ChapterI.PETERBREAKSTHROUGH
Allchildren,exceptone,growup.
Theysoonknowthattheywillgrowup,andthewayWendyknewwasthis.
Onedaywhenshewastwoyearsoldshewasplayinginagarden,andshepluckedanotherflowerandranwithittohermother.
Isupposeshemusthavelookedrather
delizioso
delightful,forMrs.Darlingputherhandtoherheartandcried,“Oh,whycan’tyouremainlikethisforever!”Thiswasallthatpassedbetweenthemonthesubject,buthenceforthWendyknewthatshemustgrowup.
Youalwaysknowafteryouaretwo.
Twoisthebeginningoftheend.
Ofcoursetheylivedat14,anduntilWendycamehermotherwasthechiefone.
Shewasalovelylady,witharomanticmindandsuchasweetmockingmouth.
Herromanticmindwaslikethetinyboxes,onewithintheother,thatcomefromthepuzzlingEast,howevermanyyou
scoprano
discoverthereisalwaysonemore;andhersweetmockingmouthhadonekissonitthatWendycouldneverget,thoughthereitwas,perfectlyconspicuousintheright-handcorner.
ThewayMr.Darlingwonherwasthis:
themanygentlemenwhohadbeenboyswhenshewasagirl
scoprirono
discoveredsimultaneouslythattheylovedher,andtheyallrantoherhousetoproposetoherexceptMr.Darling,whotookacabandnippedinfirst,andsohegother.Hegotallofher,excepttheinnermostboxandthekiss.
Heneverknewaboutthebox,andintimehegaveuptryingforthekiss.
WendythoughtNapoleoncouldhavegotit,butIcanpicturehimtrying,andthengoingoffinapassion,
sbattendo
slammingthedoor.Mr.
Darlingusedto
vantava
boasttoWendythathermothernotonlylovedhimbutrespectedhim.Hewasoneofthosedeeponeswhoknowaboutstocksandshares.
Ofcoursenoonereallyknows,buthequiteseemedtoknow,andheoftensaidstockswereupandsharesweredowninawaythatwouldhavemadeanywomanrespecthim.
Mrs.
Darlingwasmarriedinwhite,andatfirstshekeptthebooksperfectly,almostgleefully,asifitwereagame,notsomuchasaBrusselssproutwasmissing;
butbyandbywholecauliflowersdroppedout,andinsteadofthemtherewerepicturesofbabieswithoutfaces.
Shedrewthemwhensheshouldhavebeentottingup.
TheywereMrs.Darling’sguesses.
Wendycamefirst,thenJohn,thenMichael.
ForaweekortwoafterWendycameitwas
dubbio
doubtfulwhethertheywouldbeabletokeepher,asshewasanothermouthtofeed.Mr.Darlingwasfrightfullyproudofher,buthewasvery
onorevole
honourable,andhesatontheedgeofMrs.Darling’sbed,holdingherhandandcalcolando
calculatingexpenses,whileshelookedathimimploringly.Shewantedtoriskit,comewhatmight,butthatwasnothisway;
hiswaywaswitha
matita
pencilandapieceofpaper,andifsheconfusedhimwithsuggestionshehadtobeginatthebeginningagain.“Nowdon’tinterrupt,”hewouldbegofher.
“Ihaveone
libbra
poundseventeenhere,andtwoandsixattheoffice;Icancutoffmycoffeeattheoffice,saytenshillings,makingtwonineandsix,withyoureighteenandthreemakesthreenineseven,withfivenaughtnaughtinmycheque-bookmakeseightnineseven—whoisthatmoving?—eightnineseven,dotandcarryseven—don’tspeak,myown—andthe
libbra
poundyoulenttothatmanwhocametothedoor—quiet,child—dotandcarrychild—there,you’vedoneit!—didIsayninenineseven?yes,Isaidninenineseven;
thequestionis,canwetryitforayearonninenineseven?”
“Ofcoursewecan,George,”shecried.
ButshewasprejudicedinWendy’sfavour,andhewasreallythegrandercharacterofthetwo.
“Remembermumps,”hewarnedheralmostthreateningly,andoffhewentagain.
“Mumpsone
libbra
pound,thatiswhatIhaveputdown,butIdaresayitwillbemorelikethirtyshillings—don’tspeak—measlesonefive,Germanmeasleshalfaguinea,makestwofifteensix—don’twaggleyourfinger—whooping-cough,sayfifteenshillings”—andsoonitwent,anditaddedupdifferentlyeachtime;butatlastWendyjustgotthrough,withmumpsreducedtotwelvesix,andthetwokindsofmeaslestreatedasone.
