ChapterI.PETERBREAKSTHROUGH
Allchildren,exceptone,growup.
Theysoonknowthattheywillgrowup,andthewayWendyknewwasthis.
Onedaywhenshewastwoyearsoldshewasplayingina
garten
garden,andshepluckedanotherblume
flowerandranwithittohermother.Isupposeshemusthavelookedratherdelightful,forMrs.Darlingputherhandtoherheartandcried,“Oh,whycan’tyouremainlikethisforever!”
Thiswasallthatpassedbetweenthemonthe
thema
subject,buthenceforthWendyknewthatshemustgrowup.Youalwaysknowafteryouaretwo.
Twoisthebeginningoftheend.
Ofcoursetheylivedat14,anduntilWendycamehermotherwasthechiefone.
Shewasalovelylady,witharomanticmindandsuchasweetmockingmouth.
Herromanticmindwaslikethetinyboxes,onewithintheother,thatcomefromthepuzzlingEast,howevermanyyoudiscoverthereisalwaysonemore;
andhersweetmockingmouthhadonekissonitthatWendycouldneverget,thoughthereitwas,perfectlyconspicuousintheright-hand
ecke
corner.ThewayMr.Darlingwonherwasthis:
themanygentlemenwhohadbeenboyswhenshewasagirldiscoveredsimultaneouslythattheylovedher,andtheyallrantoherhousetoproposetoherexceptMr.Darling,whotooka
taxi
cabandnippedinfirst,andsohegother.Hegotallofher,excepttheinnermostboxandthekiss.
Heneverknewaboutthebox,andintimehegaveuptryingforthekiss.
WendythoughtNapoleoncouldhavegotit,butIcanpicturehimtrying,andthengoingoffina
leidenschaft
passion,slammingthedoor.Mr.
DarlingusedtoboasttoWendythathermothernotonlylovedhimbutrespectedhim.
Hewasoneofthosedeeponeswhoknowaboutstocksandshares.
Ofcoursenoonereallyknows,buthequiteseemedtoknow,andheoftensaidstockswereupandsharesweredowninawaythatwouldhavemadeanywomanrespecthim.
Mrs.
Darlingwasmarriedinwhite,andatfirstshekeptthebooks
perfekt
perfectly,almostgleefully,asifitwereagame,notsomuchasaBrusselssproutwasmissing;butbyandbywholecauliflowersdroppedout,andinsteadofthemtherewerepicturesofbabieswithoutfaces.
Shedrewthemwhensheshouldhavebeentottingup.
TheywereMrs.Darling’sguesses.
Wendycamefirst,thenJohn,thenMichael.
ForaweekortwoafterWendycameitwasdoubtfulwhethertheywouldbeabletokeepher,asshewasanothermouthtofeed.
Mr.Darlingwasfrightfullyproudofher,buthewasveryhonourable,andhesatonthe
rand
edgeofMrs.Darling’sbed,holdingherhandandcalculatingexpenses,whileshelookedathimimploringly.Shewantedtoriskit,comewhatmight,butthatwasnothisway;
hiswaywaswithapencilandapieceofpaper,andifshe
verwirrt
confusedhimwithsuggestionshehadtobeginatthebeginningagain.“Nowdon’tinterrupt,”hewouldbegofher.
“Ihaveonepoundseventeenhere,andtwoandsixattheoffice;
Icancutoffmycoffeeattheoffice,saytenshillings,makingtwonineandsix,withyoureighteenandthreemakesthreenineseven,withfivenaughtnaughtinmycheque-bookmakeseightnineseven—whoisthatmoving?—eightnineseven,dotandcarryseven—don’tspeak,myown—andthepoundyou
geliehen
lenttothatmanwhocametothedoor—quiet,child—dotandcarrychild—there,you’vedoneit!—didIsayninenineseven?yes,Isaidninenineseven;
thequestionis,canwetryitforayearonninenineseven?”
