ChapterI.PETERBREAKS
Travers
THROUGHAllchildren,exceptone,growup.
They
bientôt
soonknowthattheywillgrowup,et
andthewayWendyknewwasthis.One
jour
daywhenshewastwoyearsoldshewasjouait
playinginagarden,andshepluckedautre
anotherflowerandranwithittohermère
mother.Isupposeshemust
avoir
havelookedratherdelightful,forMrs.Darlingmis
putherhandtohercœur
heartandcried,“Oh,whycan’tyouremaincomme
likethisforever!”Thiswas
tout
allthatpassedbetweenthemonle
thesubject,buthenceforthWendysavait
knewthatshemustgrowup.You
toujours
alwaysknowafteryouaredeux
two.Twoisthebeginningofthe
fin
end.Ofcoursetheylivedat14,
et
anduntilWendycamehermère
motherwasthechiefone.Shewasalovely
dame
lady,witharomanticmindet
andsuchasweetmockingmouth.Herromantic
esprit
mindwaslikethetinyboxes,une
onewithintheother,thatviennent
comefromthepuzzlingEast,howevermanyyoudiscoverthereistoujours
alwaysonemore;andhersweetmockingmouthhad
un
onekissonitthatWendypourrait
couldneverget,thoughthereitwas,perfectlyconspicuousinle
theright-handcorner.ThewayMr.Darlingwonherwasthis:
les
themanygentlemenwhohadbeenboysquand
whenshewasagirldiscoveredsimultaneouslythattheylovedsa
her,andtheyallrantohermaison
housetoproposetoherexceptMr.Darling,whoprit
tookacabandnippedinpremier
first,andsohegotsa
her.Hegotallofher,except
la
theinnermostboxandthekiss.He
jamais
neverknewaboutthebox,et
andintimehegaveuptryingforthekiss.Wendy
pensait
thoughtNapoleoncouldhavegotit,mais
butIcanpicturehimtrying,andthengoingoffinune
apassion,slammingthedoor.Mr.
DarlingusedtoboasttoWendy
que
thathermothernotonlylovedhimmais
butrespectedhim.Hewasoneof
ces
thosedeeponeswhoknowaboutstocksandshares.Of
sûr
coursenoonereallyknows,mais
buthequiteseemedtosavoir
know,andheoftensaidstockswereupet
andsharesweredowninamanière
waythatwouldhavemadeanyfemme
womanrespecthim.Mrs.
Darlingwas
mariée
marriedinwhite,andatfirstshegardait
keptthebooksperfectly,almostgleefully,assi
ifitwereagame,notsomuchasun
aBrusselssproutwasmissing;mais
butbyandbywholecauliflowersdroppedout,et
andinsteadofthemtherewerepicturesofbabiessans
withoutfaces.Shedrewthem
quand
whensheshouldhavebeentottingup.TheywereMrs.Darling’sguesses.
Wendy
venue
camefirst,thenJohn,thenMichael.For
une
aweekortwoafterWendycameitwasdoubtfulwhethertheywouldbeabletogarder
keepher,asshewasautre
anothermouthtofeed.Mr.Darlingwasfrightfullyproudofher,
mais
buthewasveryhonourable,et
andhesatontheedgeofMrs.Darling’slit
bed,holdingherhandandcalculatingexpenses,whilesheregardait
lookedathimimploringly.She
voulait
wantedtoriskit,comewhatmight,mais
butthatwasnothisfaçon
way;hiswaywaswith
un
apencilandapieceofpaper,et
andifsheconfusedhimavec
withsuggestionshehadtobeginatthebeginningnouveau
again.“Nowdon’tinterrupt,”hewouldbegofher.