Therewasthesame
eccitazione
excitementoverJohn,andMichaelhadevenanarrowersqueak;butbothwerekept,andsoon,youmighthaveseenthethreeofthemgoinginarowtoMissFulsom’sKindergartenschool,accompaniedbytheirnurse.
Mrs.
Darlinglovedtohaveeverythingjustso,andMr.Darlinghadapassionforbeingexactlylikehisneighbours;
so,ofcourse,theyhadanurse.
Astheywerepoor,owingtotheamountofmilkthechildrendrank,thisnursewasaprimNewfoundlanddog,calledNana,whohadbelongedtonooneinparticularuntiltheDarlingsengagedher.
Shehadalwaysthoughtchildrenimportant,however,andtheDarlingshadbecomeacquaintedwithherinKensingtonGardens,whereshespentmostofhersparetimepeepingintoperambulators,andwasmuchhatedbycarelessnursemaids,whomshefollowedtotheirhomesand
lamentava
complainedoftotheirmistresses.Sheprovedtobequiteatreasureofanurse.
Howthoroughshewasatbath-time,andupatanymomentofthenightifoneofherchargesmadetheslightestcry.
Ofcourseherkennelwasinthenursery.
Shehadageniusforknowingwhena
tosse
coughisathingtohavenopazienza
patiencewithandwhenitneedsstockingaroundyourthroat.Shebelievedtoherlastdayinold-fashionedremedieslikerhubarb
foglia
leaf,andmadesoundsofdisprezzo
contemptoverallthisnew-fangledtalkaboutgerms,andsoon.Itwasalessoninproprietytoseeher
scortare
escortingthechildrentoschool,walkingsedatelybytheirsidewhentheywerewellbehaved,andbuttingthembackintolineiftheyallontanavano
strayed.OnJohn’sfooterdayssheneveronceforgothis
maglione
sweater,andsheusuallycarriedanombrello
umbrellainhermouthincaseofrain.ThereisaroominthebasementofMissFulsom’sschoolwherethenurseswait.
Theysatonforms,whileNanalayonthefloor,butthatwastheonlydifference.
Theyaffectedtoignoreherasofaninferiorsocial
status
statustothemselves,andshedisprezzava
despisedtheirlighttalk.SheresentedvisitstothenurseryfromMrs.Darling’sfriends,butiftheydidcomeshefirstwhippedoffMichael’spinaforeandputhimintotheonewithbluebraiding,andsmoothedoutWendyandmadeadashatJohn’shair.
No
asilo nido
nurserycouldpossiblyhavebeencondotto
conductedmorecorrectly,andMr.Darlingknewit,yethesometimeswondereduneasilywhethertheneighbourstalked.Hehadhispositioninthecitytoconsider.
Nanaalsotroubledhiminanotherway.
Hehadsometimesafeelingthatshedidnot
ammirava
admirehim.“Iknowshe
ammira
admiresyoutremendously,George,”Mrs.Darlingwouldassicurava
assurehim,andthenshewouldsigntothechildrentobeparticolarmente
speciallynicetofather.Lovelydancesfollowed,inwhichtheonlyotherservant,Liza,wassometimesallowedtojoin.
Sucha
nano
midgetshelookedinherlonggonna
skirtandmaid’scap,thoughshehadsworn,whenengaged,thatshewouldneverseetenagain.Thegaietyofthoseromps!
AndgayestofallwasMrs.Darling,whowouldpirouetteso
selvaggiamente
wildlythatallyoucouldseeofherwasthekiss,andthenifyouhaddashedatheryoumighthavegotit.Thereneverwasasimpler
felice
happierfamilyuntilthecomingofPeterPan.Mrs.
DarlingfirstheardofPeterwhenshewastidyingupherchildren’sminds.
Itisthenightlycustomofeverygoodmotherafterherchildrenareasleeptorummageintheirmindsandputthingsstraightfornextmorning,repackingintotheirproperplacesthemanyarticlesthathave
vagato
wanderedduringtheday.Ifyoucouldkeepawake(butofcourseyoucan’t)youwouldseeyourownmotherdoingthis,andyouwouldfinditveryinterestingtowatchher.
Itisquiteliketidyingupdrawers.
