ChapterI.PETERBREAKSTHROUGH
Allchildren,
tranne
exceptone,growup.Theysoonknowthattheywill
cresceranno
growup,andthewayWendyknewwasthis.Onedaywhenshewastwoyearsoldshewasplayinginagarden,andshepluckedanotherflowerandranwithittohermother.
I
suppongo
supposeshemusthavelookedpiuttosto
ratherdelightful,forMrs.Darlingputherhandtoherheartandcried,“Oh,whycan’tyouremainlikethisforever!”Thiswasallthat
passò
passedbetweenthemonthesubject,buthenceforthWendyknewthatshemustcrescere
growup.Youalwaysknowafteryouaretwo.
Twoisthebeginningoftheend.
Ofcoursetheylivedat14,anduntilWendycamehermotherwasthe
principale
chiefone.Shewasalovelylady,witharomanticmindandsuchasweetmocking
bocca
mouth.Herromanticmindwaslikethetinyboxes,onewithintheother,thatcomefromthepuzzlingEast,howevermanyyoudiscoverthereisalwaysonemore;
andhersweetmocking
bocca
mouthhadonekissonitthatWendycouldneverget,thoughthereitwas,perfectlyconspicuousintheright-handcorner.ThewayMr.Darlingwonherwasthis:
themanygentlemenwhohadbeenboyswhenshewasagirldiscoveredsimultaneouslythattheylovedher,andtheyallrantoherhousetoproposetoher
tranne
exceptMr.Darling,whotookacabandnippedinfirst,andsohegother.Hegotallofher,
tranne
excepttheinnermostboxandthebacio
kiss.Heneverknewaboutthe
scatola
box,andintimehegaveuptryingforthebacio
kiss.WendythoughtNapoleoncouldhavegotit,butIcanpicturehimtrying,andthengoingoffinapassion,slammingthedoor.
Mr.
DarlingusedtoboasttoWendythathermothernotonlylovedhimbut
rispettava
respectedhim.Hewasoneofthosedeeponeswhoknowaboutstocksandshares.
Ofcoursenoonereallyknows,buthequite
sembrava
seemedtoknow,andhespesso
oftensaidstockswereupandsharesweredowninawaythatwouldhavemadeanywomanrispettare
respecthim.Mrs.
Darlingwasmarriedinwhite,andatfirstshekeptthebooksperfectly,almostgleefully,asifitwereagame,notsomuchasaBrusselssproutwasmissing;
butbyandbywholecauliflowers
caddero
droppedout,andinsteadofthemtherewerepicturesofbabieswithoutfaces.Shedrewthemwhensheshouldhavebeentottingup.
TheywereMrs.Darling’sguesses.
Wendycamefirst,thenJohn,thenMichael.
ForaweekortwoafterWendycameitwasdoubtful
se
whethertheywouldbeabletokeepher,asshewasanotherbocca
mouthtofeed.Mr.Darlingwasfrightfully
orgoglioso
proudofher,buthewasveryhonourable,andhesatontheedgeofMrs.Darling’sbed,holdingherhandandcalculatingexpenses,whileshelookedathimimploringly.Shewantedto
rischio
riskit,comewhatmight,butthatwasnothisway;hiswaywaswithapencilanda
pezzo
pieceofpaper,andifsheconfusedhimwithsuggestionshehadtoiniziare
beginatthebeginningagain.“Nowdon’tinterrupt,”hewouldbegofher.
“Ihaveonepoundseventeenhere,andtwoandsixattheoffice;
Icancutoffmycoffeeattheoffice,saytenshillings,makingtwo
nove
nineandsix,withyoureighteenandthreemakesthreenove
nineseven,withfivenaughtnaughtinmycheque-bookmakesotto
eightnineseven—whoisthatmoving?—eightnove
nineseven,dotandcarryseven—don’tspeak,myown—andthepoundyoulenttothatmanwhocametothedoor—quiet,child—dotandportare
carrychild—there,you’vedoneit!—didIsaynove
ninenineseven?yes,Isaid
nove
ninenineseven;thequestionis,canwetryitforayearon
nove
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.
Darlinglovedtohaveeverythingjustso,andMr.Darlinghadapassionforbeingexactlylikehisneighbours;
so,ofcourse,theyhadanurse.
