightfully
stolt
proudofher,buthewasveryhonourable,andhesatontheedgeofMrs.Darling’sbed,holdingherhandandcalculatingexpenses,whileshelookedathimimploringly.Shewantedto
risikere
riskit,comewhatmight,butthatwasnothisway;hiswaywaswithapencilanda
stykke
pieceofpaper,andifsheconfusedhimwithsuggestionshehadtobegynde
beginatthebeginningagain.“Nowdon’tinterrupt,”hewouldbegofher.
“Ihaveonepoundseventeenhere,andtwoandsixattheoffice;
Icancutoffmycoffeeattheoffice,saytenshillings,makingtwo
ni
nineandsix,withyoureighteenandthreemakesthreeni
nineseven,withfivenaughtnaughtinmycheque-bookmakesotte
eightnineseven—whoisthatmoving?—eightni
nineseven,dotandcarryseven—don’tspeak,myown—andthepoundyoulenttothatmanwhocametothedoor—quiet,child—dotandbære
carrychild—there,you’vedoneit!—didIsayni
ninenineseven?yes,Isaid
ni
ninenineseven;thequestionis,canwetryitforayearon
ni
ninenineseven?”“Ofcoursewecan,George,”she
græd
cried.ButshewasprejudicedinWendy’sfavour,andhewasreallythegrandercharacterofthetwo.
“Remembermumps,”hewarnedheralmostthreateningly,andoffhewentagain.
“Mumpsonepound,thatiswhatIhaveputdown,butIdaresayitwillbemorelikethirtyshillings—don’tspeak—measlesonefive,Germanmeasleshalfaguinea,makestwofifteensix—don’twaggleyourfinger—whooping-cough,sayfifteenshillings”—andsoonitwent,anditaddedupdifferentlyeachtime;
butatlastWendyjustgotthrough,withmumpsreducedtotwelvesix,andthetwokindsofmeasles
behandlet
treatedasone.TherewasthesameexcitementoverJohn,andMichaelhadevenanarrowersqueak;
butbothwerekept,andsoon,youmighthaveseenthethreeofthemgoinginarowtoMissFulsom’sKindergartenschool,accompaniedbytheirnurse.
Mrs.
Darlinglovedtohaveeverythingjustso,andMr.Darlinghadapassionforbeingexactlylikehisneighbours;
so,ofcourse,theyhadanurse.
Astheywerepoor,owingtotheamountof
mælk
milkthechildrendrank,thisnursewasaprimNewfoundlanddog,calledNana,whohadbelongedtonooneinparticularuntiltheDarlingsengagedher.Shehadalwaysthoughtchildrenimportant,
dog
however,andtheDarlingshadbecomeacquaintedwithherinKensingtonGardens,whereshetilbragte
spentmostofhersparetimepeepingintoperambulators,andwasmuchhatedbycarelessnursemaids,whomshefollowedtotheirhomesandcomplainedoftotheirmistresses.Sheprovedtobequiteatreasureofanurse.
Howthoroughshewasatbath-time,andupatanymomentofthenightifoneofherchargesmadetheslightestcry.
Ofcourseherkennelwasinthenursery.
Shehadageniusforknowingwhenacoughisathingtohavenopatiencewithandwhenitneedsstockingaroundyourthroat.
Shebelievedtoherlastdayinold-fashionedremedieslikerhubarbleaf,andmadesoundsofcontemptoverallthisnew-fangledtalkaboutgerms,andsoon.
Itwasalessoninproprietytoseeherescortingthechildrentoschool,walkingsedatelybytheirsidewhentheywerewellbehaved,andbuttingthembackintolineiftheystrayed.
OnJohn’sfooterdayssheneveronceforgothissweater,andsheusually
bære
carriedanumbrellainhermunden
mouthincaseofrain.ThereisaroominthebasementofMissFulsom’sschoolwherethenurseswait.