“Ihave
une
onepoundseventeenhere,anddeux
twoandsixatthebureau
office;Icancutoffmy
café
coffeeattheoffice,saydix
tenshillings,makingtwonineet
andsix,withyoureighteenet
andthreemakesthreenineseven,avec
withfivenaughtnaughtinmycheque-bookmakeseightnineseven—whoisthatmoving?—eightnineseven,dotet
andcarryseven—don’tspeak,myown—andla
thepoundyoulenttothathomme
manwhocametothedoor—quiet,child—dotet
andcarrychild—there,you’vedoneit!—didIsayninenineseven?oui
yes,Isaidninenineseven;la
thequestionis,canweessayer
tryitforayearonninenineseven?”“Of
sûr
coursewecan,George,”shecried.Mais
ButshewasprejudicedinWendy’sfavour,et
andhewasreallythegrandercharacterofle
thetwo.“Remembermumps,”hewarnedher
presque
almostthreateningly,andoffhealla
wentagain.“Mumpsonepound,
que
thatiswhatIhavemis
putdown,butIdaresayitsera
willbemorelikethirtyshillings—don’tspeak—measlesonecinq
five,Germanmeasleshalfaguinea,fait
makestwofifteensix—don’twaggleyourfinger—whooping-cough,dire
sayfifteenshillings”—andsoonitwent,et
anditaddedupdifferentlychaque
eachtime;butatlastWendyjustgotthrough,
avec
withmumpsreducedtotwelvesix
six,andthetwokindsofmeaslestreatedasun
one.Therewasthesameexcitement
sur
overJohn,andMichaelhadevenun
anarrowersqueak;butbothwerekept,
et
andsoon,youmighthavevoir
seenthethreeofthemaller
goinginarowtoMlle
MissFulsom’sKindergartenschool,accompaniedbytheirnurse.Mrs.
Darling
aimait
lovedtohaveeverythingjustso,et
andMr.Darlinghadapassionforbeingexactement
exactlylikehisneighbours;so,of
sûr
course,theyhadanurse.Astheywere
pauvres
poor,owingtotheamountofmilktheenfants
childrendrank,thisnursewasaprimNewfoundlandchien
dog,calledNana,whohadbelongedtonooneinparticularjusqu'à
untiltheDarlingsengagedher.Shehad
toujours
alwaysthoughtchildrenimportant,however,et
andtheDarlingshadbecomeacquaintedwithherinKensingtonGardens,où
whereshespentmostofhersparetemps
timepeepingintoperambulators,andwasmuchhatedbycarelessnursemaids,whomshesuivait
followedtotheirhomesandcomplainedoftotheirmistresses.Sheprovedtobequite
un
atreasureofanurse.Howthoroughshewasatbath-time,
et
andupatanymomentofthenuit
nightifoneofherchargesfaisait
madetheslightestcry.Of
sûr
courseherkennelwasinla
thenursery.Shehadageniusfor
savoir
knowingwhenacoughisune
athingtohavenopatienceavec
withandwhenitneedsstockingaroundyourthroat.She
croyait
believedtoherlastdayinold-fashionedremediescomme
likerhubarbleaf,andmadesoundsofcontemptovertout
allthisnew-fangledtalkaboutgerms,et
andsoon.Itwas
une
alessoninproprietytovoir
seeherescortingthechildrentoschool,marcher
walkingsedatelybytheirsidequand
whentheywerewellbehaved,et
andbuttingthembackintoligne
lineiftheystrayed.OnJohn’sfooterdaysshe
jamais
neveronceforgothissweater,et
andsheusuallycarriedanumbrellainhermouthincas
caseofrain.Thereis
une
aroominthebasementofMlle
MissFulsom’sschoolwherethenursesattendent
wait.Theysatonforms,
tandis que
whileNanalayonthefloor,mais
butthatwastheonlydifference.Theyaffectedtoignoreherasofaninferiorsocialstatustothemselves,
et
andshedespisedtheirlighttalk.SheresentedvisitstothenurseryfromMrs.Darling’sfriends,
mais
butiftheydidcomeshefirstwhippedoffMichael’spinaforeet
andputhimintotheoneavec
withbluebraiding,andsmoothedoutWendyet
andmadeadashatJohn’scheveux
hair.Nonurserycouldpossiblyhavebeenconducted
plus
morecorrectly,andMr.Darlingsavait
knewit,yethesometimeswondereduneasilywhethertheneighboursparlaient
talked.Hehadhispositionin
la
thecitytoconsider.Nana
aussi
alsotroubledhiminanotherfaçon
way.Hehadsometimesafeelingthatshedidnotadmire
le
him.“Iknowsheadmiresyoutremendously,George,”Mrs.Darlingwouldassurehim,
et
andthenshewouldsigntotheenfants
childrentobespeciallynicetopère
father.Lovelydancesfollowed,inwhich
la
theonlyotherservant,Liza,wasparfois
sometimesallowedtojoin.Such
une
amidgetshelookedinherlongue
longskirtandmaid’scap,thoughshehadsworn,quand
whenengaged,thatshewouldjamais
neverseetenagain.Thegaietyof
ces
thoseromps!AndgayestofallwasMrs.Darling,who
être
wouldpirouettesowildlythatallyoucouldvoir
seeofherwasthekiss,et
andthenifyouhaddashedatheryoumighteu
havegotit.Thereneverwasasimplerhappier
famille
familyuntilthecomingofPeterPan.Mrs.
