Peter Pan | Progressive French B1 Translation Books

Peter Pan | Progressive French B1 Translation Books

Discover the advantages of this innovative translation method, designed to cater to your learning needs. You can select your preferred difficulty level, ensuring a well-balanced challenge that isn't too overwhelming. This technique sharpens your comprehension skills by encouraging you to derive meaning from context, minimizing the need for direct translations. While some words are purposefully obscured to promote contextual guessing, looking up unclear terms is always an option. With this method, language learning becomes both accessible and enjoyable, blending challenge with support. Explore translated classics and experience the excitement of learning through literature.

ChapterI.PETERBREAKSTHROUGH
Allchildren,exceptone,growup.
Theysoonknowthattheywillgrowup,andthewayWendyknewwasthis.
Onedaywhenshewastwoyearsoldshewasplayingina
jardin
garden
,andshepluckedanother
fleur
flower
andranwithittohermother.
Isupposeshemusthavelookedratherdelightful,forMrs.Darlingputherhandtoherheartandcried,“Oh,whycan’tyou
rester
remain
likethisforever!”
Thiswasallthatpassedbetweenthemonthe
sujet
subject
,buthenceforthWendyknewthatshemustgrowup.
Youalwaysknowafteryouaretwo.
Twoisthebeginningoftheend.
Ofcoursetheylivedat14,anduntilWendycamehermotherwasthechiefone.
Shewasalovelylady,witha
romantique
romantic
mindandsuchasweetmockingmouth.
Her
romantique
romantic
mindwaslikethetinyboxes,onewithintheother,thatcomefromthepuzzlingEast,howevermanyyoudiscoverthereisalwaysonemore;
andhersweetmockingmouthhadonekissonitthatWendycouldneverget,thoughthereitwas,
parfaitement
perfectly
conspicuousintheright-hand
coin
corner
.
ThewayMr.Darlingwonherwasthis:
themanygentlemenwhohadbeenboyswhenshewasagirldiscoveredsimultaneouslythattheylovedher,andtheyallrantoherhousetoproposetoherexceptMr.Darling,whotooka
taxi
cab
andnippedinfirst,andsohegother.
Hegotallofher,excepttheinnermostboxandthekiss.
Heneverknewaboutthebox,andintimehegaveuptryingforthekiss.
WendythoughtNapoleoncouldhavegotit,butIcanpicturehimtrying,andthengoingoffina
passion
passion
,slammingthedoor.
Mr.
DarlingusedtoboasttoWendythathermothernotonlylovedhimbutrespectedhim.
Hewasoneofthosedeeponeswhoknowaboutstocksandshares.
Ofcoursenoonereallyknows,buthequiteseemedtoknow,andheoftensaidstockswereupandsharesweredowninawaythatwouldhavemadeanywomanrespecthim.
Mrs.
Darlingwasmarriedinwhite,andatfirstshekeptthebooks
parfaitement
perfectly
,almostgleefully,asifitwereagame,notsomuchasaBrusselssproutwasmissing;
butbyandbywholecauliflowersdroppedout,andinsteadofthemtherewerepicturesofbabieswithoutfaces.
Shedrewthemwhensheshouldhavebeentottingup.
TheywereMrs.Darling’sguesses.
Wendycamefirst,thenJohn,thenMichael.
ForaweekortwoafterWendycameitwasdoubtfulwhethertheywouldbeabletokeepher,asshewasanothermouthto
nourrir
feed
.
Mr.Darlingwasfrightfullyproudofher,buthewasveryhonourable,andhesatonthe
bord
edge
ofMrs.Darling’sbed,holdingherhandandcalculatingexpenses,whileshelookedathimimploringly.
Shewantedtoriskit,comewhatmight,butthatwasnothisway;
hiswaywaswithapencilandapieceofpaper,andifsheconfusedhimwithsuggestionshehadtobeginatthebeginningagain.
“Nowdon’tinterrupt,”hewould
suppliait
beg
ofher.
“Ihaveonepoundseventeenhere,andtwoandsixattheoffice;
Icancutoffmycoffeeattheoffice,saytenshillings,makingtwonineandsix,withyoureighteenandthreemakesthreenineseven,withfivenaughtnaughtinmycheque-bookmakeseightnineseven—whoisthatmoving?—eightnineseven,dotandcarryseven—don’tspeak,myown—andthepoundyou
prêté
lent
tothatmanwhocametothedoor—quiet,child—dotandcarrychild—there,you’vedoneit!—didIsayninenineseven?
yes,Isaidninenineseven;
thequestionis,canwetryitforayearonninenineseven?”
“Ofcoursewecan,George,”shecried.
