ChapterI.PETERBREAKSTHROUGH
Allchildren,
kivéve
exceptone,growup.Theysoonknowthattheywillgrowup,andthewayWendyknewwasthis.
Onedaywhenshewastwoyearsoldshewasplayinginagarden,andshepluckedanotherflowerandranwithittohermother.
Isupposeshemusthavelookedratherdelightful,forMrs.
Darling
Darlingputherhandtoherheartandcried,“Oh,whycan’tyouremainlikethisforever!”Thiswasallthatpassedbetweenthemonthesubject,buthenceforthWendyknewthatshemust
nőnie
growup.Youalwaysknowafteryouaretwo.
Twoisthebeginningoftheend.
Ofcoursetheylivedat14,anduntilWendycamehermotherwasthe
főnök
chiefone.Shewasalovelylady,witharomanticmindandsuchasweetmocking
szájjal
mouth.Herromanticmindwaslikethetinyboxes,onewithintheother,thatcomefromthepuzzlingEast,howevermanyyoudiscoverthereisalwaysonemore;
andhersweetmockingmouthhadone
csók
kissonitthatWendycouldneverget,thoughthereitwas,perfectlyconspicuousintheright-handcorner.ThewayMr.
Darling
Darlingwonherwasthis:themanygentlemenwhohadbeenboyswhenshewasagirldiscoveredsimultaneouslythattheylovedher,andtheyallrantoherhousetoproposetoher
kivéve
exceptMr.Darling,whotookacabandnippedinfirst,andsohegother.Hegotallofher,
kivéve
excepttheinnermostboxandthecsókot
kiss.Heneverknewaboutthebox,andintimehegaveuptryingforthe
csókot
kiss.WendythoughtNapoleoncouldhavegotit,butIcanpicturehimtrying,andthengoingoffinapassion,slammingthedoor.
Mr.
Darling
DarlingusedtoboasttoWendythathermothernotonlylovedhimbutrespectedhim.Hewasoneofthose
mély
deeponeswhoknowaboutstocksandshares.Ofcoursenoonereallyknows,buthequiteseemedtoknow,andhe
gyakran
oftensaidstockswereupandsharesweredowninawaythatwouldhavemadeanywomanrespecthim.Mrs.
Darling
Darlingwasmarriedinwhite,andatfirstshekeptthebooksperfectly,almostgleefully,asifitwereagame,notsomuchasaBrusselssproutwasmissing;butbyandbywholecauliflowersdroppedout,andinsteadofthemtherewerepicturesofbabieswithoutfaces.
Shedrewthemwhensheshouldhavebeentottingup.
TheywereMrs.Darling’sguesses.
Wendycamefirst,thenJohn,thenMichael.
ForaweekortwoafterWendycameitwasdoubtfulwhethertheywouldbeabletokeepher,asshewasanother
száj
mouthtofeed.Mr.Darlingwasfrightfully
büszke
proudofher,buthewasveryhonourable,andhesatontheedgeofMrs.Darling’sbed,holdingherhandandcalculatingexpenses,whileshelookedathimimploringly.Shewantedto
kockáztatni
riskit,comewhatmight,butthatwasnothisway;hiswaywaswithapencilanda
darab
pieceofpaper,andifsheconfusedhimwithsuggestionshehadtokezdeni
beginatthebeginningagain.“Nowdon’tinterrupt,”hewouldbegofher.
“Ihaveonepoundseventeenhere,andtwoandsixattheoffice;
Icancutoffmycoffeeattheoffice,saytenshillings,makingtwo
kilenc
nineandsix,withyoureighteenandthreemakesthreekilenc
nineseven,withfivenaughtnaughtinmycheque-bookmakesnyolc
eightnineseven—whoisthatmoving?—eightkilenc
nineseven,dotandcarryseven—don’tspeak,myown—andthepoundyoulenttothatmanwhocametothedoor—quiet,child—dotandcarrychild—there,you’vedoneit!—didIsaykilenc
ninenineseven?yes,Isaid
kilenc
ninenineseven;thequestionis,canwetryitforayearon
kilenc
ninenineseven?”“Ofcoursewecan,George,”shecried.
ButshewasprejudicedinWendy’sfavour,andhewasreallythegrandercharacterofthetwo.
“Remembermumps,”hewarnedheralmostthreateningly,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,accompaniedbytheirnurse.
