ChapterI.PETERBREAKSTHROUGH
Allchildren,exceptone,growup.
Theysoonknowthattheywillgrowup,andthewayWendyknewwasthis.
Onedaywhenshewastwoyearsoldshewasplayinginagarden,andshepluckedanotherflowerandranwithittohermother.
Isupposeshemusthavelookedrather
entzückend
delightful,forMrs.Darlingputherhandtoherheartandcried,“Oh,whycan’tyouremainlikethisforever!”Thiswasallthatpassedbetweenthemonthesubject,buthenceforthWendyknewthatshemustgrowup.
Youalwaysknowafteryouaretwo.
Twoisthebeginningoftheend.
Ofcoursetheylivedat14,anduntilWendycamehermotherwasthechiefone.
Shewasalovelylady,witharomanticmindandsuchasweetmockingmouth.
Herromanticmindwaslikethetinyboxes,onewithintheother,thatcomefromthepuzzlingEast,howevermanyyoudiscoverthereisalwaysonemore;
andhersweetmockingmouthhadonekissonitthatWendycouldneverget,thoughthereitwas,perfectlyconspicuousintheright-handcorner.
ThewayMr.Darlingwonherwasthis:
themanygentlemenwhohadbeenboyswhenshewasagirldiscovered
gleichzeitig
simultaneouslythattheylovedher,andtheyallrantoherhousetoproposetoherexceptMr.Darling,whotookacabandnippedinfirst,andsohegother.Hegotallofher,excepttheinnermostboxandthekiss.
Heneverknewaboutthebox,andintimehegaveuptryingforthekiss.
WendythoughtNapoleoncouldhavegotit,butIcanpicturehimtrying,andthengoingoffinapassion,slammingthedoor.
Mr.
Darlingusedto
prahlte
boasttoWendythathermothernotonlylovedhimbutrespectedhim.Hewasoneofthosedeeponeswhoknowaboutstocksandshares.
Ofcoursenoonereallyknows,buthequiteseemedtoknow,andheoftensaidstockswereupandsharesweredowninawaythatwouldhavemadeanywomanrespecthim.
Mrs.
Darlingwasmarriedinwhite,andatfirstshekeptthebooksperfectly,almostgleefully,asifitwereagame,notsomuchasaBrusselssproutwasmissing;
butbyandbywholecauliflowersdroppedout,andinsteadofthemtherewerepicturesofbabieswithoutfaces.
Shedrewthemwhensheshouldhavebeentottingup.
TheywereMrs.Darling’sguesses.
Wendycamefirst,thenJohn,thenMichael.
ForaweekortwoafterWendycameitwas
zweifelhaft
doubtfulwhethertheywouldbeabletokeepher,asshewasanothermouthtofeed.Mr.Darlingwasfrightfullyproudofher,buthewasvery
ehrenhaft
honourable,andhesatontheedgeofMrs.Darling’sbed,holdingherhandandcalculatingexpenses,whileshelookedathimimploringly.Shewantedtoriskit,comewhatmight,butthatwasnothisway;
hiswaywaswitha
bleistift
pencilandapieceofpaper,andifsheconfusedhimwithsuggestionshehadtobeginatthebeginningagain.“Nowdon’tinterrupt,”hewouldbegofher.
“Ihaveone
pfund
poundseventeenhere,andtwoandsixattheoffice;Icancutoffmycoffeeattheoffice,saytenshillings,makingtwonineandsix,withyoureighteenandthreemakesthreenineseven,withfivenaughtnaughtinmycheque-bookmakeseightnineseven—whoisthatmoving?—eightnineseven,
punkt
dotandcarryseven—don’tspeak,myown—andthepfund
poundyoulenttothatmanwhocametothedoor—quiet,child—dotandcarrychild—there,you’vedoneit!—didIsayninenineseven?yes,Isaidninenineseven;
thequestionis,canwetryitforayearonninenineseven?”
“Ofcoursewecan,George,”shecried.
ButshewasprejudicedinWendy’sfavour,andhewasreallythegrandercharacterofthetwo.
“Remembermumps,”hewarnedheralmostthreateningly,andoffhewentagain.