“Ofcoursewecan,George,”shecried.
ButshewasprejudicedinWendy’sfavour,andhewasreallythegrander
charakter
characterofthetwo.“Remembermumps,”he
warnte
warnedheralmostthreateningly,andoffhewentagain.“Mumpsonepound,thatiswhatIhaveputdown,butIdaresayitwillbemorelikethirtyshillings—don’tspeak—measlesonefive,Germanmeasleshalfaguinea,makestwofifteensix—don’twaggleyourfinger—whooping-cough,sayfifteenshillings”—andsoonitwent,anditaddedupdifferentlyeachtime;
butatlastWendyjustgotthrough,withmumpsreducedtotwelvesix,andthetwokindsofmeaslestreatedasone.
TherewasthesameexcitementoverJohn,andMichaelhadevenanarrowersqueak;
butbothwerekept,andsoon,youmighthaveseenthethreeofthemgoinginarowtoMissFulsom’sKindergartenschool,accompaniedbytheir
krankenschwester
nurse.Mrs.
Darlinglovedtohaveeverythingjustso,andMr.Darlinghada
leidenschaft
passionforbeingexactlylikehisneighbours;so,ofcourse,theyhada
krankenschwester
nurse.Astheywerepoor,owingtothe
menge
amountofmilkthechildrentranken
drank,thisnursewasaprimNewfoundlanddog,calledNana,whohadgehörte
belongedtonooneinparticularuntiltheDarlingsengagedher.Shehadalwaysthoughtchildrenimportant,however,andtheDarlingshadbecomeacquaintedwithherinKensingtonGardens,whereshespentmostofhersparetimepeepingintoperambulators,andwasmuchhatedbycarelessnursemaids,whomshefollowedtotheirhomesandcomplainedoftotheirmistresses.
Sheprovedtobequiteatreasureofa
krankenschwester
nurse.Howthoroughshewasatbath-time,andupatanymomentofthenightifoneofherchargesmadetheslightestcry.
Ofcourseherkennelwasinthenursery.
Shehada
genie
geniusforknowingwhenacoughisathingtohavenopatiencewithandwhenitneedsstockingaroundyourhals
throat.Shebelievedtoherlastdayinold-fashionedremedieslikerhubarbleaf,andmadesoundsofcontemptoverallthisnew-fangledtalkaboutgerms,andsoon.
Itwasa
lektion
lessoninproprietytoseeherescortingthechildrentoschool,walkingsedatelybytheirsidewhentheywerewellbehaved,andbuttingthembackintolineiftheystrayed.OnJohn’sfooterdayssheneveronceforgothissweater,andsheusuallycarriedanumbrellainhermouthincaseofrain.
Thereisaroominthe
keller
basementofMissFulsom’sschoolwherethenurseswait.Theysatonforms,whileNanalayonthefloor,butthatwastheonlydifference.
Theyaffectedtoignoreherasofaninferior
sozialen
socialstatustothemselves,andshedespisedtheirlighttalk.SheresentedvisitstothenurseryfromMrs.Darling’sfriends,butiftheydidcomeshefirstwhippedoffMichael’spinaforeandputhimintotheonewithbluebraiding,andsmoothedoutWendyandmadeadashatJohn’shair.
Nonurserycould
möglicherweise
possiblyhavebeenconductedmorecorrectly,andMr.Darlingknewit,yethesometimeswondereduneasilywhethertheneighbourstalked.Hehadhispositioninthecitytoconsider.
Nanaalsotroubledhiminanotherway.
Hehadsometimesafeelingthatshedidnotadmirehim.
“Iknowsheadmiresyoutremendously,George,”Mrs.Darlingwouldassurehim,andthenshewouldsigntothechildrentobespeciallynicetofather.
Lovelydancesfollowed,inwhichtheonlyotherservant,Liza,wassometimesallowedtojoin.