ButshewasprejudicedinWendy’s
faveur
favour
,andhewasreallythegrander
personnage
character
ofthetwo.
“Remembermumps,”he
avertit
warned
heralmostthreateningly,andoffhewentagain.
“Mumpsonepound,thatiswhatIhaveputdown,butIdaresayitwillbemorelikethirtyshillings—don’tspeak—measlesonefive,Germanmeasleshalfaguinea,makestwofifteensix—don’twaggleyourfinger—whooping-cough,sayfifteenshillings”—andsoonitwent,andit
ajouté
added
updifferentlyeachtime;
butatlastWendyjustgotthrough,withmumpsreducedtotwelvesix,andthetwokindsofmeaslestreatedasone.
TherewasthesameexcitementoverJohn,andMichaelhadevenanarrowersqueak;
butbothwerekept,andsoon,youmighthaveseenthethreeofthemgoingina
rangée
row
toMissFulsom’sKindergartenschool,accompaniedbytheir
infirmière
nurse
.
Mrs.
Darlinglovedtohaveeverythingjustso,andMr.Darlinghada
passion
passion
forbeingexactlylikehisneighbours;
so,ofcourse,theyhada
infirmière
nurse
.
Astheywerepoor,owingtothe
quantité
amount
ofmilkthechildrendrank,this
infirmière
nurse
wasaprimNewfoundlanddog,calledNana,whohad
appartenu
belonged
tonoonein
particulier
particular
untiltheDarlingsengagedher.
Shehadalwaysthoughtchildrenimportant,however,andtheDarlingshadbecomeacquaintedwithherinKensingtonGardens,whereshespentmostofher
libre
spare
timepeepingintoperambulators,andwasmuchhatedbycarelessnursemaids,whomshefollowedtotheirhomesandcomplainedoftotheirmistresses.
Sheprovedtobequitea
trésor
treasure
ofanurse.
Howthoroughshewasatbath-time,andupatanymomentofthenightifoneofherchargesmadetheslightestcry.
Ofcourseherkennelwasinthenursery.
Shehada
génie
genius
forknowingwhenacoughisathingtohavenopatiencewithandwhenitneedsstockingaroundyour
gorge
throat
.
Shebelievedtoherlastdayinold-fashionedremedieslikerhubarbleaf,andmadesoundsofcontemptoverallthisnew-fangledtalkaboutgerms,andsoon.
Itwasa
leçon
lesson
inproprietytoseeherescortingthechildrentoschool,walkingsedatelybytheirsidewhentheywerewell
comportaient
behaved
,andbuttingthembackintolineiftheystrayed.
OnJohn’sfooterdayssheneveronceforgothissweater,andsheusuallycarriedanumbrellainhermouthincaseofrain.
Thereisaroominthe
sous-sol
basement
ofMissFulsom’sschoolwherethenurseswait.
Theysatonforms,whileNanalayonthefloor,butthatwastheonlydifference.
Theyaffectedtoignoreherasofaninferiorsocialstatustothemselves,andshedespisedtheirlighttalk.
SheresentedvisitstothenurseryfromMrs.Darling’sfriends,butiftheydidcomeshefirstwhippedoffMichael’spinaforeandputhimintotheonewithbluebraiding,andsmoothedoutWendyandmadeadashatJohn’shair.
Nonurserycouldpossiblyhavebeenconductedmorecorrectly,andMr.Darlingknewit,yethesometimeswondereduneasilywhethertheneighbourstalked.
Hehadhispositioninthecitytoconsider.
Nanaalsotroubledhiminanotherway.
Hehadsometimesafeelingthatshedidnotadmirehim.
“Iknowsheadmiresyoutremendously,George,”Mrs.Darlingwouldassurehim,andthenshewouldsigntothechildrentobespeciallynicetofather.
Lovelydancesfollowed,inwhichtheonlyotherservant,Liza,wassometimesallowedtojoin.
Suchamidgetshelookedinherlongskirtandmaid’scap,thoughshehadsworn,whenengaged,thatshewouldneverseetenagain.
Thegaietyofthoseromps!
AndgayestofallwasMrs.Darling,whowouldpirouettesowildlythatallyoucouldseeofherwasthekiss,andthenifyouhaddashedatheryoumighthavegotit.
ThereneverwasasimplerhappierfamilyuntilthecomingofPeterPan.
Mrs.
DarlingfirstheardofPeterwhenshewastidyingupherchildren’sminds.
Itisthenightlycustomofeverygoodmotherafterherchildrenareasleeptorummageintheirmindsandputthingsstraightfornextmorning,repackingintotheirproperplacesthemanyarticlesthathavewanderedduringtheday.
