ChapterI.PETERBREAKSTHROUGH
Alle
Allchildren,exceptone,growopp
up.Theysoonknowthatthey
vil
willgrowup,andthemåten
wayWendyknewwasthis.One
dag
daywhenshewastwoyearsgammel
oldshewasplayinginagarden,og
andshepluckedanotherflowerog
andranwithittohermoren
mother.Isupposeshemusthave
sett
lookedratherdelightful,forMrs.Darlingputherhånden
handtoherheartandcried,“Oh,hvorfor
whycan’tyouremainlikethisforever!”Dette
Thiswasallthatpassedmellom
betweenthemonthesubject,men
buthenceforthWendyknewthatshemå
mustgrowup.Youalways
vet
knowafteryouaretwo.To
Twoisthebeginningoftheslutten
end.Ofcoursetheylivedat14,
og
anduntilWendycamehermor
motherwasthechiefone.Shewasalovely
dame
lady,witharomanticmindog
andsuchasweetmockingmouth.Herromantic
sinn
mindwaslikethetinyboxes,en
onewithintheother,thatkommer
comefromthepuzzlingEast,howevermange
manyyoudiscoverthereisalltid
alwaysonemore;andher
søte
sweetmockingmouthhadonekissonitthatWendykunne
couldneverget,thoughthereitwas,perfectlyconspicuousintheright-handcorner.The
måten
wayMr.Darlingwonherwasdette
this:themanygentlemenwho
hadde
hadbeenboyswhenshewasen
agirldiscoveredsimultaneouslythattheyelsket
lovedher,andtheyallløp
rantoherhousetoproposetoherexceptMr.Darling,whotok
tookacabandnippedinførst
first,andsohegother.He
fikk
gotallofher,exceptden
theinnermostboxandthekiss.He
aldri
neverknewaboutthebox,og
andintimehegaveopp
uptryingforthekiss.Wendy
trodde
thoughtNapoleoncouldhavegotdet
it,butIcanpicturehimprøve
trying,andthengoingoffinen
apassion,slammingthedoor.Mr.
Darling
pleide
usedtoboasttoWendyat
thathermothernotonlyelsket
lovedhimbutrespectedhim.Hewas
en
oneofthosedeeponessom
whoknowaboutstocksandshares.Of
selvfølgelig
coursenoonereallyknows,men
buthequiteseemedtoknow,og
andheoftensaidstockswereopp
upandsharesweredowninamåte
waythatwouldhavemadeenhver
anywomanrespecthim.Mrs.
Darlingwas
gift
marriedinwhite,andatfirstsheholdt
keptthebooksperfectly,almostgleefully,asom
ifitwereagame,notsomye
muchasaBrusselssproutwasmissing;men
butbyandbywholecauliflowersdroppedut
out,andinsteadofthemdet
therewerepicturesofbabiesuten
withoutfaces.Shedrewthem
når
whensheshouldhavebeentottingopp
up.TheywereMrs.Darling’sguesses.