Suchamidgetshelookedinherlongskirtandmaid’scap,thoughshehadsworn,when
verlobt
engaged,thatshewouldneverseetenagain.Thegaietyofthoseromps!
AndgayestofallwasMrs.Darling,whowouldpirouettesowildlythatallyoucouldseeofherwasthekiss,andthenifyouhaddashedatheryoumighthavegotit.
ThereneverwasasimplerhappierfamilyuntilthecomingofPeterPan.
Mrs.
DarlingfirstheardofPeterwhenshewastidyingupherchildren’sminds.
Itisthenightlycustomofeverygoodmotherafterherchildrenareasleeptorummageintheirmindsandputthingsstraightfornextmorning,repackingintotheirproperplacesthemanyarticlesthathavewanderedduringtheday.
Ifyoucouldkeep
wach
awake(butofcourseyoucan’t)youwouldseeyourownmotherdoingthis,andyouwouldfinditveryinterestingtowatchher.Itisquiteliketidyingupdrawers.
Youwouldseeheronherknees,Iexpect,lingeringhumorouslyoversomeofyourcontents,wonderingwhereonearthyouhadpickedthisthingup,makingdiscoveriessweetandnotsosweet,pressingthistohercheekasifitwereasniceasakitten,andhurriedlystowingthatoutof
sicht
sight.Whenyouwakeinthemorning,thenaughtinessandevilpassionswithwhichyouwenttobedhavebeenfoldedupsmallandplacedatthe
boden
bottomofyourmindandonthetop,beautifullyaired,areausgebreitet
spreadoutyourprettierthoughts,readyforyoutoputon.Idon’tknowwhetheryouhaveeverseena
karte
mapofaperson’smind.Doctorssometimes
zeichnen
drawmapsofotherpartsofyou,andyourownkarte
mapcanbecomeintenselyinteresting,butcatchthemtryingtozeichnen
drawamapofachild’smind,whichisnotonlyverwirrt
confused,butkeepsgoingroundallthetime.Therearezigzaglinesonit,justlikeyourtemperatureonacard,andtheseareprobablyroadsintheisland,fortheNeverlandisalwaysmoreorlessanisland,withastonishingsplashesofcolourhereandthere,andcoralreefsandrakish-lookingcraftintheoffing,andsavagesandlonelylairs,andgnomeswhoaremostlytailors,andcavesthroughwhichariverruns,andprinceswithsixelderbrothers,andahutfastgoingtodecay,andoneverysmalloldladywithahookednose.
Itwouldbeaneasy
karte
mapifthatwereall,butthereisalsofirstdayatschool,religion
religion,fathers,theroundpond,needle-work,murders,hangings,verbsthattakethedative,chocolatepuddingday,gettingintobraces,sayninety-nine,three-penceforpullingoutyourtoothyourself,andsoon,andeitherthesearepartoftheislandortheyareanotherkarte
mapshowingthrough,anditisallratherconfusing,especiallyasnothingwillstandstill.OfcoursetheNeverlandsvaryagooddeal.
John’s,forinstance,hadalagoonwithflamingoesflyingoveritatwhichJohnwasshooting,whileMichael,whowasverysmall,hadaflamingowithlagoonsflyingoverit.
Johnlivedinaboatturnedupsidedownonthesands,Michaelinawigwam,Wendyinahouseofleavesdeftlysewntogether.
Johnhadnofriends,Michaelhadfriendsatnight,Wendyhadapet
wolf
wolfforsakenbyitsparents,butonthewholetheNeverlandshaveafamilyresemblance,andiftheystoodstillinareihe
rowyoucouldsayofthemthattheyhaveeachother’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,”Wendyadmittedwith
bedauern
regret.Hermotherhadbeenquestioningher.
“Butwhoishe,mypet?”
“HeisPeterPan,youknow,mother.”