Theysatonforms,whileNanalayonthe
gulvet
floor,butthatwastheonlyforskel
difference.Theyaffectedtoignoreherasofaninferiorsocialstatustothemselves,andshedespisedtheirlighttalk.
SheresentedvisitstothenurseryfromMrs.Darling’sfriends,butiftheydidcomeshefirstwhippedoffMichael’spinaforeandputhimintotheonewith
blå
bluebraiding,andsmoothedoutWendyandmadeadashatJohn’shair.Nonurserycouldpossiblyhavebeenconductedmorecorrectly,andMr.
Darling
Darlingknewit,yethesometimesundrede
wondereduneasilywhethertheneighbourstalked.Hehadhis
stilling
positioninthecitytoconsider.Nanaalsotroubledhiminanotherway.
Hehadsometimesafeelingthatshedidnotadmirehim.
“Iknowsheadmiresyoutremendously,George,”Mrs.
Darling
Darlingwouldassurehim,andthenshewouldsigntothechildrentobespeciallynicetofather.Lovelydancesfollowed,inwhichtheonlyotherservant,Liza,wassometimesallowedto
deltage
join.Suchamidgetshelookedinherlongskirtandmaid’scap,thoughshehadsworn,whenengaged,thatshewouldneverseetenagain.
Thegaietyofthoseromps!
AndgayestofallwasMrs.
Darling
Darling,whowouldpirouettesowildlythatallyoucouldseeofherwasthekysset
kiss,andthenifyouhaddashedatheryoumighthavegotit.ThereneverwasasimplerhappierfamilyuntilthecomingofPeterPan.
Mrs.
Darling
DarlingfirstheardofPeterwhenshewastidyingupherchildren’sminds.Itisthenightlycustomofeverygoodmotherafterherchildrenare
søvn
asleeptorummageintheirmindsandputthingsstraightfornextmorning,repackingintotheirproperplacesthemanyarticlesthathavewanderedduringtheday.Ifyoucouldkeepawake(butofcourseyoucan’t)youwouldseeyourownmotherdoingthis,andyouwouldfinditvery
interessant
interestingtowatchher.Itisquiteliketidyingupdrawers.
Youwouldseeheronherknees,I
forventer
expect,lingeringhumorouslyoversomeofyourcontents,undrer
wonderingwhereonearthyouhadpickedthisthingup,makingdiscoveriessweetandnotsosweet,trykker
pressingthistohercheekasifitwereasniceasakitten,andhurriedlystowingthatoutofsight.Whenyouwakeinthemorning,thenaughtinessand
onde
evilpassionswithwhichyouwenttobedhavebeenfoldedupsmallandplacedatthebottomofyourmindandonthetop,beautifullyaired,arespreadoutyourprettierthoughts,readyforyoutoputon.Idon’tknow
om
whetheryouhaveeverseenamapofaperson’smind.Doctorssometimesdrawmapsofotherpartsofyou,andyourownmapcanbecomeintensely
interessant
interesting,butcatchthemtryingtodrawamapofachild’smind,whichisnotonlyconfused,butkeepsgoingrundt
roundallthetime.Therearezigzaglinesonit,justlikeyourtemperatureona
kort
card,andtheseareprobablyroadsintheisland,fortheNeverlandisalwaysmoreorlessanisland,withastonishingsplashesofcolourhereandthere,andcoralreefsandrakish-lookingcraftintheoffing,andsavagesandlonelylairs,andgnomeswhoaremostlytailors,andcavesthroughwhichaflod
riverruns,andprinceswithsixelderbrothers,andahutfastgoingtodecay,andoneverysmalloldladywithahookednæse
nose.Itwouldbeaneasymapifthatwereall,butthereisalsofirstdayatschool,religion,fathers,the
runde
roundpond,needle-work,murders,hangings,verbsthattakethedative,chocolatepuddingday,gettingintobraces,sayninety-nine,three-pencefortrække
pullingoutyourtoothyourself,andsoon,andeitherthesearepartoftheøen
islandortheyareanothermapshowingthrough,anditisalltemmelig
ratherconfusing,especiallyasnothingwillstandstill.OfcoursetheNeverlandsvaryagooddeal.