Darling
première
firstheardofPeterwhenshewastidyingupherchildren’sminds.Itisthenightlycustomofeverygood
mère
motherafterherchildrenareasleeptorummageintheirmindset
andputthingsstraightforlendemain
nextmorning,repackingintotheirproperplace
placesthemanyarticlesthatont
havewanderedduringtheday.Si
Ifyoucouldkeepawake(butofsûr
courseyoucan’t)youwouldverriez
seeyourownmotherdoingcela
this,andyouwouldfindittrès
veryinterestingtowatchher.Itisquite
comme
liketidyingupdrawers.Youwould
verriez
seeheronherknees,Iexpect,lingeringhumorouslyovercertains
someofyourcontents,wonderingoù
whereonearthyouhadramassé
pickedthisthingup,makingdiscoveriessweetet
andnotsosweet,pressingthistohercheekassi
ifitwereasniceasakitten,et
andhurriedlystowingthatoutofsight.Quand
Whenyouwakeinthematin
morning,thenaughtinessandevilpassionsavec
withwhichyouwenttolit
bedhavebeenfoldedupsmallet
andplacedatthebottomofyouresprit
mindandonthetop,beautifullyaired,arespreadoutyourprettierthoughts,readyforyoutomettre
puton.Idon’tknowwhetheryouhaveever
vu
seenamapofaperson’smind.Doctors
parfois
sometimesdrawmapsofotherpartsofyou,et
andyourownmapcandevenir
becomeintenselyinteresting,butcatchthemessayant
tryingtodrawamapofune
achild’smind,whichisnotonlyconfused,mais
butkeepsgoingroundallthetemps
time.Therearezigzaglinesonit,just
comme
likeyourtemperatureonacard,et
andtheseareprobablyroadsintheisland,fortheNeverlandistoujours
alwaysmoreorlessanisland,avec
withastonishingsplashesofcolourici
hereandthere,andcoralreefset
andrakish-lookingcraftintheoffing,et
andsavagesandlonelylairs,et
andgnomeswhoaremostlytailors,et
andcavesthroughwhichariverruns,et
andprinceswithsixelderbrothers,et
andahutfastgoingtodecay,et
andoneverysmalloldladyavec
withahookednose.Itwouldbe
une
aneasymapifthatweretout
all,butthereisalsopremier
firstdayatschool,religion,fathers,theroundpond,needle-work,murders,hangings,verbsqui
thattakethedative,chocolatepuddingjour
day,gettingintobraces,sayninety-nine,three-penceforpullingoutyourtoothyourself,et
andsoon,andeitherthesearepartie
partoftheislandortheyareautre
anothermapshowingthrough,anditistout
allratherconfusing,especiallyasrien
nothingwillstandstill.Of
sûr
coursetheNeverlandsvaryabien
gooddeal.John’s,forinstance,had
un
alagoonwithflamingoesflyingoveritatwhichJohnwastirait
shooting,whileMichael,whowastrès
verysmall,hadaflamingoavec
withlagoonsflyingoverit.John
vivait
livedinaboatturnedupsidedownonle
thesands,Michaelinawigwam,Wendyinamaison
houseofleavesdeftlysewnensemble
together.Johnhadnofriends,Michaelhadfriendsat
nuit
night,Wendyhadapetwolfforsakenbyitsparents,mais
butonthewholetheNeverlandsont
haveafamilyresemblance,andiftheytenaient
stoodstillinarowyoupourrait
couldsayofthemthattheyont
haveeachother’snose,andsoforth.On
ces
thesemagicshoreschildrenatjouent
playareforeverbeachingtheircoracles.We
aussi
toohavebeenthere;wecan
toujours
stillhearthesoundofle