Youwouldseeheronherknees,Iexpect,lingeringhumorouslyoversomeofyourcontents,wonderingwhereonearthyouhadpickedthisthingup,makingdiscoveriessweetandnotsosweet,pressingthistoher
guancia
cheekasifitwereasniceasagattino
kitten,andhurriedlystowingthatoutofsight.Whenyouwakeinthemorning,thenaughtinessandevilpassionswithwhichyouwenttobedhavebeenfoldedupsmallandplacedatthebottomofyourmindandonthetop,
splendidamente
beautifullyaired,arespreadoutyourprettierthoughts,readyforyoutoputon.Idon’tknowwhetheryouhaveeverseenamapofaperson’smind.
Doctorssometimesdrawmapsofotherpartsofyou,andyourownmapcanbecome
intensamente
intenselyinteresting,butcatchthemtryingtodrawamapofachild’smind,whichisnotonlyconfused,butkeepsgoingroundallthetime.Therearezigzaglinesonit,justlikeyour
temperatura
temperatureonacard,andtheseareprobablyroadsintheisland,fortheNeverlandisalwaysmoreorlessanisland,withastonishingspruzzi
splashesofcolourhereandthere,andcoralreefsandrakish-lookingcraftintheoffing,andsavagesandlonelylairs,andgnomeswhoaremostlytailors,andcavesthroughwhichariverruns,andprinceswithsixelderbrothers,andacapanna
hutfastgoingtodecay,andoneverysmalloldladywithahookednose.Itwouldbeaneasymapifthatwereall,butthereisalsofirstdayatschool,religion,fathers,theround
stagno
pond,needle-work,murders,hangings,verbsthattakethedative,chocolatebudino
puddingday,gettingintobraces,sayninety-nine,three-penceforpullingoutyourdente
toothyourself,andsoon,andeitherthesearepartoftheislandortheyareanothermapshowingthrough,anditisallratherconfuso
confusing,especiallyasnothingwillstandstill.OfcoursetheNeverlands
variano
varyagooddeal.John’s,for
esempio
instance,hadalagoonwithflamingoesflyingoveritatwhichJohnwasshooting,whileMichael,whowasverysmall,hadaflamingowithlagoonsflyingoverit.Johnlivedinaboatturnedupsidedownonthesands,Michaelinawigwam,Wendyinahouseofleavesdeftlysewntogether.
Johnhadnofriends,Michaelhadfriendsatnight,Wendyhadapetwolf
abbandonato
forsakenbyitsparents,butonthewholetheNeverlandshaveafamilysomiglianza
resemblance,andiftheystoodstillinarowyoucouldsayofthemthattheyhaveeachother’snose,andsoforth.Onthesemagicshoreschildrenatplayareforeverbeachingtheircoracles.
Wetoohavebeenthere;
wecanstillhearthesoundofthesurf,thoughweshalllandnomore.
OfalldelectableislandstheNeverlandisthesnuggestandmost
compatta
compact,notlargeandsprawly,youknow,withtediousdistancesbetweenoneadventureandanother,butben
nicelycrammed.Whenyouplayatitbydaywiththechairsandtable-cloth,itisnotintheleastalarming,butinthetwominutesbeforeyougotosleepitbecomesveryreal.
Thatiswhytherearenight-lights.
Occasionalmente
Occasionallyinhertravelsthroughherchildren’smindsMrs.Darlingfoundthingsshecouldnotunderstand,andofthesequitethemostperplexingwasthewordPeter.SheknewofnoPeter,andyethewashereandthereinJohnandMichael’sminds,whileWendy’sbegantobescrawledalloverwithhim.
Thenamestoodoutinbolderlettersthananyoftheotherwords,andasMrs.Darlinggazedshefeltthatithadan
stranamente
oddlycockyappearance.“Yes,heisrathercocky,”Wendyadmittedwithregret.
Hermotherhadbeenquestioningher.
“Butwhoishe,mypet?”
“HeisPeterPan,youknow,mother.”
AtfirstMrs.Darlingdidnotknow,butafterthinkingbackintoherchildhoodshejustrememberedaPeterPanwhowassaidtolivewiththefairies.
Therewereoddstoriesabouthim,asthatwhenchildrendiedhewentpartofthewaywiththem,sothattheyshouldnotbefrightened.
Shehadbelievedinhimatthetime,butnowthatshewasmarriedandfullofsenseshequitedoubtedwhethertherewasanysuchperson.
“Besides,”shesaidtoWendy,“hewouldbegrownupbythistime.”
“Ohno,heisn’tgrownup,”Wendyassuredherconfidently,“andheisjustmysize.”
