ChapterI.PETERBREAKSTHROUGH
Tutti
Allchildren,exceptone,growup.They
presto
soonknowthattheywillgrowup,e
andthewayWendyknewwasquesto
this.Onedaywhenshewas
due
twoyearsoldshewasgiocando
playinginagarden,andshepluckedanotherflowere
andranwithittohermadre
mother.Isupposeshemust
avuto
havelookedratherdelightful,forMrs.Darlingmise
putherhandtohercuore
heartandcried,“Oh,whycan’tyouremainlikethisforever!”Questo
Thiswasallthatpassedtra
betweenthemonthesubject,ma
buthenceforthWendyknewthatshedoveva
mustgrowup.Youalways
sai
knowafteryouaretwo.Due
Twoisthebeginningofthefine
end.Ofcoursetheylivedat14,
e
anduntilWendycamehermadre
motherwasthechiefone.Shewas
una
alovelylady,witharomanticmente
mindandsuchasweetmockingmouth.Herromantic
mente
mindwaslikethetinyboxes,onewithintheother,che
thatcomefromthepuzzlingEast,howevermolte
manyyoudiscoverthereissempre
alwaysonemore;andher
dolce
sweetmockingmouthhadonekissonitche
thatWendycouldneverget,anche se
thoughthereitwas,perfectlyconspicuousintheright-handcorner.Il
ThewayMr.Darlingwonherwasquesto
this:themanygentlemenwhohadbeenboys
quando
whenshewasagirldiscoveredsimultaneouslythattheyamavano
lovedher,andtheyallrantohercasa
housetoproposetoherexceptMr.Darling,whoprese
tookacabandnippedinprimo
first,andsohegother.Hegotallofher,excepttheinnermostbox
e
andthekiss.Henever
saputo
knewaboutthebox,andintempo
timehegaveuptryingforil
thekiss.WendythoughtNapoleoncouldhavegotit,
ma
butIcanpicturehimprovare
trying,andthengoingoffinuna
apassion,slammingthedoor.Mr.
DarlingusedtoboasttoWendy
che
thathermothernotonlyamava
lovedhimbutrespectedhim.Hewas
uno
oneofthosedeeponesche
whoknowaboutstocksandshares.Ofcoursenoone
davvero
reallyknows,buthequiteseemedtosa
know,andheoftensaidstockswereupe
andsharesweredowninamodo
waythatwouldhavemadequalsiasi
anywomanrespecthim.Mrs.
Darlingwas
sposato
marriedinwhite,andatfirstshetenuto
keptthebooksperfectly,almostgleefully,asse
ifitwereagame,notsomuchasun
aBrusselssproutwasmissing;ma
butbyandbywholecauliflowersdroppedfuori
out,andinsteadofthemtherewerepicturesofbabiessenza
withoutfaces.Shedrewthem
quando
whensheshouldhavebeentottingup.TheywereMrs.Darling’sguesses.
Wendycame
prima
first,thenJohn,thenMichael.Fora
settimana
weekortwoafterWendycameitwasdoubtfulwhethertheywouldbeabletokeepher,asshewasanothermouthtofeed.Mr.Darlingwasfrightfullyproudofher,
ma
buthewasveryhonourable,e
andhesatontheedgeofMrs.Darling’sletto
bed,holdingherhandandcalculatingexpenses,mentre
whileshelookedathimimploringly.Shewantedtoriskit,comewhatmight,
ma
butthatwasnothismodo
way;hiswaywaswithapencil
e
andapieceofpaper,e
andifsheconfusedhimwithsuggestionsheha
hadtobeginatthebeginningdi nuovo
again.“Nowdon’tinterrupt,”hewouldbegofher.
“I
ho
haveonepoundseventeenhere,e
andtwoandsixattheufficio
office;Icancutoffmy
caffè
coffeeattheoffice,saydieci
tenshillings,makingtwoninee
andsix,withyoureighteene
andthreemakesthreenineseven,withcinque
fivenaughtnaughtinmycheque-bookmakeseightnineseven—whoisthatmoving?—eightnineseven,dote
andcarryseven—don’tspeak,myown—andthepoundyoulenttothatmanwhovenuto
cametothedoor—quiet,child—dote
andcarrychild—there,you’vedoneit!—didIsayninenineseven?sì
yes,Isaidninenineseven;the
domanda
questionis,canwetryitforun
ayearonninenineseven?”“Ofcoursewecan,George,”shecried.