Astheywerepoor,owingtotheamountof
latte
milkthechildrendrank,thisnursewasaprimNewfoundlanddog,calledNana,whohadbelongedtonooneinparticularuntiltheDarlingsengagedher.Shehadalwaysthoughtchildrenimportant,however,andtheDarlingshadbecomeacquaintedwithherinKensingtonGardens,whereshe
passava
spentmostofhersparetimepeepingintoperambulators,andwasmuchhatedbycarelessnursemaids,whomshefollowedtotheirhomesandcomplainedoftotheirmistresses.Sheprovedtobequiteatreasureofanurse.
Howthoroughshewasatbath-time,andupatanymomentofthenightifoneofherchargesmadetheslightestcry.
Ofcourseherkennelwasinthenursery.
Shehadageniusforknowingwhenacoughisathingtohavenopatiencewithandwhenitneedsstockingaroundyourthroat.
Shebelievedtoherlastdayinold-fashionedremedieslikerhubarbleaf,andmadesoundsofcontemptoverallthisnew-fangledtalkaboutgerms,andsoon.
Itwasalessoninproprietytoseeherescortingthechildrentoschool,walkingsedatelybytheirsidewhentheywerewellbehaved,andbuttingthembackintolineiftheystrayed.
OnJohn’sfooterdayssheneveronceforgothissweater,andsheusually
portava
carriedanumbrellainherbocca
mouthincaseofrain.ThereisaroominthebasementofMissFulsom’sschoolwherethenurseswait.
Theysatonforms,whileNanalayonthe
pavimento
floor,butthatwastheonlydifferenza
difference.Theyaffectedtoignoreherasofaninferiorsocialstatustothemselves,andshedespisedtheirlighttalk.
SheresentedvisitstothenurseryfromMrs.Darling’sfriends,butiftheydidcomeshefirstwhippedoffMichael’spinaforeandputhimintotheonewith
blu
bluebraiding,andsmoothedoutWendyandmadeadashatJohn’shair.Nonurserycouldpossiblyhavebeenconductedmorecorrectly,andMr.Darlingknewit,yethesometimes
chiedeva
wondereduneasilywhethertheneighbourstalked.Hehadhis
posizione
positioninthecitytoconsider.Nanaalsotroubledhiminanotherway.
Hehadsometimesafeelingthatshedidnotadmirehim.
“Iknowsheadmiresyoutremendously,George,”Mrs.Darlingwouldassurehim,andthenshewouldsigntothechildrentobespeciallynicetofather.
Lovelydancesfollowed,inwhichtheonlyotherservant,Liza,wassometimes
permesso
allowedtojoin.Suchamidgetshelookedinherlongskirtandmaid’scap,thoughshehad
giurato
sworn,whenengaged,thatshewouldneverseetenagain.Thegaietyofthoseromps!
AndgayestofallwasMrs.Darling,whowouldpirouettesowildlythatallyoucouldseeofherwasthe
bacio
kiss,andthenifyouhaddashedatheryoumighthavegotit.ThereneverwasasimplerhappierfamilyuntilthecomingofPeterPan.
Mrs.
DarlingfirstheardofPeterwhenshewastidyingupherchildren’sminds.
Itisthenightlycustomofeverygoodmotherafterherchildrenareasleeptorummageintheirmindsandputthingsstraightfornextmorning,repackingintotheirproperplacesthemanyarticlesthathavewanderedduringtheday.
Ifyoucouldkeepawake(butofcourseyoucan’t)youwouldseeyourownmotherdoingthis,andyouwouldfinditvery
interessante
interestingtowatchher.Itisquiteliketidyingupdrawers.
Youwouldseeheronherknees,Iexpect,lingeringhumorouslyoversomeofyourcontents,
chiedendosi
wonderingwhereonearthyouhadpickedthisthingup,makingdiscoveriessweetandnotsosweet,pressingthistohercheekasifitwereasniceasakitten,andhurriedlystowingthatoutofsight.Whenyouwakeinthemorning,thenaughtinessandevilpassionswithwhichyouwenttobedhavebeenfoldedupsmallandplacedatthebottomofyourmindandonthetop,beautifullyaired,arespreadoutyourprettierthoughts,readyforyoutoputon.
