Peter Pan | Gradually Hardening German B2

Peter Pan | Gradually Hardening German B2

Experience the benefits of this forward-thinking translation strategy that tailors language learning to your specific needs. You have control over the difficulty, which ensures that the content is neither too easy nor overly challenging. This method enhances your ability to understand new words through context, reducing reliance on direct translations. While the translations are subtly obscured to foster learning, you can still look up unclear terms. This balanced approach makes language acquisition smoother and more enjoyable. Delve into these translated literary works and discover the satisfaction of mastering a language through reading.

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
simultaneously
thattheylovedher,andtheyallrantoherhousetoproposetoherexceptMr.Darling,whotookacabandnippedinfirst,andsohegother.
Hegotallofher,excepttheinnermostboxandthekiss.
Heneverknewaboutthebox,andintimehegaveuptryingforthekiss.
WendythoughtNapoleoncouldhavegotit,butIcanpicturehimtrying,andthengoingoffinapassion,slammingthedoor.
Mr.
Darlingusedto
prahlte
boast
toWendythathermothernotonlylovedhimbutrespectedhim.
Hewasoneofthosedeeponeswhoknowaboutstocksandshares.
Ofcoursenoonereallyknows,buthequiteseemedtoknow,andheoftensaidstockswereupandsharesweredowninawaythatwouldhavemadeanywomanrespecthim.
Mrs.
Darlingwasmarriedinwhite,andatfirstshekeptthebooksperfectly,almostgleefully,asifitwereagame,notsomuchasaBrusselssproutwasmissing;
butbyandbywholecauliflowersdroppedout,andinsteadofthemtherewerepicturesofbabieswithoutfaces.
Shedrewthemwhensheshouldhavebeentottingup.
TheywereMrs.Darling’sguesses.
Wendycamefirst,thenJohn,thenMichael.
ForaweekortwoafterWendycameitwas
zweifelhaft
doubtful
whethertheywouldbeabletokeepher,asshewasanothermouthtofeed.
Mr.Darlingwasfrightfullyproudofher,buthewasvery
ehrenhaft
honourable
,andhesatontheedgeofMrs.Darling’sbed,holdingherhandandcalculatingexpenses,whileshelookedathimimploringly.
Shewantedtoriskit,comewhatmight,butthatwasnothisway;
hiswaywaswitha
bleistift
pencil
andapieceofpaper,andifsheconfusedhimwithsuggestionshehadtobeginatthebeginningagain.
“Nowdon’tinterrupt,”hewouldbegofher.
“Ihaveone
pfund
pound
seventeenhere,andtwoandsixattheoffice;
Icancutoffmycoffeeattheoffice,saytenshillings,makingtwonineandsix,withyoureighteenandthreemakesthreenineseven,withfivenaughtnaughtinmycheque-bookmakeseightnineseven—whoisthatmoving?—eightnineseven,
punkt
dot
andcarryseven—don’tspeak,myown—andthe
pfund
pound
youlenttothatmanwhocametothedoor—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,anditaddedup
anders
differently
eachtime;
butatlastWendyjustgotthrough,withmumps
reduziert
reduced
totwelvesix,andthetwokindsofmeaslestreatedasone.
Therewasthesame
aufregung
excitement
overJohn,andMichaelhadevenanarrower
quietschen
squeak
;
butbothwerekept,andsoon,youmighthaveseenthethreeofthemgoinginarowtoMissFulsom’s
Kindergarten
Kindergarten
school,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
cough
isathingtohaveno
geduld
patience
withandwhenitneedsstockingaroundyourthroat.
Shebelievedtoherlastdayinold-fashionedremedieslikerhubarbleaf,andmadesoundsof
verachtung
contempt
overallthisnew-fangledtalkaboutgerms,andsoon.
Itwasalessoninproprietytoseeherescortingthechildrentoschool,walkingsedatelybytheirsidewhentheywerewellbehaved,andbuttingthembackintolineiftheystrayed.