Ma
ButshewasprejudicedinWendy’sfavour,e
andhewasreallythegrandercharacterofil
thetwo.“Remembermumps,”hewarnedher
quasi
almostthreateningly,andoffheandò
wentagain.“Mumpsonepound,
che
thatiswhatIhavemesso
putdown,butIdaresayitsarà
willbemorelikethirtyshillings—don’tspeak—measlesonecinque
five,Germanmeasleshalfaguinea,fa
makestwofifteensix—don’twaggleyourfinger—whooping-cough,dire
sayfifteenshillings”—andsoonitwent,e
anditaddedupdifferentlyogni
eachtime;butatlastWendy
solo
justgotthrough,withmumpsreducedtotwelvesei
six,andthetwokindsofmeaslestreatedasuno
one.TherewasthesameexcitementoverJohn,
e
andMichaelhadevenanarrowersqueak;ma
butbothwerekept,andpresto
soon,youmighthaveseeni
thethreeofthemgoinginarowtoSignorina
MissFulsom’sKindergartenschool,accompaniedbytheirnurse.Mrs.
Darling
amava
lovedtohaveeverythingjustso,e
andMr.Darlinghadapassionforbeingesattamente
exactlylikehisneighbours;so,ofcourse,they
avevano
hadanurse.Astheywerepoor,owingtotheamountofmilkthe
bambini
childrendrank,thisnursewasaprimNewfoundlandcane
dog,calledNana,whohadbelongedtonon
nooneinparticularuntiltheDarlingsengagedher.She
aveva
hadalwaysthoughtchildrenimportant,however,e
andtheDarlingshadbecomeacquaintedwithherinKensingtonGardens,dove
whereshespentmostofhersparetempo
timepeepingintoperambulators,andwasmuchhatedbycarelessnursemaids,whomsheseguiva
followedtotheirhomesandcomplainedoftotheirmistresses.Sheprovedtobequite
un
atreasureofanurse.Come
Howthoroughshewasatbath-time,e
andupatanymomentofil
thenightifoneofherchargesfatto
madetheslightestcry.Ofcourseherkennelwasin
il
thenursery.Shehadageniusfor
sapere
knowingwhenacoughisuna
athingtohavenopatiencewithe
andwhenitneedsstockingintorno
aroundyourthroat.Shebelievedtoher
ultimo
lastdayinold-fashionedremediescome
likerhubarbleaf,andmadesoundsofcontemptovertutto
allthisnew-fangledtalkaboutgerms,e
andsoon.Itwas
una
alessoninproprietytoseeherescortingi
thechildrentoschool,walkingsedatelybytheirsidequando
whentheywerewellbehaved,e
andbuttingthembackintoriga
lineiftheystrayed.OnJohn’sfooterdayssheneveronce
dimenticava
forgothissweater,andsheusuallycarriedun
anumbrellainhermouthincaso
caseofrain.Thereis
una
aroominthebasementofSignorina
MissFulsom’sschoolwherethenursesaspettano
wait.Theysatonforms,
mentre
whileNanalayonthefloor,ma
butthatwastheonlydifference.Theyaffectedtoignoreherasof
una
aninferiorsocialstatustothemselves,e
andshedespisedtheirlighttalk.SheresentedvisitstothenurseryfromMrs.Darling’sfriends,
ma
butiftheydidcomesheprima
firstwhippedoffMichael’spinaforee
andputhimintotheonewithbluebraiding,e
andsmoothedoutWendyandfaceva
madeadashatJohn’scapelli
hair.Nonurserycouldpossiblyhavebeenconducted
più
morecorrectly,andMr.Darlingsapeva
knewit,yethesometimeswondereduneasilywhethertheneighboursparlavano
talked.Hehadhispositionin
la
thecitytoconsider.Nanaalsotroubledhiminanother
modo
way.Hehadsometimesafeeling
che
thatshedidnotadmirelo
him.“Iknowsheadmiresyoutremendously,George,”Mrs.Darling
essere
wouldassurehim,andthensheessere
wouldsigntothechildrentobespeciallygentile
nicetofather.Lovelydances
seguirono
followed,inwhichtheonlyotherservant,Liza,wasa volte
sometimesallowedtojoin.Such
un
amidgetshelookedinherlongskirte
andmaid’scap,thoughshehadsworn,quando
whenengaged,thatshewouldnevervisto
seetenagain.Thegaietyofthoseromps!