“Mumpsone
pfund
pound,thatiswhatIhaveputdown,butIdaresayitwillbemorelikethirtyshillings—don’tspeak—measlesonefive,Germanmeasleshalfaguinea,makestwofifteensix—don’twaggleyourfinger—whooping-cough,sayfifteenshillings”—andsoonitwent,anditaddedupanders
differentlyeachtime;butatlastWendyjustgotthrough,withmumps
reduziert
reducedtotwelvesix,andthetwokindsofmeaslestreatedasone.Therewasthesame
aufregung
excitementoverJohn,andMichaelhadevenanarrowerquietschen
squeak;butbothwerekept,andsoon,youmighthaveseenthethreeofthemgoinginarowtoMissFulsom’s
Kindergarten
Kindergartenschool,accompaniedbytheirnurse.Mrs.
Darlinglovedtohaveeverythingjustso,andMr.Darlinghadapassionforbeingexactlylikehisneighbours;
so,ofcourse,theyhadanurse.
Astheywerepoor,owingtotheamountofmilkthechildrendrank,thisnursewasaprimNewfoundlanddog,calledNana,whohadbelongedtonooneinparticularuntiltheDarlingsengagedher.
Shehadalwaysthoughtchildrenimportant,however,andtheDarlingshadbecomeacquaintedwithherinKensingtonGardens,whereshespentmostofhersparetimepeepingintoperambulators,andwasmuchhatedbycarelessnursemaids,whomshefollowedtotheirhomesandcomplainedoftotheirmistresses.
Sheprovedtobequiteatreasureofanurse.
Howthoroughshewasatbath-time,andupatanymomentofthenightifoneofherchargesmadetheslightestcry.
Ofcourseherkennelwasinthe
kinderzimmer
nursery.Shehadageniusforknowingwhena
husten
coughisathingtohavenogeduld
patiencewithandwhenitneedsstockingaroundyourthroat.Shebelievedtoherlastdayinold-fashionedremedieslikerhubarbleaf,andmadesoundsof
verachtung
contemptoverallthisnew-fangledtalkaboutgerms,andsoon.Itwasalessoninproprietytoseeherescortingthechildrentoschool,walkingsedatelybytheirsidewhentheywerewellbehaved,andbuttingthembackintolineiftheystrayed.
OnJohn’sfooterdayssheneveronceforgothis
pullover
sweater,andsheusuallycarriedanregenschirm
umbrellainhermouthincaseofrain.ThereisaroominthebasementofMissFulsom’sschoolwherethenurseswait.
Theysatonforms,whileNanalayonthefloor,butthatwastheonlydifference.
Theyaffectedtoignoreherasofaninferiorsocial
status
statustothemselves,andsheverachtete
despisedtheirlighttalk.Sheresentedvisitstothe
kindergarten
nurseryfromMrs.Darling’sfriends,butiftheydidcomeshefirstwhippedoffMichael’spinaforeandputhimintotheonewithbluebraiding,andsmoothedoutWendyandmadeadashatJohn’shair.No
kindergarten
nurserycouldpossiblyhavebeenconductedmorecorrectly,andMr.Darlingknewit,yethesometimeswondereduneasilywhethertheneighbourstalked.Hehadhispositioninthecitytoconsider.
Nanaalsotroubledhiminanotherway.
Hehadsometimesafeelingthatshedidnot
bewunderte
admirehim.“Iknowshe
bewundert
admiresyoutremendously,George,”Mrs.Darlingwouldversicherte
assurehim,andthenshewouldsigntothechildrentobebesonders
speciallynicetofather.Lovelydancesfollowed,inwhichtheonlyotherservant,Liza,wassometimesallowedtojoin.
Sucha
zwerg
midgetshelookedinherlongskirtandmaid’scap,thoughshehadsworn,whenengaged,thatshewouldneverseetenagain.Thegaietyofthoseromps!
AndgayestofallwasMrs.Darling,whowouldpirouetteso
wild
wildlythatallyoucouldseeofherwasthekiss,andthenifyouhaddashedatheryoumighthavegotit.ThereneverwasasimplerhappierfamilyuntilthecomingofPeterPan.
Mrs.
DarlingfirstheardofPeterwhenshewastidyingupherchildren’sminds.
Itisthenightlycustomofeverygoodmotherafterherchildrenareasleeptorummageintheirmindsandputthingsstraightfornextmorning,repackingintotheirproperplacesthemanyarticlesthathavewanderedduringtheday.
Ifyoucouldkeepawake(butofcourseyoucan’t)youwouldseeyourownmotherdoingthis,andyouwouldfinditveryinterestingtowatchher.
Itisquiteliketidyingupdrawers.