OnJohn’sfooterdayssheneveronceforgothis
pullover
sweater
,andsheusuallycarriedan
regenschirm
umbrella
inhermouthincaseofrain.
ThereisaroominthebasementofMissFulsom’sschoolwherethenurseswait.
Theysatonforms,whileNanalayonthefloor,butthatwastheonlydifference.
Theyaffectedtoignoreherasofaninferiorsocial
status
status
tothemselves,andshe
verachtete
despised
theirlighttalk.
Sheresentedvisitstothe
kindergarten
nursery
fromMrs.Darling’sfriends,butiftheydidcomeshefirstwhippedoffMichael’spinaforeandputhimintotheonewithbluebraiding,andsmoothedoutWendyandmadeadashatJohn’shair.
No
kindergarten
nursery
couldpossiblyhavebeenconductedmorecorrectly,andMr.Darlingknewit,yethesometimeswondereduneasilywhethertheneighbourstalked.
Hehadhispositioninthecitytoconsider.
Nanaalsotroubledhiminanotherway.
Hehadsometimesafeelingthatshedidnot
bewunderte
admire
him.
“Iknowshe
bewundert
admires
youtremendously,George,”Mrs.Darlingwould
versicherte
assure
him,andthenshewouldsigntothechildrentobe
besonders
specially
nicetofather.
Lovelydancesfollowed,inwhichtheonlyotherservant,Liza,wassometimesallowedtojoin.
Sucha
zwerg
midget
shelookedinherlongskirtandmaid’scap,thoughshehadsworn,whenengaged,thatshewouldneverseetenagain.
Thegaietyofthoseromps!
AndgayestofallwasMrs.Darling,whowouldpirouetteso
wild
wildly
thatallyoucouldseeofherwasthekiss,andthenifyouhaddashedatheryoumighthavegotit.
ThereneverwasasimplerhappierfamilyuntilthecomingofPeterPan.
Mrs.
DarlingfirstheardofPeterwhenshewastidyingupherchildren’sminds.
Itisthenightlycustomofeverygoodmotherafterherchildrenareasleeptorummageintheirmindsandputthingsstraightfornextmorning,repackingintotheirproperplacesthemanyarticlesthathavewanderedduringtheday.
Ifyoucouldkeepawake(butofcourseyoucan’t)youwouldseeyourownmotherdoingthis,andyouwouldfinditveryinterestingtowatchher.
Itisquiteliketidyingupdrawers.
Youwouldseeheronherknees,Iexpect,lingeringhumorouslyoversomeofyourcontents,wonderingwhereonearthyouhadpickedthisthingup,makingdiscoveriessweetandnotsosweet,pressingthistoher
wange
cheek
asifitwereasniceasa
kätzchen
kitten
,andhurriedlystowingthatoutofsight.
Whenyouwakeinthemorning,thenaughtinessandevilpassionswithwhichyouwenttobedhavebeenfoldedupsmallandplacedatthebottomofyourmindandonthetop,
schön
beautifully
aired,arespreadoutyourprettierthoughts,readyforyoutoputon.
Idon’tknowwhetheryouhaveeverseenamapofaperson’smind.
Doctorssometimesdrawmapsofotherpartsofyou,andyourownmapcanbecomeintenselyinteresting,butcatchthemtryingtodrawamapofachild’smind,whichisnotonlyconfused,butkeepsgoingroundallthetime.
Therearezigzaglinesonit,justlikeyour
temperatur
temperature
onacard,andtheseareprobablyroadsintheisland,fortheNeverlandisalwaysmoreorlessanisland,withastonishingsplashesofcolourhereandthere,andcoralreefsandrakish-lookingcraftintheoffing,andsavagesandlonelylairs,andgnomeswhoaremostlytailors,andcavesthroughwhichariverruns,andprinceswithsixelderbrothers,anda
hütte
hut
fastgoingtodecay,andoneverysmalloldladywithahookednose.