E
AndgayestofallwasMrs.Darling,whoera
wouldpirouettesowildlythatallyoucouldvedere
seeofherwasthekiss,e
andthenifyouhaddashedatheryoumightavresti
havegotit.Thereneverwas
una
asimplerhappierfamilyuntilthecomingofPeterPan.Mrs.
Darling
prima
firstheardofPeterwhenshewastidyingupherchildren’sminds.Itisthenightlycustomof
ogni
everygoodmotherafterherfigli
childrenareasleeptorummageintheirmindse
andputthingsstraightfornextmattina
morning,repackingintotheirproperplacesthemolti
manyarticlesthathavewanderedduringthegiorno
day.Ifyoucouldkeepawake(butofcourseyoucan’t)youwould
vedresti
seeyourownmotherdoingquesto
this,andyouwouldfinditveryinterestingtowatchher.Itisquite
come
liketidyingupdrawers.You
fosse
wouldseeheronherknees,Iexpect,lingeringhumorouslyoveralcuni
someofyourcontents,wonderingdove
whereonearthyouhadpickedquesta
thisthingup,makingdiscoveriessweete
andnotsosweet,pressingquesta
thistohercheekasse
ifitwereasniceasun
akitten,andhurriedlystowingthatoutofsight.Quando
Whenyouwakeinthemattina
morning,thenaughtinessandevilpassionswithcui
whichyouwenttobedhavebeenfoldeduppiccolo
smallandplacedatthebottomofyourmente
mindandonthetop,beautifullyaired,arespreadoutyourprettierthoughts,readyforyoutoputon.Idon’t
so
knowwhetheryouhaveevervisto
seenamapofaperson’smente
mind.Doctorssometimesdrawmapsofotherpartsofyou,
e
andyourownmapcandiventare
becomeintenselyinteresting,butcatchthemtryingtodrawamapofachild’smente
mind,whichisnotonlyconfused,ma
butkeepsgoingroundallthetempo
time.Therearezigzaglinesonit,
proprio
justlikeyourtemperatureonacard,e
andtheseareprobablyroadsintheisland,fortheNeverlandissempre
alwaysmoreorlessanisland,withastonishingsplashesofcolourqui
hereandthere,andcoralreefse
andrakish-lookingcraftintheoffing,e
andsavagesandlonelylairs,e
andgnomeswhoaremostlytailors,e
andcavesthroughwhichariverruns,e
andprinceswithsixelderbrothers,e
andahutfastgoingtodecay,e
andoneverysmalloldsignora
ladywithahookednose.Itwouldbean
facile
easymapifthatweretutto
all,butthereisalsoprimo
firstdayatschool,religion,fathers,theroundpond,needle-work,murders,hangings,verbsche
thattakethedative,chocolatepuddinggiorno
day,gettingintobraces,sayninety-nine,three-penceforpullingfuori
outyourtoothyourself,andsoon,e
andeitherthesearepartoftheislandortheyareanothermapshowingattraverso
through,anditisallratherconfusing,especiallyasnothingwillstandancora
still.OfcoursetheNeverlandsvaryagooddeal.