Mrs.
Darling
Darlinglovedtohaveeverythingjustso,andMr.Darling
Darlinghadapassionforbeingexactlylikehisneighbours;so,ofcourse,theyhadanurse.
Astheywerepoor,owingtotheamountof
tejet
milkthechildrendrank,thisnursewasaprimNewfoundlanddog,calledNana,whohadbelongedtonooneinparticularuntiltheDarlingsengagedher.Shehadalwaysthoughtchildrenimportant,however,andtheDarlingshadbecomeacquaintedwithherinKensingtonGardens,whereshespentmostofhersparetimepeepingintoperambulators,andwasmuchhatedbycarelessnursemaids,whomshefollowedtotheirhomesandcomplainedoftotheirmistresses.
Sheprovedtobequiteatreasureofanurse.
Howthoroughshewasatbath-time,andupatanymomentofthenightifoneofherchargesmadetheslightest
sírni
cry.Ofcourseherkennelwasinthenursery.
Shehadageniusforknowingwhenacoughisathingtohavenopatiencewithandwhenitneedsstockingaroundyourthroat.
Shebelievedtoherlastdayinold-fashionedremedieslikerhubarbleaf,andmadesoundsofcontemptoverallthisnew-fangledtalkaboutgerms,andsoon.
Itwasalessoninproprietytoseeherescortingthechildrentoschool,walkingsedatelybytheirsidewhentheywerewellbehaved,andbuttingthembackintolineiftheystrayed.
OnJohn’sfooterdayssheneveronceforgothissweater,andshe
általában
usuallycarriedanumbrellainhermouthincaseofeső
rain.ThereisaroominthebasementofMissFulsom’sschoolwherethenurseswait.
Theysatonforms,whileNanalayonthefloor,butthatwastheonly
különbség
difference.Theyaffectedtoignoreherasofaninferiorsocialstatustothemselves,andshedespisedtheirlighttalk.
SheresentedvisitstothenurseryfromMrs.Darling’sfriends,butiftheydidcomeshefirstwhippedoffMichael’spinaforeandputhimintotheonewith
kék
bluebraiding,andsmoothedoutWendyandmadeadashatJohn’shair.Nonurserycouldpossiblyhavebeenconductedmorecorrectly,andMr.
Darling
Darlingknewit,yethesometimeswondereduneasilyhogy
whethertheneighbourstalked.Hehadhispositioninthecitytoconsider.
Nanaalsotroubledhiminanotherway.
Hehadsometimesafeelingthatshedidnotadmirehim.
“Iknowsheadmiresyoutremendously,George,”Mrs.
Darling
Darlingwouldassurehim,andthenshewouldsigntothechildrentobespeciallynicetofather.Szép
Lovelydancesfollowed,inwhichtheonlyotherservant,Liza,wassometimesallowedtojoin.Suchamidgetshelookedinherlongskirtandmaid’scap,thoughshehadsworn,whenengaged,thatshewouldneverseetenagain.
Thegaietyofthoseromps!
AndgayestofallwasMrs.
Darling
Darling,whowouldpirouettesowildlythatallyoucouldseeofherwasthecsókot
kiss,andthenifyouhaddashedatheryoumighthavegotit.ThereneverwasasimplerhappierfamilyuntilthecomingofPeterPan.
Mrs.
Darling
DarlingfirstheardofPeterwhenshewastidyingupherchildren’sminds.Itisthenightlycustomofeverygoodmotherafterherchildrenareasleeptorummageintheirmindsandputthingsstraightfornextmorning,repackingintotheirproperplacesthemanyarticlesthathavewandered
folyamán
duringtheday.Ifyoucouldkeepawake(butofcourseyoucan’t)youwouldseeyourownmotherdoingthis,andyouwouldfinditveryinterestingtowatchher.
Itisquiteliketidyingupdrawers.
Youwouldseeheronherknees,Iexpect,lingeringhumorouslyoversomeofyourcontents,wonderingwhereonearthyouhadpickedthisthingup,makingdiscoveriessweetandnotsosweet,pressingthistohercheekasifitwereasniceasakitten,andhurriedlystowingthatoutofsight.
Whenyouwakeinthemorning,thenaughtinessand
gonosz
evilpassionswithwhichyouwenttobedhavebeenfoldedupsmallandplacedatthebottomofyourmindandonthetop,beautifullyaired,arespreadoutyourprettierthoughts,readyforyoutoputon.Idon’tknowwhetheryouhaveeverseenamapofaperson’smind.