Wendy
kom
camefirst,thenJohn,thenMichael.Fora
uke
weekortwoafterWendykom
cameitwasdoubtfulwhethertheyville
wouldbeabletokeephenne
her,asshewasanothermouthtofeed.Mr.Darlingwasfrightfullyproudofher,
men
buthewasveryhonourable,og
andhesatontheedgeofMrs.Darling’sseng
bed,holdingherhandandcalculatingexpenses,mens
whileshelookedathimimploringly.She
ønsket
wantedtoriskit,comewhatkan
might,butthatwasnothismåte
way;hiswaywaswithapencil
og
andapieceofpaper,og
andifsheconfusedhimmed
withsuggestionshehadtobeginatthebeginningigjen
again.“Nowdon’tinterrupt,”he
ville
wouldbegofher.“I
har
haveonepoundseventeenhere,og
andtwoandsixattheoffice;I
kan
cancutoffmycoffeeatden
theoffice,saytenshillings,makingto
twonineandsix,withyoureighteenog
andthreemakesthreenineseven,med
withfivenaughtnaughtinmycheque-bookmakeseightnineseven—whoisthatmoving?—eightnineseven,dotog
andcarryseven—don’tspeak,myown—andden
thepoundyoulenttothatmannen
manwhocametothedoor—quiet,child—dotog
andcarrychild—there,you’vedoneit!—didIsayninenineseven?ja
yes,Isaidninenineseven;thequestion
er
is,canwetryitforet
ayearonninenineseven?”“Ofcoursewe
kan
can,George,”shecried.ButshewasprejudicedinWendy’sfavour,
og
andhewasreallythegrandercharacteroftheto
two.“Remembermumps,”hewarnedher
nesten
almostthreateningly,andoffhegikk
wentagain.“Mumpsonepound,thatiswhatI
har
haveputdown,butIdaresayitvil
willbemorelikethirtyshillings—don’tspeak—measlesonefem
five,Germanmeasleshalfaguinea,gjør
makestwofifteensix—don’twaggleyourfinger—whooping-cough,si
sayfifteenshillings”—andsoonitwent,og
anditaddedupdifferentlyhver
eachtime;butatlastWendy
bare
justgotthrough,withmumpsreducedtotwelveseks
six,andthetwokindsofmeaslestreatedasen
one.Therewasthesameexcitement
over
overJohn,andMichaelhadenda
evenanarrowersqueak;but
begge
bothwerekept,andsoon,youkan
mighthaveseenthethreeofthemgå
goinginarowtoMissFulsom’sKindergartenskole
school,accompaniedbytheirnurse.Mrs.
Darling
elsket
lovedtohaveeverythingjustso,og
andMr.Darlinghadapassionforbeingexactlysom
likehisneighbours;so,of
selvfølgelig
course,theyhadanurse.Astheywere
fattige
poor,owingtotheamountofmilkthebarna
childrendrank,thisnursewasaprimNewfoundlandhund
dog,calledNana,whohadbelongedtoingen
nooneinparticularuntiltheDarlingsengagedhenne
her.Shehadalwaysthought
barn
childrenimportant,however,andtheDarlingshadde
hadbecomeacquaintedwithherinKensingtonGardens,hvor
whereshespentmostofhersparetimepeepingintoperambulators,og
andwasmuchhatedbycarelessnursemaids,whomshefulgte
followedtotheirhomesandcomplainedoftotheirmistresses.Sheprovedtobe
ganske
quiteatreasureofanurse.Hvor
Howthoroughshewasatbath-time,og
andupatanymomentofden
thenightifoneofherchargesgjorde
madetheslightestcry.Of
selvfølgelig
courseherkennelwasinthenursery.Shehadageniusfor
vite
knowingwhenacoughisating
thingtohavenopatiencemed
withandwhenitneedsstockingrundt
aroundyourthroat.Shebelievedtoher
siste
lastdayinold-fashionedremediessom
likerhubarbleaf,andmadesoundsofcontemptover
overallthisnew-fangledtalkom
aboutgerms,andsoon.Itwas
en
alessoninproprietytose
seeherescortingthechildrentoskolen
school,walkingsedatelybytheirsidenår
whentheywerewellbehaved,og
andbuttingthembackintolinje
lineiftheystrayed.OnJohn’sfooterdaysshe
aldri
neveronceforgothissweater,og