Ifyoucouldkeep
éveillé
awake
(butofcourseyoucan’t)youwouldseeyourownmotherdoingthis,andyouwouldfinditveryinterestingtowatchher.
Itisquiteliketidyingupdrawers.
Youwouldseeheronherknees,Iexpect,lingeringhumorouslyoversomeofyourcontents,wonderingwhereonearthyouhadpickedthisthingup,makingdiscoveriessweetandnotsosweet,pressingthistohercheekasifitwereasniceasakitten,andhurriedlystowingthatoutof
vue
sight
.
Whenyouwakeinthemorning,thenaughtinessandevilpassionswithwhichyouwenttobedhavebeenfoldedupsmallandplacedatthe
fond
bottom
ofyourmindandonthetop,beautifullyaired,arespreadoutyourprettierthoughts,readyforyoutoputon.
Idon’tknowwhetheryouhaveeverseena
carte
map
ofaperson’smind.
Doctorssometimes
dessiner
draw
mapsofotherpartsofyou,andyourown
carte
map
canbecomeintenselyinteresting,butcatchthemtryingto
dessiner
draw
amapofachild’smind,whichisnotonly
confus
confused
,butkeepsgoingroundallthetime.
Therearezigzaglinesonit,justlikeyourtemperatureonacard,andtheseareprobablyroadsintheisland,fortheNeverlandisalwaysmoreorlessanisland,withastonishingsplashesofcolourhereandthere,andcoralreefsandrakish-lookingcraftintheoffing,andsavagesandlonelylairs,andgnomeswhoare
principalement
mostly
tailors,andcavesthroughwhichariverruns,andprinceswithsixelderbrothers,andahutfastgoingtodecay,andoneverysmalloldladywithahookednose.
Itwouldbeaneasy
carte
map
ifthatwereall,butthereisalsofirstdayatschool,
religion
religion
,fathers,theroundpond,needle-work,murders,hangings,verbsthattakethedative,
chocolat
chocolate
puddingday,gettingintobraces,sayninety-nine,three-penceforpullingoutyourtoothyourself,andsoon,andeitherthesearepartoftheislandortheyareanother
carte
map
showingthrough,anditisallratherconfusing,especiallyasnothingwillstandstill.
OfcoursetheNeverlandsvaryagooddeal.
John’s,forinstance,hadalagoonwithflamingoesflyingoveritatwhichJohnwasshooting,whileMichael,whowasverysmall,hadaflamingowithlagoonsflyingoverit.
Johnlivedinaboatturnedupsidedownonthesands,Michaelinawigwam,Wendyinahouseofleavesdeftlysewntogether.
Johnhadnofriends,Michaelhadfriendsatnight,Wendyhadapet
loup
wolf
forsakenbyitsparents,butonthewholetheNeverlandshaveafamilyresemblance,andiftheystoodstillina
rangée
row
youcouldsayofthemthattheyhaveeachother’snose,andsoforth.
Onthesemagicshoreschildrenatplayareforeverbeachingtheircoracles.
Wetoohavebeenthere;
wecanstillhearthesoundofthesurf,thoughweshalllandnomore.
OfalldelectableislandstheNeverlandisthesnuggestandmostcompact,notlargeandsprawly,youknow,withtediousdistancesbetweenoneadventureandanother,butnicelycrammed.
Whenyouplayatitbydaywiththechairsandtable-cloth,itisnotintheleastalarming,butinthetwominutesbeforeyougotosleepitbecomesveryreal.
Thatiswhytherearenight-lights.
Occasionallyinhertravelsthroughherchildren’smindsMrs.Darlingfoundthingsshecouldnotunderstand,andofthesequitethemostperplexingwasthewordPeter.
SheknewofnoPeter,andyethewashereandthereinJohnandMichael’sminds,whileWendy’sbegantobescrawledalloverwithhim.
Thenamestoodoutinbolderlettersthananyoftheotherwords,andasMrs.Darlinggazedshefeltthatithadanoddlycockyappearance.
“Yes,heisrathercocky,”Wendy
admis
admitted
withregret.
Hermotherhadbeenquestioningher.
“Butwhoishe,mypet?”
“HeisPeterPan,youknow,mother.”
AtfirstMrs.Darlingdidnotknow,butafterthinkingbackintoher
enfance
childhood
shejustrememberedaPeterPanwhowassaidtolivewiththefairies.
Therewereoddstoriesabouthim,asthatwhenchildrendiedhewentpartofthewaywiththem,sothattheyshouldnotbefrightened.