Doctorssometimesdrawmapsofotherpartsofyou,andyourownmapcanbecomeintenselyinteresting,butcatchthemtryingtodrawamapofachild’smind,whichisnotonlyconfused,butkeepsgoingroundallthetime.
Therearezigzaglinesonit,justlikeyourtemperatureonacard,andtheseareprobablyroadsinthe
sziget
island,fortheNeverlandisalwaysmoreorkevésbé
lessanisland,withastonishingsplashesofcolourhereandthere,andcoralreefsandrakish-lookingcraftintheoffing,andsavagesandlonelylairs,andgnomeswhoaremostlytailors,andcavesthroughwhichafolyó
riverruns,andprinceswithsixelderbrothers,andahutfastgoingtodecay,andoneverysmalloldladywithahookednose.Itwouldbeaneasymapifthatwereall,butthereisalsofirstdayatschool,religion,fathers,the
kerek
roundpond,needle-work,murders,hangings,verbsthattakethedative,chocolatepuddingday,gettingintobraces,sayninety-nine,three-penceforpullingoutyourtoothyourself,andsoon,andeitherthesearepartoftheislandortheyareanothermapshowingthrough,anditisallratherconfusing,főleg
especiallyasnothingwillstandstill.OfcoursetheNeverlandsvaryagooddeal.
John’s,forinstance,hadalagoonwithflamingoesflyingoveritatwhichJohnwasshooting,whileMichael,whowasverysmall,hadaflamingowithlagoonsflyingoverit.
Johnlivedinaboatturnedupsidedownonthesands,Michaelinawigwam,Wendyinahouseofleavesdeftlysewntogether.
Johnhadnofriends,Michaelhadfriendsatnight,Wendyhadapetwolfforsakenbyitsparents,butonthewholetheNeverlandshaveafamilyresemblance,andiftheystoodstillinarowyoucouldsayofthemthattheyhaveeachother’snose,andsoforth.
Onthesemagicshoreschildrenatplayareforeverbeachingtheircoracles.
Wetoohavebeenthere;
wecanstillhearthesoundofthesurf,thoughweshalllandnomore.
OfalldelectableislandstheNeverlandisthesnuggestandmostcompact,not
nagy
largeandsprawly,youknow,withtediousdistancesbetweenoneadventureandanother,butnicelycrammed.Whenyouplayatitbydaywiththechairsandtable-cloth,itisnotintheleastalarming,butinthetwominutesbeforeyougotosleepitbecomesveryreal.
Thatiswhytherearenight-lights.
Occasionallyinhertravelsthroughherchildren’smindsMrs.
Darling
Darlingfoundthingsshecouldnotunderstand,andofthesequitethemostperplexingwasthewordPeter.SheknewofnoPeter,andyethewashereandthereinJohnandMichael’sminds,whileWendy’sbegantobescrawledalloverwithhim.
Thenamestoodoutinbolderlettersthananyoftheotherwords,andasMrs.
Darling
Darlinggazedshefeltthatithadanoddlycockyappearance.“Yes,heis
meglehetősen
rathercocky,”Wendyadmittedwithregret.Hermotherhadbeenquestioningher.
“Butwhoishe,mypet?”
“HeisPeterPan,youknow,mother.”
AtfirstMrs.
Darling
Darlingdidnotknow,butafterthinkingbackintoherchildhoodshejustrememberedaPeterPanwhowassaidtolivewiththefairies.Therewereoddstoriesabouthim,asthatwhenchildrendiedhewentpartofthewaywiththem,sothattheyshouldnotbefrightened.
Shehadbelievedinhimatthetime,butnowthatshewasmarriedandfullofsenseshequitedoubtedwhethertherewasanysuchperson.
“Besides,”shesaidtoWendy,“hewouldbegrownupbythistime.”
“Ohno,heisn’tgrownup,”Wendyassuredherconfidently,“andheisjustmysize.”
Shemeantthathewashersizeinbothmindandbody;
shedidn’tknowhowsheknew,shejustknewit.
Mrs.
Darling
DarlingconsultedMr.Darling,buthemosolygott
smiledpooh-pooh.“Markmywords,”hesaid,“itissomenonsenseNanahasbeenputtingintotheirheads;
justthesortofideaadogwouldhave.