Idon’tknow
se
whetheryouhaveeverseenamapofaperson’smind.Doctorssometimesdrawmapsofotherpartsofyou,andyourownmapcanbecomeintensely
interessante
interesting,butcatchthemtryingtodrawamapofachild’smind,whichisnotonlyconfused,butkeepsgoingroundallthetime.Therearezigzaglinesonit,justlikeyourtemperatureona
carta
card,andtheseareprobablyroadsintheisland,fortheNeverlandisalwaysmoreormeno
lessanisland,withastonishingsplashesofcolourhereandthere,andcoralreefsandrakish-lookingcraftintheoffing,andsavagesandlonelylairs,andgnomeswhoaremostlytailors,andcavesthroughwhichafiume
riverruns,andprinceswithsixelderbrothers,andahutfastgoingtodecay,andoneverysmalloldladywithahookednaso
nose.Itwouldbeaneasymapifthatwereall,butthereisalsofirstdayatschool,religion,fathers,theroundpond,needle-work,murders,hangings,verbsthattakethedative,chocolatepuddingday,gettingintobraces,sayninety-nine,three-penceforpullingoutyourtoothyourself,andsoon,andeitherthesearepartoftheislandortheyareanothermapshowingthrough,anditisall
piuttosto
ratherconfusing,especiallyasnothingwillstandstill.OfcoursetheNeverlandsvaryagooddeal.
John’s,forinstance,hadalagoonwithflamingoes
volavano
flyingoveritatwhichJohnwasshooting,whileMichael,whowasverysmall,hadaflamingowithlagoonsvolavano
flyingoverit.Johnlivedina
barca
boatturnedupsidedownonthesands,Michaelinawigwam,Wendyinahouseofleavesdeftlysewntogether.Johnhadnofriends,Michaelhadfriendsatnight,Wendyhadapetwolfforsakenbyitsparents,butonthewholetheNeverlandshaveafamilyresemblance,andiftheystoodstillinarowyoucouldsayofthemthattheyhaveeachother’s
naso
nose,andsoforth.Onthesemagicshoreschildrenatplayareforeverbeachingtheircoracles.
Wetoohavebeenthere;
wecanstillhearthesoundofthesurf,thoughweshall
atterreremo
landnomore.OfalldelectableislandstheNeverlandisthesnuggestandmostcompact,not
grande
largeandsprawly,youknow,withtediousdistancesbetweenoneadventureandanother,butnicelycrammed.Whenyouplayatitbydaywiththechairsandtable-cloth,itisnotintheleastalarming,butinthetwominutesbeforeyougotosleepitbecomesveryreal.
Thatiswhytherearenight-lights.
Occasionallyinhertravelsthroughherchildren’smindsMrs.Darlingfoundthingsshecouldnotunderstand,andofthesequitethemostperplexingwasthewordPeter.
SheknewofnoPeter,andyethewashereandthereinJohnandMichael’sminds,whileWendy’s
cominciavano
begantobescrawledalloverwithhim.Thenamestoodoutinbolderlettersthananyoftheotherwords,andasMrs.Darlinggazedshefeltthatithadanoddlycockyappearance.
“Yes,heis
piuttosto
rathercocky,”Wendyadmittedwithregret.Hermotherhadbeenquestioningher.
“Butwhoishe,mypet?”
“HeisPeterPan,youknow,mother.”
AtfirstMrs.Darlingdidnotknow,butafterthinkingbackintoherchildhoodshejustrememberedaPeterPanwhowassaidtolivewiththefairies.
Therewereoddstoriesabouthim,asthatwhenchildrendiedhewentpartofthewaywiththem,sothattheyshouldnotbefrightened.
Shehadbelievedinhimatthetime,butnowthatshewasmarriedandfullof
senso
senseshequitedoubtedwhethertherewasanysuchperson.“Besides,”shesaidtoWendy,“hewouldbegrownupbythistime.”
“Ohno,heisn’tgrownup,”Wendyassuredherconfidently,“andheisjustmysize.”
Shemeantthathewasher
taglia
sizeinbothmindandbody;shedidn’tknowhowsheknew,shejustknewit.
Mrs.
DarlingconsultedMr.Darling,buthe
sorriso
smiledpooh-pooh.“Markmywords,”hesaid,“itissomenonsenseNanahasbeenputtingintotheirheads;
justthesortofideaadogwouldhave.