Youwouldseeheronherknees,Iexpect,lingeringhumorouslyoversomeofyourcontents,wonderingwhereonearthyouhadpickedthisthingup,makingdiscoveriessweetandnotsosweet,pressingthistoher
wange
cheekasifitwereasniceasakätzchen
kitten,andhurriedlystowingthatoutofsight.Whenyouwakeinthemorning,thenaughtinessandevilpassionswithwhichyouwenttobedhavebeenfoldedupsmallandplacedatthebottomofyourmindandonthetop,
schön
beautifullyaired,arespreadoutyourprettierthoughts,readyforyoutoputon.Idon’tknowwhetheryouhaveeverseenamapofaperson’smind.
Doctorssometimesdrawmapsofotherpartsofyou,andyourownmapcanbecomeintenselyinteresting,butcatchthemtryingtodrawamapofachild’smind,whichisnotonlyconfused,butkeepsgoingroundallthetime.
Therearezigzaglinesonit,justlikeyour
temperatur
temperatureonacard,andtheseareprobablyroadsintheisland,fortheNeverlandisalwaysmoreorlessanisland,withastonishingsplashesofcolourhereandthere,andcoralreefsandrakish-lookingcraftintheoffing,andsavagesandlonelylairs,andgnomeswhoaremostlytailors,andcavesthroughwhichariverruns,andprinceswithsixelderbrothers,andahütte
hutfastgoingtodecay,andoneverysmalloldladywithahookednose.Itwouldbeaneasymapifthatwereall,butthereisalsofirstdayatschool,religion,fathers,theround
teich
pond,needle-work,murders,hangings,verbsthattakethedative,chocolatepuddingday,gettingintobraces,sayninety-nine,three-penceforpullingoutyourzahn
toothyourself,andsoon,andeitherthesearepartoftheislandortheyareanothermapshowingthrough,anditisallratherverwirrend
confusing,especiallyasnothingwillstandstill.OfcoursetheNeverlandsvaryagooddeal.
John’s,for
beispiel
instance,hadalagoonwithflamingoesflyingoveritatwhichJohnwasshooting,whileMichael,whowasverysmall,hadaflamingowithlagoonsflyingoverit.Johnlivedinaboatturned
kopf
upsidedownonthesands,Michaelinawigwam,Wendyinahouseofleavesdeftlysewntogether.Johnhadnofriends,Michaelhadfriendsatnight,Wendyhada
haustier
petwolfforsakenbyitsparents,butonthewholetheNeverlandshaveafamilyähnlichkeit
resemblance,andiftheystoodstillinarowyoucouldsayofthemthattheyhaveeachother’snose,andsoweiter
forth.Onthesemagicshoreschildrenatplayareforeverbeachingtheircoracles.
Wetoohavebeenthere;
wecanstillhearthesoundofthesurf,thoughweshalllandnomore.
OfalldelectableislandstheNeverlandisthesnuggestandmostcompact,notlargeandsprawly,youknow,withtediousdistancesbetweenone
abenteuer
adventureandanother,butnicelycrammed.Whenyouplayatitbydaywiththechairsandtable-cloth,itisnotintheleastalarming,butinthetwominutesbeforeyougotosleepitbecomesveryreal.
Thatiswhytherearenight-lights.
Gelegentlich
Occasionallyinhertravelsthroughherchildren’smindsMrs.Darlingfoundthingsshecouldnotunderstand,andofthesequitethemostperplexingwasthewordPeter.SheknewofnoPeter,andyethewashereandthereinJohnandMichael’sminds,whileWendy’sbegantobescrawledalloverwithhim.
Thenamestoodoutinbolderlettersthananyoftheotherwords,andasMrs.Darlinggazedshefeltthatithadanoddlycocky
aussehen
appearance.“Yes,heisrathercocky,”Wendyadmittedwithregret.
Hermotherhadbeenquestioningher.
“Butwhoishe,mypet?”
“HeisPeterPan,youknow,mother.”
AtfirstMrs.Darlingdidnotknow,butafterthinkingbackintoherchildhoodshejustrememberedaPeterPanwhowassaidtolivewiththefairies.
Therewereoddstoriesabouthim,asthatwhenchildrendiedhewentpartofthewaywiththem,sothattheyshouldnotbe
erschrocken
frightened.Shehadbelievedinhimatthetime,butnowthatshewasmarriedandfullofsenseshequitedoubtedwhethertherewasanysuchperson.
“Besides,”shesaidtoWendy,“hewouldbegrownupbythistime.”