Itwouldbeaneasymapifthatwereall,butthereisalsofirstdayatschool,religion,fathers,theround
teich
pond
,needle-work,murders,hangings,verbsthattakethedative,chocolatepuddingday,gettingintobraces,sayninety-nine,three-penceforpullingoutyour
zahn
tooth
yourself,andsoon,andeitherthesearepartoftheislandortheyareanothermapshowingthrough,anditisallrather
verwirrend
confusing
,especiallyasnothingwillstandstill.
OfcoursetheNeverlandsvaryagooddeal.
John’s,for
beispiel
instance
,hadalagoonwithflamingoesflyingoveritatwhichJohnwasshooting,whileMichael,whowasverysmall,hadaflamingowithlagoonsflyingoverit.
Johnlivedinaboatturned
kopf
upside
downonthesands,Michaelinawigwam,Wendyinahouseofleavesdeftlysewntogether.
Johnhadnofriends,Michaelhadfriendsatnight,Wendyhada
haustier
pet
wolfforsakenbyitsparents,butonthewholetheNeverlandshaveafamily
ähnlichkeit
resemblance
,andiftheystoodstillinarowyoucouldsayofthemthattheyhaveeachother’snose,andso
weiter
forth
.
Onthesemagicshoreschildrenatplayareforeverbeachingtheircoracles.
Wetoohavebeenthere;
wecanstillhearthesoundofthesurf,thoughweshalllandnomore.
OfalldelectableislandstheNeverlandisthesnuggestandmostcompact,notlargeandsprawly,youknow,withtediousdistancesbetweenone
abenteuer
adventure
andanother,butnicelycrammed.
Whenyouplayatitbydaywiththechairsandtable-cloth,itisnotintheleastalarming,butinthetwominutesbeforeyougotosleepitbecomesveryreal.
Thatiswhytherearenight-lights.
Gelegentlich
Occasionally
inhertravelsthroughherchildren’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
assured
herconfidently,“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
nursery
inthenightandsatonthefootofherbedandplayedonhispipestoher.
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
examined
themverycarefully;
theywereskeletonleaves,butshewassuretheydidnotcomefromanytreethatgrewinEngland.
Shecrawledaboutthefloor,peeringatitwitha
kerze
candle
formarksofastrangefoot.
Sherattledthepokerupthe
schornstein
chimney
andtappedthewalls.
Sheletdownatapefromthewindowtothepavement,anditwasasheerdropofthirtyfeet,withoutsomuchasaspouttoclimbupby.
CertainlyWendyhadbeendreaming.
ButWendyhadnotbeendreaming,astheverynextnightshowed,thenightonwhichtheextraordinaryadventuresofthesechildrenmaybesaidtohavebegun.
Onthenightwespeakofallthechildrenwereoncemoreinbed.
IthappenedtobeNana’seveningoff,andMrs.Darlinghadbathedthemandsungtothemtillonebyonetheyhadletgoherhandandslidawayintothelandofsleep.
Allwerelookingsosafeand
gemütlich
cosy
thatshesmiledatherfearsnowandsatdowntranquillybythefireto
nähen
sew
.
ItwassomethingforMichael,whoonhisbirthdaywasgettingintoshirts.
Thefirewaswarm,however,andthe
kinderzimmer
nursery
dimlylitbythreenight-lights,andpresentlythesewinglayonMrs.Darling’s
schoß
lap
.
Thenherheadnodded,oh,sogracefully.
Shewasasleep.
Lookatthefourofthem,WendyandMichaeloverthere,Johnhere,andMrs.Darlingbythefire.
Thereshouldhavebeenafourthnight-light.
Whileshesleptshehadadream.
ShedreamtthattheNeverlandhadcometoonearandthatastrangeboyhadbrokenthroughfromit.
Hedidnotalarmher,forshethoughtshehadseenhimbeforeinthefacesofmanywomenwhohavenochildren.
Perhapsheistobefoundinthefacesofsomemothersalso.
Butinherdreamhehadrentthefilmthat
verdeckt
obscures
theNeverland,andshesawWendyandJohnandMichaelpeepingthroughthe
lücke
gap
.