AtfirstMrs.Darlingdidnotknow,butafterthinkingbackintoher
kindheit
childhoodshejustrememberedaPeterPanwhowassaidtolivewiththefairies.Therewereoddstoriesabouthim,asthatwhenchildrendiedhewentpartofthewaywiththem,sothattheyshouldnotbefrightened.
Shehadbelievedinhimatthetime,butnowthatshewasmarriedandfullofsenseshequitedoubtedwhethertherewasanysuchperson.
“Besides,”shesaidtoWendy,“hewouldbegrownupbythistime.”
“Ohno,heisn’tgrownup,”Wendyassuredherconfidently,“andheisjustmysize.”
Shemeantthathewasher
größe
sizeinbothmindandbody;shedidn’tknowhowsheknew,shejustknewit.
Mrs.
DarlingconsultedMr.Darling,buthesmiledpooh-pooh.
“Markmywords,”hesaid,“itissome
unsinn
nonsenseNanahasbeenputtingintotheirheads;justthesortofideaadogwouldhave.
Leaveitalone,anditwillblowover.”
ButitwouldnotblowoverandsoonthetroublesomeboygaveMrs.Darlingquitea
schock
shock.Childrenhavethestrangestadventureswithoutbeingtroubledbythem.
Forinstance,theymayremembertomention,aweekafterthe
ereignis
eventhappened,thatwhentheywereinthewoodtheyhadmettheirdeadfatherandhadagamewithhim.ItwasinthiscasualwaythatWendyonemorningmadeadisquietingrevelation.
Someleavesofatreehadbeenfoundonthenurseryfloor,whichcertainlywerenottherewhenthechildrenwenttobed,andMrs.DarlingwaspuzzlingoverthemwhenWendysaidwithatolerantsmile:.
“IdobelieveitisthatPeteragain!”
“Whateverdoyoumean,Wendy?”
“Itissonaughtyofhimnottowipehisfeet,”Wendysaid,sighing.
Shewasatidychild.
Sheexplainedinquiteamatter-of-factwaythatshethoughtPetersometimescametothenurseryinthenightandsatonthefootofherbedandplayedonhispipestoher.
Leider
Unfortunatelysheneverwoke,soshedidn’tknowhowsheknew,shejustknew.“What
unsinn
nonsenseyoutalk,precious.Noonecangetintothehousewithoutknocking.”
“Ithinkhecomesinbythewindow,”shesaid.
“Mylove,itisthreefloorsup.”
“Werenottheleavesatthefootofthewindow,mother?”
Itwasquitetrue;
theleaveshadbeenfoundverynearthewindow.
Mrs.
Darlingdidnotknowwhattothink,foritallseemedsonaturaltoWendythatyoucouldnotdismissitbysayingshehadbeendreaming.
“Mychild,”themothercried,“whydidyounottellmeofthisbefore?”
“Iforgot,”saidWendylightly.
Shewasinahurrytogetherbreakfast.
Oh,surelyshemusthavebeendreaming.
But,ontheotherhand,thereweretheleaves.
Mrs.Darlingexaminedthemverycarefully;
theywereskeletonleaves,butshewassuretheydidnotcomefromanytreethatgrewinEngland.
Shecrawledaboutthefloor,peeringatitwithacandleformarksofastrangefoot.
Sherattledthepokerupthechimneyandtappedthewalls.
Sheletdownatapefromthewindowtothepavement,anditwasasheerdropofthirtyfeet,withoutsomuchasaspoutto
klettern
climbupby.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.
Thereshouldhavebeenafourthnight-light.
Whileshesleptshehadadream.
ShedreamtthattheNeverlandhadcometoonearandthatastrangeboyhadbrokenthroughfromit.
Hedidnotalarmher,forshethoughtshehadseenhimbeforeinthefacesofmanywomenwhohavenochildren.
Perhapsheistobefoundinthefacesofsomemothersalso.