Leaveitalone,anditwillblowover.”
ButitwouldnotblowoverandsoonthetroublesomeboygaveMrs.Darlingquiteashock.
Childrenhavethestrangestadventureswithoutbeingtroubledbythem.
Forinstance,theymayrememberto
menzionare
mention,aweekaftertheeventhappened,thatwhentheywereinthewoodtheyhadmettheirdeadfatherandhadagamewithhim.ItwasinthiscasualwaythatWendyonemorningmadeadisquietingrevelation.
Someleavesofa
albero
treehadbeenfoundonthenurserypavimento
floor,whichcertainlywerenottherewhenthechildrenwenttobed,andMrs.DarlingwaspuzzlingoverthemwhenWendysaidwithatolerantsorriso
smile:.“IdobelieveitisthatPeteragain!”
“Whateverdoyoumean,Wendy?”
“Itissonaughtyofhimnottowipehisfeet,”Wendysaid,sighing.
Shewasatidychild.
She
spiegato
explainedinquiteamatter-of-factwaythatshethoughtPetersometimescametothenurseryinthenightandsatonthepiede
footofherbedandplayedonhispipestoher.Unfortunatelysheneverwoke,soshedidn’tknowhowsheknew,shejustknew.
“Whatnonsenseyoutalk,precious.
Noonecangetintothehousewithoutknocking.”
“Ithinkhecomesinbythewindow,”shesaid.
“Mylove,itisthreefloorsup.”
“Werenottheleavesatthefootofthe
finestra
window,mother?”Itwasquitetrue;
theleaveshadbeenfoundvery
vicino
nearthewindow.Mrs.
Darlingdidnotknowwhattothink,foritall
sembrava
seemedsonaturaltoWendythatyoucouldnotdismissitbysayingshehadbeendreaming.“Mychild,”themothercried,“whydidyounottellmeofthisbefore?”
“Iforgot,”saidWendylightly.
Shewasinahurrytogether
colazione
breakfast.Oh,surelyshemusthavebeendreaming.
But,ontheotherhand,thereweretheleaves.
Mrs.Darlingexaminedthemverycarefully;
theywereskeletonleaves,butshewassuretheydidnotcomefromany
albero
treethatgrewinEngland.Shecrawledaboutthe
pavimento
floor,peeringatitwithacandleformarksofastrano
strangefoot.Sherattledthepokerupthechimneyandtappedthewalls.
Sheletdowna
nastro
tapefromthewindowtothepavement,anditwasasheerdropofthirtyfeet,withoutsomuchasaspouttoclimbupby.Certo
CertainlyWendyhadbeendreaming.ButWendyhadnotbeendreaming,astheverynextnightshowed,thenightonwhichtheextraordinaryadventuresofthesechildrenmaybesaidtohave
iniziate
begun.Onthenightwespeakofallthechildrenwereoncemoreinbed.
IthappenedtobeNana’seveningoff,andMrs.Darlinghadbathedthemandsungtothemtillonebyonetheyhadletgoherhandandslidawayintothe
terra
landofsleep.Allwerelookingsosafeandcosythatshe
sorrideva
smiledatherfearsnowandsatdowntranquillybythefiretosew.ItwassomethingforMichael,whoonhis
compleanno
birthdaywasgettingintoshirts.Thefirewas
caldo
warm,however,andthenurserydimlylitbythreenight-lights,andpresentlythesewinglayonMrs.Darling’slap.Thenherheadnodded,oh,sogracefully.
Shewasasleep.
Lookatthefourofthem,WendyandMichaeloverthere,Johnhere,andMrs.Darlingbythefire.
Thereshouldhavebeenafourthnight-light.
Whileshesleptshehadadream.
ShedreamtthattheNeverlandhadcometoo
vicino
nearandthatastrangeboyhadbrokenthroughfromit.Hedidnotalarmher,forshethoughtshehadseenhimbeforeinthefacesofmanywomenwhohavenochildren.
Perhapsheistobefoundinthefacesofsomemothersalso.
ButinherdreamhehadrentthefilmthatobscurestheNeverland,andshesawWendyandJohnandMichaelpeepingthroughthegap.