Shemeantthathewashersizeinbothmindandbody;
shedidn’tknowhowsheknew,shejustknewit.
Mrs.
DarlingconsultedMr.Darling,buthesmiledpooh-pooh.
“Markmywords,”hesaid,“itissomenonsenseNanahasbeenputtingintotheirheads;
justthesortofideaadogwouldhave.
Leaveitalone,anditwillblowover.”
Butitwouldnotblowoverandsoonthe
fastidioso
troublesomeboygaveMrs.Darlingquiteashock.Childrenhavethestrangestadventureswithoutbeingtroubledbythem.
For
esempio
instance,theymayremembertomention,aweekaftertheeventhappened,thatwhentheywereinthewoodtheyhadmettheirdeadfatherandhadagamewithhim.Itwasinthis
casuale
casualwaythatWendyonemorningmadeadisquietingrivelazione
revelation.Someleavesofatreehadbeenfoundonthenurseryfloor,whichcertainlywerenottherewhenthechildrenwenttobed,andMrs.DarlingwaspuzzlingoverthemwhenWendysaidwitha
tollerante
tolerantsmile:.“IdobelieveitisthatPeteragain!”
“Whateverdoyoumean,Wendy?”
“Itisso
cattivo
naughtyofhimnottowipehisfeet,”Wendysaid,sighing.Shewasatidychild.
Sheexplainedinquiteamatter-of-factwaythatshethoughtPetersometimescametothenurseryinthenightandsatonthefootofherbedandplayedonhispipestoher.
Unfortunatelysheneverwoke,soshedidn’tknowhowsheknew,shejustknew.
“Whatnonsenseyoutalk,precious.
Noonecangetintothehousewithoutknocking.”
“Ithinkhecomesinbythewindow,”shesaid.
“Mylove,itisthreefloorsup.”
“Werenottheleavesatthefootofthewindow,mother?”
Itwasquitetrue;
theleaveshadbeenfoundverynearthewindow.
Mrs.
Darlingdidnotknowwhattothink,foritallseemedsonaturaltoWendythatyoucouldnotdismissitbysayingshehadbeendreaming.
“Mychild,”themothercried,“whydidyounottellmeofthisbefore?”
“Iforgot,”saidWendy
leggermente
lightly.Shewasinahurrytogetherbreakfast.
Oh,surelyshemusthavebeendreaming.
But,ontheotherhand,thereweretheleaves.
Mrs.Darlingexaminedthemverycarefully;
theywere
scheletro
skeletonleaves,butshewassuretheydidnotcomefromanytreethatgrewinEngland.She
strisciò
crawledaboutthefloor,peeringatitwithacandela
candleformarksofastrangefoot.Sherattledthepokerupthe
camino
chimneyandtappedthewalls.Sheletdownatapefromthewindowtothe
marciapiede
pavement,anditwasasheerdropofthirtyfeet,withoutsomuchasaspouttoclimbupby.CertainlyWendyhadbeendreaming.
ButWendyhadnotbeendreaming,astheverynextnightshowed,thenightonwhichtheextraordinaryadventuresofthesechildrenmaybesaidtohavebegun.
Onthenightwespeakofallthechildrenwereoncemoreinbed.
IthappenedtobeNana’seveningoff,andMrs.Darlinghadbathedthemandsungtothemtillonebyonetheyhadletgoherhandand
scivolato
slidawayintothelandofsleep.Allwerelookingsosafeandcosythatshesmiledatherfearsnowandsatdowntranquillybythefireto
cucire
sew.ItwassomethingforMichael,whoonhisbirthdaywasgettingintoshirts.
Thefirewaswarm,however,andthenurserydimlylitbythreenight-lights,and
attualmente
presentlythesewinglayonMrs.Darling’slap.Thenherhead
annuito
nodded,oh,sogracefully.Shewasasleep.
Lookatthefourofthem,WendyandMichaeloverthere,Johnhere,andMrs.Darlingbythefire.
Thereshouldhavebeenafourthnight-light.
Whileshesleptshehadadream.
ShedreamtthattheNeverlandhadcometoonearandthatastrangeboyhadbrokenthroughfromit.
Hedidnotalarmher,forshethoughtshehadseenhimbeforeinthefacesofmanywomenwhohavenochildren.
Perhapsheistobefoundinthefacesofsomemothersalso.