“Ohno,heisn’tgrownup,”Wendy
versicherte
assuredherconfidently,“andheisjustmysize.”Shemeantthathewashersizeinbothmindandbody;
shedidn’tknowhowsheknew,shejustknewit.
Mrs.
DarlingconsultedMr.Darling,buthesmiledpooh-pooh.
“Markmywords,”hesaid,“itissomenonsenseNanahasbeenputtingintotheirheads;
justthesortofideaadogwouldhave.
Leaveitalone,anditwillblowover.”
ButitwouldnotblowoverandsoonthetroublesomeboygaveMrs.Darlingquiteashock.
Childrenhavethestrangestadventureswithoutbeingtroubledbythem.
For
beispiel
instance,theymayremembertomention,aweekaftertheeventhappened,thatwhentheywereinthewoodtheyhadmettheirdeadfatherandhadagamewithhim.ItwasinthiscasualwaythatWendyonemorningmadeadisquieting
offenbarung
revelation.Someleavesofatreehadbeenfoundonthenurseryfloor,whichcertainlywerenottherewhenthechildrenwenttobed,andMrs.DarlingwaspuzzlingoverthemwhenWendysaidwithatolerantsmile:.
“IdobelieveitisthatPeteragain!”
“Whateverdoyoumean,Wendy?”
“Itissonaughtyofhimnottowipehisfeet,”Wendysaid,sighing.
Shewasatidychild.
Sheexplainedinquiteamatter-of-factwaythatshethoughtPetersometimescametothe
kinderzimmer
nurseryinthenightandsatonthefootofherbedandplayedonhispipestoher.Unfortunatelysheneverwoke,soshedidn’tknowhowsheknew,shejustknew.
“Whatnonsenseyoutalk,precious.
Noonecangetintothehousewithoutknocking.”
“Ithinkhecomesinbythewindow,”shesaid.
“Mylove,itisthreefloorsup.”
“Werenottheleavesatthefootofthewindow,mother?”
Itwasquitetrue;
theleaveshadbeenfoundverynearthewindow.
Mrs.
Darlingdidnotknowwhattothink,foritallseemedsonaturaltoWendythatyoucouldnotdismissitbysayingshehadbeendreaming.
“Mychild,”themothercried,“whydidyounottellmeofthisbefore?”
“Iforgot,”saidWendy
leicht
lightly.Shewasinahurrytogetherbreakfast.
Oh,surelyshemusthavebeendreaming.
But,ontheotherhand,thereweretheleaves.
Mrs.Darling
untersuchte
examinedthemverycarefully;theywereskeletonleaves,butshewassuretheydidnotcomefromanytreethatgrewinEngland.
Shecrawledaboutthefloor,peeringatitwitha
kerze
candleformarksofastrangefoot.Sherattledthepokerupthe
schornstein
chimneyandtappedthewalls.Sheletdownatapefromthewindowtothepavement,anditwasasheerdropofthirtyfeet,withoutsomuchasaspouttoclimbupby.
CertainlyWendyhadbeendreaming.
ButWendyhadnotbeendreaming,astheverynextnightshowed,thenightonwhichtheextraordinaryadventuresofthesechildrenmaybesaidtohavebegun.
Onthenightwespeakofallthechildrenwereoncemoreinbed.
IthappenedtobeNana’seveningoff,andMrs.Darlinghadbathedthemandsungtothemtillonebyonetheyhadletgoherhandandslidawayintothelandofsleep.
Allwerelookingsosafeand
gemütlich
cosythatshesmiledatherfearsnowandsatdowntranquillybythefiretonähen
sew.ItwassomethingforMichael,whoonhisbirthdaywasgettingintoshirts.
Thefirewaswarm,however,andthe
kinderzimmer
nurserydimlylitbythreenight-lights,andpresentlythesewinglayonMrs.Darling’sschoß
lap.Thenherheadnodded,oh,sogracefully.
Shewasasleep.
Lookatthefourofthem,WendyandMichaeloverthere,Johnhere,andMrs.Darlingbythefire.
Thereshouldhavebeenafourthnight-light.
Whileshesleptshehadadream.
ShedreamtthattheNeverlandhadcometoonearandthatastrangeboyhadbrokenthroughfromit.
Hedidnotalarmher,forshethoughtshehadseenhimbeforeinthefacesofmanywomenwhohavenochildren.
Perhapsheistobefoundinthefacesofsomemothersalso.