Shehadbelievedinhimatthetime,butnowthatshewasmarriedandfullofsenseshequitedoubtedwhethertherewasanysuchperson.
“Besides,”shesaidtoWendy,“hewouldbegrownupbythistime.”
“Ohno,heisn’tgrownup,”Wendyassuredherconfidently,“andheisjustmysize.”
Shemeantthathewashersizeinbothmindandbody;
shedidn’tknowhowsheknew,shejustknewit.
Mrs.
DarlingconsultedMr.Darling,buthesmiledpooh-pooh.
“Markmywords,”hesaid,“itissome
non-sens
nonsense
Nanahasbeenputtingintotheirheads;
justthesortofideaadogwouldhave.
Leaveitalone,anditwillblowover.”
ButitwouldnotblowoverandsoonthetroublesomeboygaveMrs.Darlingquitea
choc
shock
.
Childrenhavethestrangestadventureswithoutbeingtroubledbythem.
Forinstance,theymayremembertomention,aweekaftertheeventhappened,thatwhentheywereinthe
bois
wood
theyhadmettheirdeadfatherandhadagamewithhim.
ItwasinthiscasualwaythatWendyonemorningmadeadisquietingrevelation.
Someleavesofatreehadbeenfoundonthenurseryfloor,whichcertainlywerenottherewhenthechildrenwenttobed,andMrs.DarlingwaspuzzlingoverthemwhenWendysaidwithatolerantsmile:.
“IdobelieveitisthatPeteragain!”
“Whateverdoyoumean,Wendy?”
“Itissonaughtyofhimnottowipehisfeet,”Wendysaid,sighing.
Shewasatidychild.
Sheexplainedinquiteamatter-of-factwaythatshethoughtPetersometimescametothenurseryinthenightandsatonthefootofherbedandplayedonhispipestoher.
Malheureusement
Unfortunately
sheneverwoke,soshedidn’tknowhowsheknew,shejustknew.
“What
bêtises
nonsense
youtalk,precious.
Noonecangetintothehousewithoutknocking.”
“Ithinkhecomesinbythewindow,”shesaid.
“Mylove,itisthreefloorsup.”
“Werenottheleavesatthefootofthewindow,mother?”
Itwasquitetrue;
theleaveshadbeenfoundverynearthewindow.
Mrs.
Darlingdidnotknowwhattothink,foritallseemedso
naturel
natural
toWendythatyoucouldnotdismissitbysayingshehadbeendreaming.
“Mychild,”themothercried,“whydidyounottellmeofthisbefore?”
“Iforgot,”saidWendylightly.
Shewasinahurrytogetherbreakfast.
Oh,surelyshemusthavebeendreaming.
But,ontheotherhand,thereweretheleaves.
Mrs.Darlingexaminedthemvery
soigneusement
carefully
;
theywereskeletonleaves,butshewassuretheydidnotcomefromanytreethatgrewinEngland.
Shecrawledaboutthefloor,peeringatitwithacandleformarksofastrangefoot.
Sherattledthepokerupthechimneyandtappedthewalls.
Sheletdownatapefromthewindowtothepavement,anditwasasheerdropofthirtyfeet,withoutsomuchasaspoutto
grimper
climb
upby.
CertainlyWendyhadbeendreaming.
ButWendyhadnotbeendreaming,astheverynextnightshowed,thenightonwhichtheextraordinaryadventuresofthesechildrenmaybesaidtohavebegun.
Onthenightwespeakofallthechildrenwereoncemoreinbed.
IthappenedtobeNana’seveningoff,andMrs.Darlinghadbathedthemandsungtothemtillonebyonetheyhadletgoherhandandslidawayintothelandofsleep.
Allwerelookingsosafeandcosythatshesmiledatherfearsnowandsatdowntranquillybythefiretosew.
ItwassomethingforMichael,whoonhisbirthdaywasgettingintoshirts.
Thefirewaswarm,however,andthenurserydimlylitbythreenight-lights,andpresentlythesewinglayonMrs.Darling’slap.
Thenherheadnodded,oh,sogracefully.
Shewasasleep.
Lookatthefourofthem,WendyandMichaeloverthere,Johnhere,andMrs.Darlingbythefire.
Thereshouldhavebeena
quatrième
fourth
night-light.
Whileshesleptshehadadream.
ShedreamtthattheNeverlandhadcometoonearandthatastrangeboyhadbrokenthroughfromit.
Hedidnotalarmher,forshethoughtshehadseenhimbeforeinthefacesofmanywomenwhohavenochildren.
Perhapsheistobefoundinthefacesofsomemothersalso.
Butinherdreamhehad
loué
rent
thefilmthatobscurestheNeverland,andshesawWendyandJohnandMichaelpeepingthroughthegap.