andsheusuallycarriedanumbrellainhermouthintilfelle
caseofrain.Thereis
et
aroominthebasementofMissFulsom’sskole
schoolwherethenurseswait.They
satt
satonforms,whileNanalå
layonthefloor,butdet
thatwastheonlydifference.Theyaffectedtoignoreherasof
en
aninferiorsocialstatustothemselves,og
andshedespisedtheirlightsnakk
talk.SheresentedvisitstothenurseryfromMrs.Darling’sfriends,
men
butiftheydidcomesheførst
firstwhippedoffMichael’spinaforeog
andputhimintotheonemed
withbluebraiding,andsmoothedut
outWendyandmadeadashatJohn’shår
hair.Nonurserycouldpossibly
ha
havebeenconductedmorecorrectly,og
andMr.Darlingknewit,men
yethesometimeswondereduneasilywhethertheneighbourssnakket
talked.Hehadhispositioninthe
byen
citytoconsider.Nanaalsotroubledhiminanother
måte
way.Hehadsometimesafeeling
at
thatshedidnotadmireham
him.“Iknowsheadmiresyoutremendously,George,”Mrs.Darling
ville
wouldassurehim,andthensheville
wouldsigntothechildrentobespeciallynicetofar
father.Lovelydancesfollowed,inwhich
den
theonlyotherservant,Liza,wasnoen ganger
sometimesallowedtojoin.Such
en
amidgetshelookedinherlongskirtog
andmaid’scap,thoughshehadde
hadsworn,whenengaged,thatsheville
wouldneverseetenagain.Thegaietyof
disse
thoseromps!AndgayestofallwasMrs.Darling,who
ville
wouldpirouettesowildlythatallyoucouldse
seeofherwasthekiss,og
andthenifyouhaddashedatheryoumightha
havegotit.Thereneverwas
en
asimplerhappierfamilyuntilthecomingofPeterPan.Mrs.
Darling
først
firstheardofPeterwhenshewastidyingopp
upherchildren’sminds.Itis
de
thenightlycustomofeverygod
goodmotherafterherchildrenareasleeptorummageintheirmindsog
andputthingsstraightforneste
nextmorning,repackingintotheirproperplacesde
themanyarticlesthathavewanderedduringde
theday.Ifyoucould
holde
keepawake(butofcourseyoucan’t)youville
wouldseeyourownmothergjøre
doingthis,andyouwouldfinne
finditveryinterestingtowatchhenne
her.Itisquiteliketidying
opp
updrawers.Youwouldseeheronherknees,Iexpect,lingeringhumorously
over
oversomeofyourcontents,wonderinghvor
whereonearthyouhadpickedthisthingopp
up,makingdiscoveriessweetandnotsosøt
sweet,pressingthistohercheekasom
ifitwereasniceasen
akitten,andhurriedlystowingthatut
outofsight.Whenyou
våkner
wakeinthemorning,thenaughtinessog
andevilpassionswithwhichyougikk
wenttobedhavebeenfoldedopp
upsmallandplacedatde
thebottomofyourmindog
andonthetop,beautifullyaired,arespreadut
outyourprettierthoughts,readyforyoutosette
puton.Idon’tknowwhetheryou
har
haveeverseenamapofet
aperson’smind.Doctorssometimesdrawmapsof
andre
otherpartsofyou,andyoureget
ownmapcanbecomeintenselyinteresting,men
butcatchthemtryingtodrawet
amapofachild’ssinn
mind,whichisnotonlyconfused,men
butkeepsgoingroundallthetiden
time.Therearezigzaglinesonit,
akkurat
justlikeyourtemperatureonacard,og
andtheseareprobablyroadsintheisland,fortheNeverlandisalltid
alwaysmoreorlessanisland,med
withastonishingsplashesofcolourher
hereandthere,andcoralreefsog
andrakish-lookingcraftintheoffing,og
andsavagesandlonelylairs,og
andgnomeswhoaremostlytailors,og
andcavesthroughwhichariverløper
runs,andprinceswithsixelderbrothers,og
andahutfastgoingtodecay,og
andoneverysmallolddame
ladywithahookednose.Itwouldbeaneasymap
hvis
ifthatwereall,butthereisogså
alsofirstdayatschool,religion,fathers,theroundpond,needle-work,murders,hangings,verbsthattar