Butinherdreamhehadrentthefilmthat
verdeckt
obscurestheNeverland,andshesawWendyandJohnandMichaelpeepingthroughthelücke
gap.Thedreambyitselfwouldhavebeena
kleinigkeit
trifle,butwhileshewasdreamingthewindowofthenurseryblewopen,andaboydiddroponthefloor.Hewas
begleitet
accompaniedbyastrangelight,nobiggerthanyourfaust
fist,whichdartedabouttheroomlikealivingthingandIthinkitmusthavebeenthislightthatwakenedMrs.Darling.Shestartedupwithacry,andsawtheboy,andsomehowsheknewatoncethathewasPeterPan.
IfyouorIorWendyhadbeenthereweshouldhaveseenthathewasverylikeMrs.Darling’skiss.
Hewasalovelyboy,cladinskeletonleavesandthejuicesthatoozeoutoftreesbutthemostentrancingthingabouthimwasthathehadallhisfirstteeth.
Kapitel
ChapterII.THESHADOWMrs.
Darlingscreamed,and,asifinanswertoabell,thedooropened,andNanaentered,returnedfromhereveningout.
Shegrowledandsprangattheboy,wholeapt
leicht
lightlythroughthewindow.AgainMrs.Darlingscreamed,thistimein
not
distressforhim,forshethoughthewaskilled,andsherandownintothestreettolookforhislittlebody,butitwasnotthere;andshelookedup,andintheblacknightshecouldseenothingbutwhatshethoughtwasashootingstar.
Shereturnedtothe
kinderzimmer
nursery,andfoundNanawithsomethinginhermouth,whichprovedtobetheboy’sshadow.AsheleaptatthewindowNanahadcloseditquickly,toolatetocatchhim,buthisshadowhadnothadtimetogetout;
slamwentthewindowandsnappeditoff.
YoumaybesureMrs.Darling
untersuchte
examinedtheshadowcarefully,butitwasquitetheordinarykind.Nanahadnodoubtofwhatwasthebestthingtodowiththisshadow.
Shehungitoutatthewindow,meaning“Heissuretocomebackforit;
letusputitwherehecangetiteasilywithout
stören
disturbingthechildren.”ButunfortunatelyMrs.Darlingcouldnotleaveithangingoutatthewindow,itlookedsolikethe
waschen
washingandloweredthewholetoneofthehouse.ShethoughtofshowingittoMr.Darling,buthewastottingupwintergreat-coatsforJohnandMichael,withawet
handtuch
towelaroundhisheadtokeephisbrainclear,anditseemedashametotroublehim;besides,sheknewexactlywhathewouldsay:
“Itallcomesofhavingadogforanurse.”
Shedecidedtorolltheshadowupandputitawaycarefullyina
schublade
drawer,untilafittingopportunitycamefortellingherhusband.Ahme!
Theopportunitycameaweeklater,onthatnever-to-be-forgottenFriday.
OfcourseitwasaFriday.
“Ioughttohavebeen
besonders
speciallycarefulonaFriday,”sheusedtosayafterwardstoherhusband,whileperhapsNanawasontheothersideofher,holdingherhand.“No,no,”Mr.Darlingalwayssaid,“Iamresponsibleforitall.
I,GeorgeDarling,didit.
Meaculpa,meaculpa.”
Hehadhada
klassische
classicaleducation.TheysatthusnightafternightrecallingthatfatalFriday,tillevery
detail
detailofitwasstampedontheirbrainsandcamethroughontheothersidelikethefacesonabadcoinage.“IfonlyIhadnotacceptedthat
einladung
invitationtodineat27,”Mrs.Darlingsaid.“IfonlyIhadnotpouredmymedicineintoNana’sbowl,”saidMr.Darling.
“IfonlyIhadpretendedtolikethemedicine,”waswhatNana’sweteyessaid.
“Mylikingforparties,George.”
“Myfatalgiftofhumour,dearest.”
“Mytouchinessabouttrifles,dearmasterandmistress.”
Thenoneormoreofthemwouldbreakdownaltogether;
Nanaatthethought,“It’strue,it’strue,theyoughtnottohavehadadogforanurse.”
ManyatimeitwasMr.Darlingwhoputthe
taschentuch
handkerchieftoNana’seyes.“Thatfiend!”
Mr.Darlingwouldcry,andNana’s
bellen
barkwastheechoofit,butMrs.DarlingneverupbraidedPeter;therewassomethingintheright-handcornerofhermouththatwantedhernottocallPeternames.
Theywouldsitthereintheempty
kinderzimmer
nursery,recallingfondlyeverysmallestdetail
detailofthatdreadfulevening.