John’s,forinstance,hadalagoonwithflamingoes
fløj
flyingoveritatwhichJohnwasshooting,whileMichael,whowasverysmall,hadaflamingowithlagoonsfløj
flyingoverit.Johnlivedina
båd
boatturnedupsidedownonthesands,Michaelinawigwam,Wendyinahouseofleavesdeftlysewntogether.Johnhadnofriends,Michaelhadfriendsatnight,Wendyhadapetwolfforsakenbyitsparents,butonthewholetheNeverlandshaveafamilyresemblance,andiftheystoodstillinarowyoucouldsayofthemthattheyhaveeachother’s
næse
nose,andsoforth.Onthesemagicshoreschildrenatplayareforeverbeachingtheircoracles.
Wetoohavebeenthere;
wecanstillhearthesoundofthesurf,thoughweshalllandnomore.
OfalldelectableislandstheNeverlandisthesnuggestandmostcompact,not
stor
largeandsprawly,youknow,withtediousdistancesbetweenoneadventureandanother,butnicelycrammed.Whenyouplayatitbydaywiththechairsandtable-cloth,itisnotintheleastalarming,butinthetwominutesbeforeyougotosleepitbecomesveryreal.
Thatiswhytherearenight-lights.
Occasionallyinhertravelsthroughherchildren’smindsMrs.
Darling
Darlingfoundthingsshecouldnotunderstand,andofthesequitethemostperplexingwasthewordPeter.SheknewofnoPeter,andyethewashereandthereinJohnandMichael’sminds,whileWendy’s
begyndte
begantobescrawledalloverwithhim.Thenamestoodoutinbolderlettersthananyoftheotherwords,andasMrs.
Darling
Darlinggazedshefeltthatithadanoddlycockyappearance.“Yes,heis
temmelig
rathercocky,”Wendyadmittedwithregret.Hermotherhadbeenquestioningher.
“Butwhoishe,mypet?”
“HeisPeterPan,youknow,mother.”
AtfirstMrs.
Darling
Darlingdidnotknow,butafterthinkingbackintoherchildhoodshejustrememberedaPeterPanwhowassaidtolivewiththefairies.Therewereoddstoriesabouthim,asthatwhenchildrendiedhewentpartofthewaywiththem,sothattheyshouldnotbefrightened.
Shehadbelievedinhimatthetime,butnowthatshewasmarriedandfullof
fornuft
senseshequitedoubtedwhethertherewasanysuchperson.“Besides,”shesaidtoWendy,“hewouldbegrownupbythistime.”
“Ohno,heisn’t
vokset
grownup,”Wendyassuredherconfidently,“andheisjustmysize.”Shemeantthathewasher
størrelse
sizeinbothmindandbody;shedidn’tknowhowsheknew,shejustknewit.
Mrs.
Darling
DarlingconsultedMr.Darling,buthesmilede
smiledpooh-pooh.“Markmywords,”hesaid,“itissomenonsenseNanahasbeenputtingintotheirheads;
justthesortofideaadogwouldhave.
Leaveitalone,anditwill
blæse
blowover.”Butitwouldnot
blæse
blowoverandsoonthetroublesomeboygaveMrs.Darling
Darlingquiteashock.Childrenhavethestrangestadventureswithoutbeingtroubledbythem.
Forinstance,theymayrememberto
nævne
mention,aweekaftertheeventhappened,thatwhentheywereinthewoodtheyhadmettheirdeadfatherandhadagamewithhim.ItwasinthiscasualwaythatWendyonemorningmadeadisquietingrevelation.
Someleavesofa
træ
treehadbeenfoundonthenurserygulvet
floor,whichcertainlywerenottherewhenthechildrenwenttobed,andMrs.Darling
DarlingwaspuzzlingoverthemwhenWendysaidwithatolerantsmil
smile:.“IdobelieveitisthatPeteragain!”