Thedreambyitselfwouldhavebeenatrifle,butwhileshewasdreamingthewindowofthenurseryblewopen,andaboydiddroponthefloor.
Hewasaccompaniedbyastrangelight,nobiggerthanyourfist,whichdartedabouttheroomlikealivingthingandIthinkitmusthavebeenthislightthatwakenedMrs.Darling.
Shestartedupwithacry,andsawtheboy,andsomehowsheknewatoncethathewasPeterPan.
IfyouorIorWendyhadbeenthereweshouldhaveseenthathewasverylikeMrs.Darling’skiss.
Hewasalovelyboy,cladinskeletonleavesandthejuicesthatoozeoutoftreesbutthemostentrancingthingabouthimwasthathehadallhisfirstteeth.
ChapterII.THESHADOW
Mrs.
Darling
crié
screamed
,and,asifinanswertoa
cloche
bell
,thedooropened,andNana
entrée
entered
,returnedfromhereveningout.
Shegrowledandsprangattheboy,wholeaptlightlythroughthewindow.
AgainMrs.Darling
cria
screamed
,thistimeindistressforhim,forshethoughthewaskilled,andsherandownintothestreettolookforhislittlebody,butitwasnotthere;
andshelookedup,andintheblacknightshecouldseenothingbutwhatshethoughtwasashootingstar.
Shereturnedtothenursery,andfoundNanawithsomethinginhermouth,whichprovedtobetheboy’sshadow.
AsheleaptatthewindowNanahadcloseditquickly,toolatetocatchhim,buthis
ombre
shadow
hadnothadtimetogetout;
slamwentthewindowandsnappeditoff.
YoumaybesureMrs.Darlingexaminedtheshadow
soigneusement
carefully
,butitwasquitetheordinarykind.
Nanahadnodoubtofwhatwasthebestthingtodowiththis
ombre
shadow
.
Shehungitoutatthewindow,meaning“Heissuretocomebackforit;
letusputitwherehecangetit
facilement
easily
withoutdisturbingthechildren.”
But
malheureusement
unfortunately
Mrs.Darlingcouldnotleaveithangingoutatthewindow,itlookedsolikethewashingand
abaissé
lowered
thewholetoneofthehouse.
ShethoughtofshowingittoMr.Darling,buthewastottingup
hiver
winter
great-coatsforJohnandMichael,witha
humide
wet
towelaroundhisheadtokeephisbrainclear,anditseemedashametotroublehim;
besides,sheknewexactlywhathewouldsay:
“Itallcomesofhavingadogforanurse.”
Shedecidedtorolltheshadowupandputitaway
soigneusement
carefully
inadrawer,untilafittingopportunitycamefortellingherhusband.
Ahme!
Theopportunitycameaweeklater,onthatnever-to-be-forgotten
Vendredi
Friday
.
Ofcourseitwasa
Vendredi
Friday
.
“IoughttohavebeenspeciallycarefulonaFriday,”sheusedtosayafterwardstoherhusband,whileperhapsNanawasontheothersideofher,holdingherhand.
“No,no,”Mr.Darlingalwayssaid,“Iamresponsibleforitall.
I,GeorgeDarling,didit.
Meaculpa,meaculpa.”
Hehadhadaclassical
éducation
education
.
Theysatthusnightafternightrecallingthatfatal
Vendredi
Friday
,tilleverydetailofitwasstampedontheirbrainsandcamethroughontheothersidelikethefacesonabadcoinage.
“IfonlyIhadnotacceptedthatinvitationtodineat27,”Mrs.Darlingsaid.
“IfonlyIhadnotpouredmy
médicament
medicine
intoNana’sbowl,”saidMr.Darling.
“IfonlyIhad
semblant
pretended
tolikethemedicine,”waswhatNana’sweteyessaid.
“Mylikingforparties,George.”
“Myfatalgiftofhumour,dearest.”
“Mytouchinessabouttrifles,dearmasterandmistress.”
Thenoneormoreofthemwouldbreakdownaltogether;
Nanaatthethought,“It’strue,it’strue,theyoughtnottohavehadadogforanurse.”
ManyatimeitwasMr.DarlingwhoputthehandkerchieftoNana’seyes.
“Thatfiend!”
Mr.Darlingwouldcry,andNana’sbarkwastheechoofit,butMrs.DarlingneverupbraidedPeter;
therewassomethingintheright-hand
coin
corner
ofhermouththatwantedhernottocallPeternames.
Theywouldsitthereintheemptynursery,recallingfondlyeverysmallestdetailofthatdreadfulevening.