Leaveitalone,anditwillblowover.”
Butitwouldnot
fújja
blowoverandsoonthetroublesomeboygaveMrs.Darling
Darlingquiteashock.Childrenhavethestrangestadventureswithoutbeingtroubledbythem.
Forinstance,theymayremembertomention,aweekaftertheeventhappened,thatwhentheywereinthewoodtheyhadmettheirdeadfatherandhadagamewithhim.
ItwasinthiscasualwaythatWendyonemorningmadeadisquietingrevelation.
Someleavesofa
fa
treehadbeenfoundonthenurseryfloor,whichbiztosan
certainlywerenottherewhenthechildrenwenttobed,andMrs.Darling
DarlingwaspuzzlingoverthemwhenWendysaidwithatolerantsmile:.“IdobelieveitisthatPeteragain!”
“Whateverdoyoumean,Wendy?”
“Itissonaughtyofhimnottowipehisfeet,”Wendysaid,sighing.
Shewasatidychild.
Sheexplainedinquiteamatter-of-factwaythatshethoughtPetersometimescametothenurseryinthenightandsatonthefootofherbedandplayedonhispipestoher.
Unfortunatelysheneverwoke,soshedidn’tknowhowsheknew,shejustknew.
“Whatnonsenseyoutalk,precious.
Noonecangetintothehousewithoutknocking.”
“Ithinkhecomesinbythewindow,”shesaid.
“Mylove,itisthreefloorsup.”
“Werenottheleavesatthefootofthe
ablak
window,mother?”Itwasquitetrue;
theleaveshadbeenfoundvery
közelében
nearthewindow.Mrs.
Darlingdidnotknowwhattothink,foritall
tűnt
seemedsonaturaltoWendythatyoucouldnotdismissitbysayingshehadbeendreaming.“Mychild,”themothercried,“whydidyounottellmeofthisbefore?”
“Iforgot,”saidWendylightly.
Shewasinahurrytogetherbreakfast.
Oh,surelyshemusthavebeendreaming.
But,ontheotherhand,thereweretheleaves.
Mrs.
Darling
Darlingexaminedthemverycarefully;theywereskeletonleaves,butshewassuretheydidnotcomefromanytreethat
nő
grewinEngland.Shecrawledaboutthefloor,peeringatitwithacandleformarksofa
furcsa
strangefoot.Sherattledthepokerupthechimneyandtappedthewalls.
Sheletdownatapefromthewindowtothepavement,anditwasasheer
csepp
dropofthirtyfeet,withoutsomuchasaspouttoclimbupby.Bizonyára
CertainlyWendyhadbeendreaming.ButWendyhadnotbeendreaming,astheverynextnightshowed,thenightonwhichtheextraordinaryadventuresofthesechildrenmaybesaidtohavebegun.
Onthenightwespeakofallthechildrenwereoncemoreinbed.
IthappenedtobeNana’seveningoff,andMrs.
Darling
Darlinghadbathedthemandsungtothemtillonebyonetheyhadletgoherhandandslidawayintothelandofsleep.Allwerelookingsosafeandcosythatshe
mosolygott
smiledatherfearsnowandsatdowntranquillybythefiretosew.ItwassomethingforMichael,whoonhisbirthdaywasgettingintoshirts.
Thefirewas
meleg
warm,however,andthenurserydimlylitbythreenight-lights,andpresentlythesewinglayonMrs.Darling’slap.Thenherheadnodded,oh,sogracefully.
Shewas
aludt
asleep.Lookatthefourofthem,WendyandMichaeloverthere,Johnhere,andMrs.
Darling
Darlingbythefire.Thereshouldhavebeenafourthnight-light.
Whileshesleptshehadadream.
ShedreamtthattheNeverlandhadcometoonearandthata
idegen
strangeboyhadbrokenthroughfromit.Hedidnotalarmher,forshethoughtshehadseenhimbeforeinthefacesofmanywomenwhohavenochildren.
Perhapsheistobefoundinthefacesofsomemothersalso.
ButinherdreamhehadrentthefilmthatobscurestheNeverland,andshesawWendyandJohnandMichaelpeepingthroughthegap.
Thedreambyitselfwouldhavebeenatrifle,butwhileshewasdreamingthewindowofthenurseryblewopen,andaboydiddroponthefloor.