John’s,forinstance,
aveva
hadalagoonwithflamingoesflyingsopra
overitatwhichJohnwassparando
shooting,whileMichael,whowasverypiccolo
small,hadaflamingowithlagoonsflyingsopra
overit.Johnlivedinaboatturnedupsidedownonthesands,Michaelinawigwam,Wendyina
casa
houseofleavesdeftlysewninsieme
together.Johnhadnofriends,Michaelhadfriendsat
notte
night,Wendyhadapetwolfforsakenbyitsparents,ma
butonthewholetheNeverlandshaveafamilyresemblance,e
andiftheystoodstillinarowyoucoulddire
sayofthemthattheyhaveeachother’snose,e
andsoforth.Onthesemagicshores
bambini
childrenatplayareforeverbeachingtheircoracles.Wetoohavebeen
ci
there;wecanstillhear
il
thesoundofthesurf,anche se
thoughweshalllandnopiù
more.OfalldelectableislandstheNeverlandisthesnuggest
e
andmostcompact,notlargee
andsprawly,youknow,withtediousdistancestra
betweenoneadventureandanother,ma
butnicelycrammed.Whenyou
gioca
playatitbydaywithle
thechairsandtable-cloth,itisnotinle
theleastalarming,butinle
thetwominutesbeforeyouandare
gotosleepitbecomesveryreale
real.Thatiswhytherearenight-lights.
Occasionallyinhertravels
attraverso
throughherchildren’smindsMrs.Darlingtrovava
foundthingsshecouldnotcapire
understand,andofthesequitethepiù
mostperplexingwasthewordPeter.She
sapeva
knewofnoPeter,andyethewasqui
hereandthereinJohne
andMichael’sminds,whileWendy’sbegantobescrawledalloverwithhim.The
nome
namestoodoutinbolderlettersthanqualsiasi
anyoftheotherwords,e
andasMrs.Darlinggazedshesentiva
feltthatithadanoddlycockyappearance.“Yes,heisrathercocky,”Wendyadmittedwithregret.
Her
madre
motherhadbeenquestioningher.“But
chi
whoishe,mypet?”“HeisPeterPan,you
sai
know,mother.”AtfirstMrs.Darling
fate
didnotknow,butafterthinkingbackintoherchildhoodshejustricordò
rememberedaPeterPanwhowasdiceva
saidtolivewiththefairies.Therewereoddstories
su
abouthim,asthatwhenbambini
childrendiedhewentpartofi
thewaywiththem,soche
thattheyshouldnotbefrightened.She
aveva
hadbelievedinhimatthetime,ma
butnowthatshewasmarriede
andfullofsenseshequitedoubtedwhetherci
therewasanysuchperson.“Besides,”she
disse
saidtoWendy,“hewouldbegrownupbyquesto
thistime.”“Ohno,heisn’tgrownup,”Wendyassuredherconfidently,“andheis
proprio
justmysize.”Shemeant
che
thathewashersizeinbothmente
mindandbody;shedidn’tknow
come
howsheknew,shejustknewlo
it.Mrs.
DarlingconsultedMr.Darling,
ma
buthesmiledpooh-pooh.“Markmywords,”he
disse
said,“itissomenonsenseNanaha
hasbeenputtingintotheirheads;proprio
justthesortofideaun
adogwouldhave.Leaveitalone,
e
anditwillblowover.”Ma
Butitwouldnotblowovere
andsoonthetroublesomeboydiede
gaveMrs.Darlingquiteashock.Bambini
Childrenhavethestrangestadventuressenza
withoutbeingtroubledbythem.Forinstance,theymay
ricordare
remembertomention,aweekdopo
aftertheeventhappened,thatquando
whentheywereinthewoodtheyavevano
hadmettheirdeadfathere
andhadagamewithlui
him.Itwasinthiscasual
modo
waythatWendyonemorningfece
madeadisquietingrevelation.Someleavesof
un
atreehadbeenfoundonthenurseryfloor,che
whichcertainlywerenottherequando
whenthechildrenwenttoletto
bed,andMrs.Darlingwaspuzzlingoverthemquando
whenWendysaidwithatolerantsmile:.“IdobelieveitisthatPeteragain!”
“Whateverdoyou
dire
mean,Wendy?”“Itissonaughtyofhimnottowipehisfeet,”Wendy
disse
said,sighing.Shewasatidychild.