Thedreambyitselfwouldhavebeena
kleinigkeit
trifle
,butwhileshewasdreamingthewindowofthenurseryblewopen,andaboydiddroponthefloor.
Hewas
begleitet
accompanied
byastrangelight,nobiggerthanyour
faust
fist
,whichdartedabouttheroomlikealivingthingandIthinkitmusthavebeenthislightthatwakenedMrs.Darling.
Shestartedupwithacry,andsawtheboy,andsomehowsheknewatoncethathewasPeterPan.
IfyouorIorWendyhadbeenthereweshouldhaveseenthathewasverylikeMrs.Darling’skiss.
Hewasalovelyboy,cladinskeletonleavesandthejuicesthatoozeoutoftreesbutthemostentrancingthingabouthimwasthathehadallhisfirstteeth.
Kapitel
Chapter
II.THESHADOW
Mrs.
Darlingscreamed,and,asifinanswertoabell,thedooropened,andNanaentered,returnedfromhereveningout.
Shegrowledandsprangattheboy,wholeapt
leicht
lightly
throughthewindow.
AgainMrs.Darlingscreamed,thistimein
not
distress
forhim,forshethoughthewaskilled,andsherandownintothestreettolookforhislittlebody,butitwasnotthere;
andshelookedup,andintheblacknightshecouldseenothingbutwhatshethoughtwasashootingstar.
Shereturnedtothe
kinderzimmer
nursery
,andfoundNanawithsomethinginhermouth,whichprovedtobetheboy’sshadow.
AsheleaptatthewindowNanahadcloseditquickly,toolatetocatchhim,buthisshadowhadnothadtimetogetout;
slamwentthewindowandsnappeditoff.
YoumaybesureMrs.Darling
untersuchte
examined
theshadowcarefully,butitwasquitetheordinarykind.
Nanahadnodoubtofwhatwasthebestthingtodowiththisshadow.
Shehungitoutatthewindow,meaning“Heissuretocomebackforit;
letusputitwherehecangetiteasilywithout
stören
disturbing
thechildren.”
ButunfortunatelyMrs.Darlingcouldnotleaveithangingoutatthewindow,itlookedsolikethe
waschen
washing
andloweredthewholetoneofthehouse.
ShethoughtofshowingittoMr.Darling,buthewastottingupwintergreat-coatsforJohnandMichael,withawet
handtuch
towel
aroundhisheadtokeephisbrainclear,anditseemedashametotroublehim;
besides,sheknewexactlywhathewouldsay:
“Itallcomesofhavingadogforanurse.”
Shedecidedtorolltheshadowupandputitawaycarefullyina
schublade
drawer
,untilafittingopportunitycamefortellingherhusband.
Ahme!
Theopportunitycameaweeklater,onthatnever-to-be-forgottenFriday.
OfcourseitwasaFriday.
“Ioughttohavebeen
besonders
specially
carefulonaFriday,”sheusedtosayafterwardstoherhusband,whileperhapsNanawasontheothersideofher,holdingherhand.
“No,no,”Mr.Darlingalwayssaid,“Iamresponsibleforitall.
I,GeorgeDarling,didit.
Meaculpa,meaculpa.”
Hehadhada
klassische
classical
education.
TheysatthusnightafternightrecallingthatfatalFriday,tillevery
detail
detail
ofitwasstampedontheirbrainsandcamethroughontheothersidelikethefacesonabadcoinage.
“IfonlyIhadnotacceptedthat
einladung
invitation
todineat27,”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
handkerchief
toNana’seyes.
“Thatfiend!”
Mr.Darlingwouldcry,andNana’s
bellen
bark
wastheechoofit,butMrs.DarlingneverupbraidedPeter;
therewassomethingintheright-handcornerofhermouththatwantedhernottocallPeternames.
Theywouldsitthereintheempty
kinderzimmer
nursery
,recallingfondlyeverysmallest
detail
detail
ofthatdreadfulevening.