Thedreambyitselfwouldhavebeenatrifle,butwhileshewasdreamingthe
finestra
windowofthenurseryblewopen,andaboydidcadde
droponthefloor.Hewasaccompaniedbyastrangelight,no
grande
biggerthanyourfist,whichdartedabouttheroomlikealivingthingandIthinkitmusthavebeenthislightthatwakenedMrs.Darling.Shestartedupwitha
piangere
cry,andsawtheboy,andsomehowsheknewatoncethathewasPeterPan.IfyouorIorWendyhadbeenthereweshouldhaveseenthathewasverylikeMrs.Darling’s
bacio
kiss.Hewasalovelyboy,cladinskeletonleavesandthejuicesthatoozeoutoftreesbutthemostentrancingthingabouthimwasthathehadallhisfirstteeth.
ChapterII.THESHADOW
Mrs.
Darlingscreamed,and,asifinanswertoabell,thedooropened,andNanaentered,returnedfromhereveningout.
Shegrowledandsprangattheboy,wholeaptlightlythroughthe
finestra
window.AgainMrs.Darlingscreamed,thistimeindistressforhim,forshethoughthewaskilled,andsherandownintothestreettolookforhislittlebody,butitwasnotthere;
andshelookedup,andintheblacknightshecouldseenothingbutwhatshethoughtwasashooting
stella
star.Shereturnedtothenursery,andfoundNanawithsomethinginher
bocca
mouth,whichprovedtobetheboy’sshadow.Asheleaptatthe
finestra
windowNanahadcloseditquickly,toolatetocatchhim,buthisshadowhadnothadtimetogetout;slamwentthe
finestra
windowandsnappeditoff.YoumaybesureMrs.Darlingexaminedtheshadowcarefully,butitwasquitetheordinarykind.
Nanahadnodoubtofwhatwasthebestthingtodowiththisshadow.
Shehungitoutatthe
finestra
window,meaning“Heissuretocomebackforit;letusputitwherehecangetiteasilywithoutdisturbingthechildren.”
ButunfortunatelyMrs.Darlingcouldnotleaveithangingoutatthe
finestra
window,itlookedsolikethewashingandloweredthewholetoneofthehouse.ShethoughtofshowingittoMr.Darling,buthewastottingupwintergreat-coatsforJohnandMichael,withawettowelaroundhisheadtokeephis
cervello
brainclear,anditseemedashametotroublehim;besides,sheknewexactlywhathewouldsay:
“Itallcomesofhavingadogforanurse.”
She
decise
decidedtorolltheshadowupandputitawaycarefullyinadrawer,untilafittingopportunitycamefortellingherhusband.Ahme!
Theopportunitycameaweeklater,onthatnever-to-be-forgottenFriday.
OfcourseitwasaFriday.
“IoughttohavebeenspeciallycarefulonaFriday,”sheusedtosayafterwardstoherhusband,whileperhapsNanawasontheothersideofher,holdingherhand.
“No,no,”Mr.Darlingalwayssaid,“Iamresponsibleforitall.
I,GeorgeDarling,didit.
Meaculpa,meaculpa.”
Hehadhadaclassicaleducation.
TheysatthusnightafternightrecallingthatfatalFriday,tilleverydetailofitwasstampedontheirbrainsandcamethroughontheothersidelikethefacesonabadcoinage.
“IfonlyIhadnot
accettato
acceptedthatinvitationtodineat27,”Mrs.Darlingsaid.“IfonlyIhadnotpouredmymedicineintoNana’sbowl,”saidMr.Darling.
“IfonlyIhadpretendedtolikethemedicine,”waswhatNana’sweteyessaid.
“Mylikingforparties,George.”
“Myfatal
dono
giftofhumour,dearest.”“Mytouchinessabouttrifles,dearmasterandmistress.”
Thenoneormoreofthemwouldbreakdownaltogether;
Nanaatthethought,“It’strue,it’strue,theyoughtnottohavehadadogforanurse.”
ManyatimeitwasMr.DarlingwhoputthehandkerchieftoNana’seyes.
“Thatfiend!”
Mr.Darlingwouldcry,andNana’sbarkwastheechoofit,butMrs.DarlingneverupbraidedPeter;
therewassomethingintheright-handcornerofher
bocca
mouththatwantedhernottocallPeternames.Theywouldsitthereintheemptynursery,recallingfondlyeverysmallestdetailofthatdreadfulevening.