Butinherdreamhehad
gemietet
rentthefilmthatobscurestheNeverland,andshesawWendyandJohnandMichaelpeepingthroughthegap.Thedreambyitselfwouldhavebeenatrifle,butwhileshewasdreamingthewindowofthenurseryblewopen,andaboydiddroponthefloor.
Hewasaccompaniedbyastrangelight,nobiggerthanyourfist,whichdartedabouttheroomlikealivingthingandIthinkitmusthavebeenthislightthatwakenedMrs.Darling.
Shestartedupwithacry,andsawtheboy,and
irgendwie
somehowsheknewatoncethathewasPeterPan.IfyouorIorWendyhadbeenthereweshouldhaveseenthathewasverylikeMrs.Darling’skiss.
Hewasalovelyboy,cladinskeletonleavesandthejuicesthatoozeoutoftreesbutthemostentrancingthingabouthimwasthathehadallhisfirstteeth.
ChapterII.THE
Schatten
SHADOWMrs.
Darlingscreamed,and,asifinanswertoa
glocke
bell,thedooropened,andNanatrat ein
entered,returnedfromhereveningout.Shegrowledandsprangattheboy,wholeaptlightlythroughthewindow.
AgainMrs.Darlingscreamed,thistimeindistressforhim,forshethoughthewaskilled,andsherandownintothestreettolookforhislittlebody,butitwasnotthere;
andshelookedup,andintheblacknightshecouldseenothingbutwhatshethoughtwasashootingstar.
Shereturnedtothenursery,andfoundNanawithsomethinginhermouth,whichprovedtobetheboy’s
schatten
shadow.AsheleaptatthewindowNanahadcloseditquickly,toolatetocatchhim,buthis
schatten
shadowhadnothadtimetogetout;slamwentthewindowandsnappeditoff.
YoumaybesureMrs.Darlingexaminedthe
schatten
shadowcarefully,butitwasquitetheordinarykind.Nanahadnodoubtofwhatwasthebestthingtodowiththis
schatten
shadow.Shehungitoutatthewindow,meaning“Heissuretocomebackforit;
letusputitwherehecangetit
leicht
easilywithoutdisturbingthechildren.”But
leider
unfortunatelyMrs.Darlingcouldnotleaveithangingoutatthewindow,itlookedsolikethewashingandsenkte
loweredthewholetoneofthehouse.ShethoughtofshowingittoMr.Darling,buthewastottingup
winter
wintergreat-coatsforJohnandMichael,withawettowelaroundhisheadtokeephisbrainclear,anditseemedashametotroublehim;besides,sheknewexactlywhathewouldsay:
“Itallcomesofhavingadogforanurse.”
Shedecidedtorollthe
schatten
shadowupandputitawayvorsichtig
carefullyinadrawer,untilafittinggelegenheit
opportunitycamefortellingherhusband.Ahme!
The
gelegenheit
opportunitycameaweeklater,onthatnever-to-be-forgottenFreitag
Friday.Ofcourseitwasa
Freitag
Friday.“IoughttohavebeenspeciallycarefulonaFriday,”sheusedtosayafterwardstoherhusband,whileperhapsNanawasontheothersideofher,holdingherhand.
“No,no,”Mr.Darlingalwayssaid,“Iam
verantwortlich
responsibleforitall.I,GeorgeDarling,didit.
Meaculpa,meaculpa.”
Hehadhadaclassicaleducation.
Theysatthusnightafternightrecallingthatfatal
Freitag
Friday,tilleverydetailofitwasstampedontheirbrainsandcamethroughontheothersidelikethefacesonabadcoinage.“IfonlyIhadnotacceptedthatinvitationtodineat27,”Mrs.Darlingsaid.
“IfonlyIhadnotpouredmy
medizin
medicineintoNana’sbowl,”saidMr.Darling.“IfonlyIhadpretendedtolikethemedicine,”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
ecke
cornerofhermouththatwantedhernottocallPeternames.Theywouldsitthereintheemptynursery,recallingfondlyeverysmallestdetailofthatdreadfulevening.