Sheexplainedin
abbastanza
quiteamatter-of-factwaythatshepensava
thoughtPetersometimescametoi
thenurseryinthenighte
andsatonthefootofherletto
bedandplayedonhispipestoher.Unfortunatelysheneverwoke,soshedidn’tknow
come
howsheknew,shejustknew.“Whatnonsenseyou
parli
talk,precious.Noonecangetintothe
casa
housewithoutknocking.”“Ithinkhecomesinbythewindow,”she
disse
said.“Mylove,itis
tre
threefloorsup.”“Werenot
le
theleavesatthefootofle
thewindow,mother?”Itwasquite
vero
true;theleaveshadbeen
trovate
foundverynearthewindow.Mrs.
Darlingdidnot
sapeva
knowwhattothink,forittutto
allseemedsonaturaltoWendyche
thatyoucouldnotdismissitbydicendo
sayingshehadbeendreaming.“Mychild,”
la
themothercried,“whydidyounotdetto
tellmeofthisbefore?”“Iforgot,”
disse
saidWendylightly.Shewasina
fretta
hurrytogetherbreakfast.Oh,surelyshemusthavebeendreaming.
Ma
But,ontheotherhand,therewerele
theleaves.Mrs.Darlingexaminedthemverycarefully;
theywereskeletonleaves,
ma
butshewassuretheydidnotvenivano
comefromanytreethatgrewinEngland.Shecrawledabout
i
thefloor,peeringatitwithuna
acandleformarksofuna
astrangefoot.Sherattledthepokerupthechimney
e
andtappedthewalls.Sheletdown
un
atapefromthewindowtothepavement,anditwasun
asheerdropofthirtyfeet,senza
withoutsomuchasaspouttoclimbupby.CertainlyWendy
aveva
hadbeendreaming.ButWendy
aveva
hadnotbeendreaming,astheverynextnotte
nightshowed,thenightonwhichtheextraordinaryadventuresofthesebambini
childrenmaybesaidtoaveva
havebegun.Onthenightwe
parliamo
speakofallthechildrenwerevolta
oncemoreinbed.IthappenedtobeNana’sevening
via
off,andMrs.Darlinghadbathedtheme
andsungtothemtilluno
onebyonetheyhadlasciato
letgoherhandandslidawayintothelandofsonno
sleep.Allwerelookingsosafe
e
andcosythatshesmiledatherfearsora
nowandsatdowntranquillybythefuoco
firetosew.Itwas
qualcosa
somethingforMichael,whoonhisbirthdaywasgettingintoshirts.The
fuoco
firewaswarm,however,andthenurserydimlyilluminato
litbythreenight-lights,andpresentlythesewinglayonMrs.Darling’slap.Thenher
testa
headnodded,oh,sogracefully.Shewasasleep.
Guardate
Lookatthefourofthem,Wendye
andMichaeloverthere,Johnqui
here,andMrs.Darlingbyla
thefire.Thereshouldhavebeen
una
afourthnight-light.Whileshe
dormiva
sleptshehadadream.Shedreamt
che
thattheNeverlandhadcometooneare
andthatastrangeboyhadbrokenthroughfromit.Hedidnotalarmher,forshe
pensava
thoughtshehadseenhimprima
beforeinthefacesofmolte
manywomenwhohavenofigli
children.Perhapsheistobe
trova
foundinthefacesofsomemothersalso.Ma
Butinherdreamheaveva
hadrentthefilmthatobscurestheNeverland,e
andshesawWendyandJohne
andMichaelpeepingthroughthegap.The
sogno
dreambyitselfwouldhavebeenatrifle,ma
butwhileshewasdreamingthewindowofthenurseryblewaprì
open,andaboydiddroponthefloor.Hewasaccompaniedby
una
astrangelight,nobiggerthanyourfist,whichdartedabouttheroomcome
likealivingthingandIpenso
thinkitmusthavebeenquesta
thislightthatwakenedMrs.Darling.She
iniziato
startedupwithacry,e
andsawtheboy,andsomehowshesaputo
knewatoncethathewasPeterPan.Se
IfyouorIorWendyavremmo
hadbeenthereweshouldavremmo
haveseenthathewasverylikeMrs.Darling’skiss.Hewas
un
alovelyboy,cladinskeletonleavese
andthejuicesthatoozeoutoftreesma
butthemostentrancingthingabouthimwasche
thathehadallhisfirstteeth.ChapterII.THESHADOW
Mrs.