Hewasaccompaniedbya
furcsa
strangelight,nobiggerthanyourfist,whichdartedabouttheroomlikealivingthingandIthinkitmusthavebeenthislightthatwakenedMrs.Darling.Shestartedupwitha
sírni
cry,andsawtheboy,andsomehowsheknewatoncethathewasPeterPan.IfyouorIorWendyhadbeenthereweshouldhaveseenthathewasverylikeMrs.Darling’skiss.
Hewasalovelyboy,cladinskeletonleavesandthejuicesthatoozeoutoftreesbutthemostentrancingthingabouthimwasthathehadallhisfirstteeth.
ChapterII.THESHADOW
Mrs.
Drágám
Darlingscreamed,and,asifinanswertoabell,thedooropened,andNanaentered,returnedfromhereste
eveningout.Shegrowledandsprangattheboy,wholeaptlightlythroughthewindow.
AgainMrs.
Darling
Darlingscreamed,thistimeindistressforhim,forshethoughthewaskilled,andsherandownintothestreettolookforhislittlebody,butitwasnotthere;andshelookedup,andintheblacknightshecouldseenothingbutwhatshethoughtwasashootingstar.
Shereturnedtothenursery,andfoundNanawithsomethinginhermouth,whichprovedtobetheboy’sshadow.
AsheleaptatthewindowNanahadclosedit
gyorsan
quickly,toolatetocatchhim,buthisshadowhadnothadtimetogetout;slamwentthewindowandsnappeditoff.
YoumaybesureMrs.
Darling
Darlingexaminedtheshadowcarefully,butitwasquitetheordinarykind.Nanahadnodoubtofwhatwasthebestthingtodowiththisshadow.
Shehungitoutatthewindow,meaning“Heissuretocomebackforit;
letusputitwherehecangetiteasilywithoutdisturbingthechildren.”
ButunfortunatelyMrs.
Darling
Darlingcouldnotleaveithangingoutatthewindow,itlookedsolikethewashingandloweredthewholetoneofthehouse.ShethoughtofshowingittoMr.
Darling
Darling,buthewastottingupwintergreat-coatsforJohnandMichael,withawettowelaroundhisheadtokeephisbrainclear,anditseemedaszégyen
shametotroublehim;besides,sheknewexactlywhathewouldsay:
“Itallcomesofhavingadogforanurse.”
Shedecidedtorolltheshadowupandputitawaycarefullyinadrawer,untilafittingopportunitycamefortellingherhusband.
Ahme!
Theopportunitycameaweeklater,onthatnever-to-be-forgottenFriday.
OfcourseitwasaFriday.
“IoughttohavebeenspeciallycarefulonaFriday,”sheusedtosayafterwardstoherhusband,whileperhapsNanawasontheothersideofher,holdingherhand.
“No,no,”Mr.
Darling
Darlingalwayssaid,“Iamresponsibleforitall.I,George
Darling
Darling,didit.Meaculpa,meaculpa.”
Hehadhadaclassicaleducation.
TheysatthusnightafternightrecallingthatfatalFriday,tilleverydetailofitwasstampedontheirbrainsandcamethroughontheothersidelikethefacesonabadcoinage.
“IfonlyIhadnotacceptedthatinvitationtodineat27,”Mrs.
Darling
Darlingsaid.“IfonlyIhadnotpouredmymedicineintoNana’sbowl,”saidMr.
Darling
Darling.“IfonlyIhadpretendedtolikethemedicine,”waswhatNana’sweteyessaid.
“Mylikingforparties,George.”
“Myfatalgiftofhumour,dearest.”
“Mytouchinessabouttrifles,dearmasterandmistress.”
Thenoneormoreofthemwouldbreakdownaltogether;
Nanaatthethought,“It’strue,it’strue,theyoughtnottohavehadadogforanurse.”
ManyatimeitwasMr.
Darling
DarlingwhoputthehandkerchieftoNana’seyes.“Thatfiend!”
Mr.
Darling
Darlingwouldcry,andNana’sbarkwastheechoofit,butMrs.Darling
DarlingneverupbraidedPeter;therewassomethingintheright-handcornerofher
szája
mouththatwantedhernottocallPeternames.Theywouldsitthereinthe
üres
emptynursery,recallingfondlyeverysmallestdetailofthatdreadfulevening.