thesurf,thoughweshalllandnoplus
more.OfalldelectableislandstheNeverlandisthesnuggest
et
andmostcompact,notlargeet
andsprawly,youknow,withtediousdistancesentre
betweenoneadventureandanother,mais
butnicelycrammed.Whenyou
jouez
playatitbydayavec
withthechairsandtable-cloth,itisnotinthemoins
leastalarming,butinthedeux
twominutesbeforeyougotodormir
sleepitbecomesveryreal.Thatiswhy
y
therearenight-lights.Occasionallyinhertravels
travers
throughherchildren’smindsMrs.Darlingtrouvait
foundthingsshecouldnotcomprendre
understand,andofthesequitetheplus
mostperplexingwasthewordPeter.She
connaissait
knewofnoPeter,andpourtant
yethewashereandthereinJohnet
andMichael’sminds,whileWendy’sbegantobescrawledalloveravec
withhim.Thenamestoodoutinbolderlettersthananyof
le
theotherwords,andasMrs.Darlinggazedshesentait
feltthatithadanoddlycockyappearance.“Yes,heisrathercocky,”Wendyadmitted
avec
withregret.Hermotherhadbeenquestioning
sa
her.“Butwhoishe,mypet?”
“HeisPeterPan,you
sais
know,mother.”AtfirstMrs.Darlingdidnot
savait
know,butafterthinkingbackintoherchildhoodshejuste
justrememberedaPeterPanqui
whowassaidtoliveavec
withthefairies.Therewereoddstoriesabouthim,asthat
quand
whenchildrendiedhewentpartie
partofthewaywiththem,sothattheyshouldnotbefrightened.Shehad
cru
believedinhimatthetime,mais
butnowthatshewasmariée
marriedandfullofsenseshetout à fait
quitedoubtedwhethertherewastout
anysuchperson.“Besides,”she
dit
saidtoWendy,“hewouldbegrownupbyce
thistime.”“Ohno,heisn’tgrownup,”Wendyassuredherconfidently,“andheis
juste
justmysize.”Shemeantthathewashersizeinbothmind
et
andbody;shedidn’tknow
comment
howsheknew,shejustsavait
knewit.Mrs.
DarlingconsultedMr.Darling,
mais
buthesmiledpooh-pooh.“Markmywords,”he
dit
said,“itissomenonsenseNanahasbeenmis
puttingintotheirheads;just
le
thesortofideaachien
dogwouldhave.Leaveit
tranquille
alone,anditwillblowover.”Mais
Butitwouldnotblowoveret
andsoonthetroublesomeboydonné
gaveMrs.Darlingquiteashock.Enfants
Childrenhavethestrangestadventuressans
withoutbeingtroubledbythem.Forinstance,they
peut
mayremembertomention,asemaine
weekaftertheeventhappened,thatwhentheywereinthewoodtheyhadrencontré
mettheirdeadfatherandhadune
agamewithhim.Itwasin
cette
thiscasualwaythatWendyonemorningfait
madeadisquietingrevelation.Someleavesof
un
atreehadbeenfoundonthenurseryfloor,qui
whichcertainlywerenottherequand
whenthechildrenwenttolit
bed,andMrs.Darlingwaspuzzlingoverthemquand
whenWendysaidwithatolerantsmile:.“Ido
crois
believeitisthatPeteragain!”“Whateverdoyoumean,Wendy?”
“Itissonaughtyofhimnottowipehisfeet,”Wendy
dit
said,sighing.Shewasatidy
enfant
child.Sheexplainedinquiteamatter-of-fact
manière
waythatshethoughtPeterparfois
sometimescametothenurseryinla
thenightandsatonla
thefootofherbedet
andplayedonhispipestoher.Unfortunatelyshe
jamais
neverwoke,soshedidn’tsavait
knowhowsheknew,shejuste
justknew.“Whatnonsenseyoutalk,precious.