Darlingscreamed,
e
and,asifinanswertouna
abell,thedooropened,e
andNanaentered,returnedfromhereveningfuori
out.Shegrowledandsprangat
la
theboy,wholeaptlightlyattraverso
throughthewindow.AgainMrs.Darlingscreamed,
questa
thistimeindistressforhim,forshepensava
thoughthewaskilled,andsherangiù
downintothestreettocercare
lookforhislittlebody,ma
butitwasnotthere;e
andshelookedup,andintheblacknotte
nightshecouldseenothingbutwhatshepensava
thoughtwasashootingstar.She
tornò
returnedtothenursery,andtrovò
foundNanawithsomethinginhermouth,che
whichprovedtobetheboy’sshadow.AsheleaptatthewindowNanahadcloseditquickly,too
tardi
latetocatchhim,buthisshadowhadnothadtempo
timetogetout;slamwentthewindow
e
andsnappeditoff.YoumaybesureMrs.Darlingexaminedtheshadowcarefully,
ma
butitwasquitetheordinarytipo
kind.Nanahadnodoubtofwhatwas
la
thebestthingtodowithquesta
thisshadow.Shehungitoutat
il
thewindow,meaning“Heissicuro
suretocomebackforit;letusputit
dove
wherehecangetiteasilysenza
withoutdisturbingthechildren.”ButunfortunatelyMrs.Darlingcouldnotleaveit
appeso
hangingoutatthewindow,itlookedsolikethewashinge
andloweredthewholetoneofthecasa
house.ShethoughtofshowingittoMr.Darling,
ma
buthewastottingupwintergreat-coatsforJohne
andMichael,withawettowelintorno
aroundhisheadtokeephisbrainchiaro
clear,anditseemedashametotroublehim;besides,she
sapeva
knewexactlywhathewoulddetto
say:“Itallcomesofhaving
un
adogforanurse.”Shedecidedtorolltheshadowup
e
andputitawaycarefullyinun
adrawer,untilafittingopportunitycamefortellinghermarito
husband.Ahme!
Theopportunitycame
una
aweeklater,onthatnever-to-be-forgottenFriday.Ofcourseitwas
un
aFriday.“Ioughttohavebeenspeciallycarefulon
un
aFriday,”sheusedtodiceva
sayafterwardstoherhusband,mentre
whileperhapsNanawasonla
theothersideofher,holdinghermano
hand.“No,no,”Mr.Darling
sempre
alwayssaid,“Iamresponsibleforitall.I,GeorgeDarling,
fatto
didit.Meaculpa,meaculpa.”
Hehadhad
un
aclassicaleducation.Theysatthus
notte
nightafternightrecallingthatfatalFriday,tillogni
everydetailofitwasstampedontheirbrainse
andcamethroughontheothersidecome
likethefacesonabadcoinage.“If
solo
onlyIhadnotacceptedthatinvitationtodineat27,”Mrs.Darlingdisse
said.“IfonlyIhadnotpouredmymedicineintoNana’sbowl,”
disse
saidMr.Darling.“IfonlyI
avessi
hadpretendedtolikethemedicine,”waswhatNana’sweteyessaid.“Mylikingforparties,George.”
“Myfatalgiftofhumour,dearest.”
“Mytouchinessabouttrifles,
caro
dearmasterandmistress.”Then
uno
oneormoreofthemwouldromperebbero
breakdownaltogether;Nanaatthethought,“It’s
vero
true,it’strue,theyoughtnottoavere
havehadadogforun
anurse.”ManyatimeitwasMr.Darlingwho
mettere
putthehandkerchieftoNana’seyes.“Thatfiend!”
Mr.Darling
era
wouldcry,andNana’sbarkwastheechoofit,ma
butMrs.DarlingneverupbraidedPeter;therewas
qualcosa
somethingintheright-handcornerofhermouthche
thatwantedhernottochiamasse
callPeternames.Theywould
sedevano
sitthereintheemptynursery,recallingfondlyogni
everysmallestdetailofthatdreadfulevening.