“Whateverdoyoumean,Wendy?”
“Itissonaughtyofhimnottowipehisfeet,”Wendysaid,sighing.
Shewasatidychild.
She
forklarede
explainedinquiteamatter-of-factwaythatshethoughtPetersometimescametothenurseryinthenightandsatonthefoden
footofherbedandplayedonhispipestoher.Unfortunatelysheneverwoke,soshedidn’tknowhowsheknew,shejustknew.
“Whatnonsenseyoutalk,precious.
Noonecangetintothehousewithoutknocking.”
“Ithinkhecomesinbythewindow,”shesaid.
“Mylove,itisthreefloorsup.”
“Werenottheleavesatthe
foden
footofthewindow,mother?”Itwasquitetrue;
theleaveshadbeenfoundvery
tæt
nearthewindow.Mrs.
Darlingdidnotknowwhattothink,foritall
virkede
seemedsonaturaltoWendythatyoucouldnotdismissitbysayingshehadbeendreaming.“Mychild,”themothercried,“whydidyounottellmeofthisbefore?”
“Iforgot,”saidWendylightly.
Shewasinahurrytogether
morgenmad
breakfast.Oh,surelyshemusthavebeendreaming.
But,ontheotherhand,thereweretheleaves.
Mrs.
Darling
Darlingexaminedthemverycarefully;theywereskeletonleaves,butshewassuretheydidnotcomefromany
træ
treethatgrewinEngland.Shecrawledaboutthe
gulvet
floor,peeringatitwithacandleformarksofamærkelig
strangefoot.Sherattledthepokerupthechimneyandtappedthewalls.
Sheletdowna
bånd
tapefromthewindowtothepavement,anditwasasheerdrop
dropofthirtyfeet,withoutsomuchasaspouttoclimbupby.CertainlyWendyhadbeendreaming.
ButWendyhadnotbeendreaming,astheverynextnightshowed,thenightonwhichtheextraordinaryadventuresofthesechildrenmaybesaidtohave
begyndt
begun.Onthenightwespeakofallthechildrenwereoncemoreinbed.
IthappenedtobeNana’seveningoff,andMrs.
Darling
Darlinghadbathedthemandsungtothemtillonebyonetheyhadletgoherhandandslidawayintotheland
landofsleep.Allwerelookingsosafeandcosythatshe
smilede
smiledatherfearsnowandsatdowntranquillybythefiretosew.ItwassomethingforMichael,whoonhis
fødselsdag
birthdaywasgettingintoshirts.Thefirewas
varm
warm,however,andthenurserydimlylitbythreenight-lights,andpresentlythesewinglayonMrs.Darling’slap.Thenherheadnodded,oh,sogracefully.
Shewas
sov
asleep.Lookatthefourofthem,WendyandMichaeloverthere,Johnhere,andMrs.
Darling
Darlingbythefire.Thereshouldhavebeenafourthnight-light.
Whileshesleptshehadadream.
ShedreamtthattheNeverlandhadcometoo
tæt
nearandthatastrangeboyhadbrokenthroughfromit.Hedidnotalarmher,forshethoughtshehadseenhimbeforeinthefacesofmanywomenwhohavenochildren.
Perhapsheistobefoundinthefacesofsomemothersalso.
ButinherdreamhehadrentthefilmthatobscurestheNeverland,andshesawWendyandJohnandMichaelpeepingthroughthegap.
Thedreambyitselfwouldhavebeenatrifle,butwhileshewasdreamingthe
vinduet
windowofthenurseryblewopen,andaboydidfaldt
droponthefloor.Hewasaccompaniedbyastrangelight,no
større
biggerthanyourfist,whichdartedabouttheroomlikealivingthingandIthinkitmusthavebeenthislightthatwakenedMrs.Darling
Darling.Shestartedupwitha
græde
cry,andsawtheboy,andsomehowsheknewatoncethathewasPeterPan.IfyouorIorWendyhadbeenthereweshouldhaveseenthathewasverylikeMrs.Darling’s
kys
kiss.Hewasalovelyboy,cladinskeletonleavesandthejuicesthatoozeoutoftreesbutthemostentrancingthingabouthimwasthathehadallhisfirstteeth.