Noone
peut
cangetintothehousesans
withoutknocking.”“Ithinkhecomesinby
la
thewindow,”shesaid.“My
amour
love,itisthreefloorsup.”“Werenottheleavesatthefootofthewindow,mother?”
Itwas
tout à fait
quitetrue;theleaveshadbeenfound
très
verynearthewindow.Mrs.
Darlingdidnot
savait
knowwhattothink,forittout
allseemedsonaturaltoWendyque
thatyoucouldnotdismissitbydisant
sayingshehadbeendreaming.“Mychild,”
la
themothercried,“whydidyounottellmeofcela
thisbefore?”“Iforgot,”saidWendylightly.
Shewasinahurrytogetherbreakfast.
Oh,surelyshe
dû
musthavebeendreaming.But,on
les
theotherhand,therewereles
theleaves.Mrs.Darlingexaminedthem
très
verycarefully;theywereskeletonleaves,
mais
butshewassuretheydidnotvenaient
comefromanytreethatgrewinEngland.Shecrawled
sur
aboutthefloor,peeringatitavec
withacandleformarksofune
astrangefoot.Sherattledthepokerupthechimney
et
andtappedthewalls.She
laissé
letdownatapefromthewindowtothepavement,et
anditwasasheerdropofthirtyfeet,sans
withoutsomuchasaspouttoclimbupby.CertainlyWendyhadbeen
rêvé
dreaming.ButWendyhadnotbeen
rêvé
dreaming,astheverynextnuit
nightshowed,thenightonwhichtheextraordinaryadventuresofces
thesechildrenmaybesaidtoont
havebegun.Onthenightwe
parlons
speakofallthechildrenwereoncemoreinlit
bed.IthappenedtobeNana’seveningoff,
et
andMrs.Darlinghadbathedthemet
andsungtothemtillun
onebyonetheyhadletgohermain
handandslidawayintothelandofsommeil
sleep.Allwerelookingso
sûr
safeandcosythatshesmiledatherfearsmaintenant
nowandsatdowntranquillybythefeu
firetosew.Itwas
quelque chose
somethingforMichael,whoonhisbirthdaywasgettingintoshirts.The
feu
firewaswarm,however,andthenurserydimlylitbytrois
threenight-lights,andpresentlythesewinglayonMrs.Darling’slap.Thenher
tête
headnodded,oh,sogracefully.Shewasasleep.
Regardez
Lookatthefourofthem,Wendyet
andMichaeloverthere,Johnici
here,andMrs.Darlingbythefeu
fire.Thereshouldhavebeen
une
afourthnight-light.Whileshe
dormait
sleptshehadadream.She
rêvé
dreamtthattheNeverlandhadcometrop
toonearandthatastrangegarçon
boyhadbrokenthroughfromit.Hedidnotalarmher,forshe
pensait
thoughtshehadseenhimbeforeinles
thefacesofmanywomenqui
whohavenochildren.Perhapsheistobe
trouve
foundinthefacesofcertaines
somemothersalso.Butinher
rêve
dreamhehadrentthefilm
filmthatobscurestheNeverland,et
andshesawWendyandJohnet
andMichaelpeepingthroughthegap.The
rêve
dreambyitselfwouldhavebeenatrifle,mais
butwhileshewasdreamingthewindowofthenurseryblewopen,et
andaboydiddroponthefloor.Hewasaccompaniedby
une
astrangelight,nobiggerthanyourfist,whichdartedaboutla
theroomlikealivingchose
thingandIthinkitmusthavebeencette
thislightthatwakenedMrs.Darling.She
commencé
startedupwithacry,et
andsawtheboy,andsomehowshesu
knewatoncethathewasPeterPan.Si
IfyouorIorWendyhadbeenthereweshouldhavevu
seenthathewasverylikeMrs.Darling’skiss.Hewas
un
alovelyboy,cladinskeletonleaveset
andthejuicesthatoozeoutoftreesmais
butthemostentrancingthingabouthimwasqui
thathehadallhisfirstteeth.ChapterII.THESHADOW
Mrs.