Butinherdreamhehadrentthefilmthat
oscurò
obscurestheNeverland,andshesawWendyandJohnandMichaelpeepingthroughthegap.Thedreambyitselfwouldhavebeena
sciocchezza
trifle,butwhileshewasdreamingthewindowofthenurseryblewopen,andaboydiddroponthefloor.Hewas
accompagnato
accompaniedbyastrangelight,nobiggerthanyourpugno
fist,whichdartedabouttheroomlikealivingthingandIthinkitmusthavebeenthislightthatwakenedMrs.Darling.Shestartedupwithacry,andsawtheboy,andsomehowsheknewatoncethathewasPeterPan.
IfyouorIorWendyhadbeenthereweshouldhaveseenthathewasverylikeMrs.Darling’skiss.
Hewasalovelyboy,cladinskeletonleavesandthejuicesthatoozeoutoftreesbutthemostentrancingthingabouthimwasthathehadallhisfirstteeth.
Capitolo
ChapterII.THESHADOWMrs.
Darlingscreamed,and,asifinanswertoabell,thedooropened,andNanaentered,returnedfromhereveningout.
She
ringhiò
growledandsprangattheboy,whosaltò
leaptlightlythroughthewindow.AgainMrs.Darlingscreamed,thistimeindistressforhim,forshethoughthewaskilled,andsherandownintothestreettolookforhislittlebody,butitwasnotthere;
andshelookedup,andintheblacknightshecouldseenothingbutwhatshethoughtwasashootingstar.
Shereturnedtothenursery,andfoundNanawithsomethinginhermouth,whichprovedtobetheboy’sshadow.
Ashe
saltava
leaptatthewindowNanahadcloseditquickly,toolatetocatchhim,buthisshadowhadnothadtimetogetout;sbattuto
slamwentthewindowandsnappeditoff.YoumaybesureMrs.Darling
esaminato
examinedtheshadowcarefully,butitwasquitetheordinarykind.Nanahadnodoubtofwhatwasthebestthingtodowiththisshadow.
Shehungitoutatthewindow,meaning“Heissuretocomebackforit;
letusputitwherehecangetiteasilywithout
disturbare
disturbingthechildren.”ButunfortunatelyMrs.Darlingcouldnotleaveithangingoutatthewindow,itlookedsolikethewashingandloweredthewholetoneofthehouse.
ShethoughtofshowingittoMr.Darling,buthewastottingupwintergreat-coatsforJohnandMichael,withawet
asciugamano
towelaroundhisheadtokeephisbrainclear,anditseemedashametotroublehim;besides,sheknewexactlywhathewouldsay:
“Itallcomesofhavingadogforanurse.”
Shedecidedtorolltheshadowupandputitawaycarefullyina
cassetto
drawer,untilafittingopportunitycamefortellingherhusband.Ahme!
Theopportunitycameaweeklater,onthatnever-to-be-forgottenFriday.
OfcourseitwasaFriday.
“Ioughttohavebeen
particolarmente
speciallycarefulonaFriday,”sheusedtosayafterwardstoherhusband,whileperhapsNanawasontheothersideofher,holdingherhand.“No,no,”Mr.Darlingalwayssaid,“Iamresponsibleforitall.
I,GeorgeDarling,didit.
Meaculpa,meaculpa.”
Hehadhada
classica
classicaleducation.Theysatthusnightafternight
ricordando
recallingthatfatalFriday,tilleverydettaglio
detailofitwasstampedontheirbrainsandcamethroughontheothersidelikethefacesonabadcoinage.“IfonlyIhadnotacceptedthatinvitationtodineat27,”Mrs.Darlingsaid.
“IfonlyIhadnot
versato
pouredmymedicineintoNana’sbowl,”saidMr.Darling.“IfonlyIhadpretendedtolikethemedicine,”waswhatNana’sweteyessaid.
“Mylikingforparties,George.”
“My
fatale
fatalgiftofhumour,dearest.”“Mytouchinessabouttrifles,dearmasterandmistress.”
Thenoneormoreofthemwouldbreakdown
del tutto
altogether;Nanaatthethought,“It’strue,it’strue,theyoughtnottohavehadadogforanurse.”
ManyatimeitwasMr.Darlingwhoputthe
fazzoletto
handkerchieftoNana’seyes.“Thatfiend!”
Mr.Darlingwouldcry,andNana’sbarkwastheechoofit,butMrs.DarlingneverupbraidedPeter;
therewassomethingintheright-handcornerofhermouththatwantedhernottocallPeternames.
Theywouldsitthereintheemptynursery,
ricordando
recallingfondlyeverysmallestdetailofthatterribile
dreadfulevening.