ChapterII.THESHADOW
Mrs.
Darlingscreamed,and,asifinanswertoabell,thedooropened,andNanaentered,returnedfromher
aften
eveningout.Shegrowledandsprangattheboy,wholeaptlightlythroughthe
vinduet
window.AgainMrs.Darlingscreamed,thistimeindistressforhim,forshethoughthewaskilled,andsherandownintothestreettolookforhislittlebody,butitwasnotthere;
andshelookedup,andintheblacknightshecouldseenothingbutwhatshethoughtwasashooting
stjerne
star.Shereturnedtothenursery,andfoundNanawithsomethinginher
munden
mouth,whichprovedtobetheboy’sshadow.Asheleaptatthe
vinduet
windowNanahadclosedithurtigt
quickly,toolatetocatchhim,buthisshadowhadnothadtimetogetout;slamwentthe
vinduet
windowandsnappeditoff.YoumaybesureMrs.
Darling
Darlingexaminedtheshadowcarefully,butitwasquitetheordinarykind.Nanahadno
tvivl
doubtofwhatwasthebestthingtodowiththisshadow.Shehungitoutatthe
vinduet
window,meaning“Heissuretocomebackforit;letusputitwherehecangetiteasilywithoutdisturbingthechildren.”
ButunfortunatelyMrs.
Darling
Darlingcouldnotleaveithangingoutatthevinduet
window,itlookedsolikethewashingandloweredthewholetoneofthehouse.ShethoughtofshowingittoMr.
Darling
Darling,buthewastottingupwintergreat-coatsforJohnandMichael,withawettowelaroundhisheadtokeephishjerne
brainclear,anditseemedaskam
shametotroublehim;besides,sheknewexactlywhathewouldsay:
“Itallcomesofhavingadogforanurse.”
She
besluttede
decidedtorolltheshadowupandputitawaycarefullyinadrawer,untilafittingopportunitycamefortellingherhusband.Ahme!
Theopportunitycameaweeklater,onthatnever-to-be-forgottenFriday.
OfcourseitwasaFriday.
“IoughttohavebeenspeciallycarefulonaFriday,”sheusedtosayafterwardstoherhusband,whileperhapsNanawasontheothersideofher,holdingherhand.
“No,no,”Mr.
Darling
Darlingalwayssaid,“Iamresponsibleforitall.I,George
Darling
Darling,didit.Meaculpa,meaculpa.”
Hehadhadaclassicaleducation.
TheysatthusnightafternightrecallingthatfatalFriday,tilleverydetailofitwasstampedontheirbrainsandcamethroughontheothersidelikethefacesonabadcoinage.
“IfonlyIhadnotacceptedthatinvitationtodineat27,”Mrs.
Darling
Darlingsaid.“IfonlyIhadnotpouredmymedicineintoNana’sbowl,”saidMr.
Darling
Darling.“IfonlyIhadpretendedtolikethemedicine,”waswhatNana’sweteyessaid.
“Mylikingforparties,George.”
“Myfatal
gave
giftofhumour,dearest.”“Mytouchinessabouttrifles,dearmasterandmistress.”
Thenoneormoreofthemwouldbreakdownaltogether;
Nanaatthethought,“It’strue,it’strue,theyoughtnottohavehadadogforanurse.”
ManyatimeitwasMr.
Darling
DarlingwhoputthehandkerchieftoNana’seyes.“Thatfiend!”
Mr.
Darling
Darlingwouldcry,andNana’sbarkwastheechoofit,butMrs.Darling
DarlingneverupbraidedPeter;therewassomethingintheright-handcornerofher
mund
mouththatwantedhernottocallPeternames.Theywouldsitthereinthe
tomme
emptynursery,recallingfondlyeverysmallestdetailofthatdreadfulaften
evening.