Darlingscreamed,
et
and,asifinanswertoune
abell,thedooropened,et
andNanaentered,returnedfromhereveningout.Shegrowled
et
andsprangattheboy,qui
wholeaptlightlythroughthewindow.AgainMrs.Darlingscreamed,
cette
thistimeindistressforlui
him,forshethoughthewastué
killed,andsherandownintola
thestreettolookforhispetit
littlebody,butitwasnotthere;et
andshelookedup,andintheblacknuit
nightshecouldseenothingbutwhatshepensait
thoughtwasashootingstar.She
retournée
returnedtothenursery,andtrouvé
foundNanawithsomethinginhermouth,qui
whichprovedtobetheboy’sshadow.AsheleaptatthewindowNana
eu
hadcloseditquickly,tootard
latetocatchhim,buthisshadoweu
hadnothadtimetogetsortir
out;slamwentthewindow
et
andsnappeditoff.You
pouvez
maybesureMrs.Darlingexaminedle
theshadowcarefully,butitwastout à fait
quitetheordinarykind.Nanahad
aucun
nodoubtofwhatwasla
thebestthingtodoavec
withthisshadow.Shehungitoutatthewindow,
signifie
meaning“Heissuretocomebackforit;letus
mettons
putitwherehecangetiteasilysans
withoutdisturbingthechildren.”ButunfortunatelyMrs.Darling
pouvait
couldnotleaveithangingoutatthewindow,itressemblait
lookedsolikethewashinget
andloweredthewholetoneofthemaison
house.ShethoughtofshowingittoMr.Darling,
mais
buthewastottingupwintergreat-coatsforJohnet
andMichael,withawettowelaroundhistête
headtokeephisbrainclair
clear,anditseemedashametotroublele
him;besides,sheknewexactlywhathe
allait
wouldsay:“Itallcomesofhaving
un
adogforanurse.”Shedecidedtorolltheshadowup
et
andputitawaycarefullyinun
adrawer,untilafittingopportunitycamefordire
tellingherhusband.Ahme!
Theopportunitycame
une
aweeklater,onthatnever-to-be-forgottenFriday.Of
sûr
courseitwasaFriday.“Ioughtto
dû
havebeenspeciallycarefulonun
aFriday,”sheusedtodire
sayafterwardstoherhusband,tandis que
whileperhapsNanawasonla
theothersideofher,tenant
holdingherhand.“No,no,”Mr.Darling
toujours
alwayssaid,“Iamresponsibleforittout
all.I,GeorgeDarling,didit.
Meaculpa,meaculpa.”
Hehadhad
une
aclassicaleducation.Theysatthus
nuit
nightafternightrecallingthatfatalFriday,tillchaque
everydetailofitwasstampedontheirbrainset
andcamethroughontheothercôté
sidelikethefacesonune
abadcoinage.“IfonlyIhadnotacceptedthatinvitationtodineat27,”Mrs.Darling
dit
said.“IfonlyIhadnotpouredmymedicineintoNana’sbowl,”
dit
saidMr.Darling.“IfonlyIhadpretendedtolikethemedicine,”waswhatNana’sweteyes
disaient
said.“Mylikingforparties,George.”
“Myfatalgiftofhumour,dearest.”
“Mytouchinessabouttrifles,
cher
dearmasterandmistress.”Thenone
ou
ormoreofthemwouldbriseraient
breakdownaltogether;Nanaat
la
thethought,“It’strue,it’svrai
true,theyoughtnottoavoir
havehadadogforun
anurse.”ManyatimeitwasMr.Darling
qui
whoputthehandkerchieftoNana’seyes.“Thatfiend!”
Mr.Darlingwouldcry,
et
andNana’sbarkwastheechoofit,mais
butMrs.DarlingneverupbraidedPeter;therewas
quelque chose
somethingintheright-handcornerofhermouthqui
thatwantedhernottocallPeternames.Theywouldsittherein
la
theemptynursery,recallingfondlychaque
everysmallestdetailofthatdreadfulevening.