takethedative,chocolatepuddingdag
day,gettingintobraces,sayninety-nine,three-penceforpullingut
outyourtoothyourself,andsoon,og
andeitherthesearepartoftheislandeller
ortheyareanothermapviser
showingthrough,anditisalt
allratherconfusing,especiallyasingenting
nothingwillstandstill.Of
selvfølgelig
coursetheNeverlandsvaryagod
gooddeal.John’s,forinstance,
hadde
hadalagoonwithflamingoesflyingover
overitatwhichJohnwasskjøt
shooting,whileMichael,whowasveldig
verysmall,hadaflamingomed
withlagoonsflyingoverit.Johnlivedinaboatturnedupside
ned
downonthesands,Michaelinawigwam,Wendyinahus
houseofleavesdeftlysewnsammen
together.Johnhadnofriends,Michaelhadfriendsat
natten
night,Wendyhadapetwolfforsakenbyitsparents,men
butonthewholetheNeverlandshar
haveafamilyresemblance,andiftheystoodstillinen
arowyoucouldsayofthemthattheyhar
haveeachother’snose,andsoforth.On
disse
thesemagicshoreschildrenatleker
playareforeverbeachingtheircoracles.We
også
toohavebeenthere;we
kan
canstillhearthesoundofthesurf,om
thoughweshalllandnomer
more.Ofalldelectableislands
den
theNeverlandisthesnuggestog
andmostcompact,notlargeog
andsprawly,youknow,withtediousdistancesmellom
betweenoneadventureandanother,men
butnicelycrammed.Whenyou
leker
playatitbydaymed
withthechairsandtable-cloth,itisnotinde
theleastalarming,butinde
thetwominutesbeforeyougår
gotosleepitbecomesveldig
veryreal.Thatiswhytherearenight-lights.
Occasionallyinhertravels
gjennom
throughherchildren’smindsMrs.Darlingfant
foundthingsshecouldnotforstå
understand,andofthesequiteden
themostperplexingwastheordet
wordPeter.SheknewofnoPeter,
og
andyethewashereog
andthereinJohnandMichael’sminds,mens
whileWendy’sbegantobescrawledallover
overwithhim.Thenamestood
ut
outinbolderlettersthannoen
anyoftheotherwords,og
andasMrs.Darlinggazedshefeltthatithadde
hadanoddlycockyappearance.“Yes,heisrathercocky,”Wendyadmitted
med
withregret.Hermotherhadbeenquestioningher.
“But
hvem
whoishe,mypet?”“HeisPeterPan,you
vet
know,mother.”AtfirstMrs.Darling
visste
didnotknow,butaftertenkt
thinkingbackintoherchildhoodshebare
justrememberedaPeterPansom
whowassaidtolivemed
withthefairies.Therewereoddstories
om
abouthim,asthatwhenbarn
childrendiedhewentpartoftheveien
waywiththem,sothattheyskulle
shouldnotbefrightened.She
hadde
hadbelievedinhimatden
thetime,butnowthatshewasgift
marriedandfullofsensesheganske
quitedoubtedwhethertherewasnoen
anysuchperson.“Besides,”she
sa
saidtoWendy,“hewouldbegrownopp
upbythistime.”“Oh
nei
no,heisn’tgrownup,”Wendyassuredherconfidently,“andheisakkurat
justmysize.”Shemeant
at
thathewashersizeinbåde
bothmindandbody;shedidn’t
visste
knowhowsheknew,shebare
justknewit.Mrs.
DarlingconsultedMr.Darling,
men
buthesmiledpooh-pooh.“Markmywords,”he
sa
said,“itissomenonsenseNanahar
hasbeenputtingintotheirheads;akkurat
justthesortofideaen
adogwouldhave.Leaveitalone,
og
anditwillblowover.”Men
Butitwouldnotblowover
overandsoonthetroublesomegutten
boygaveMrs.Darlingquiteet
ashock.Childrenhavethestrangestadventures
uten
withoutbeingtroubledbythem.Forinstance,they
kan
mayremembertomention,auke
weekaftertheeventhappened,at
thatwhentheywereinthewoodtheyhadde
hadmettheirdeadfatherog
andhadagamewithham
him.Itwasinthiscasual
måten
waythatWendyonemorninggjorde
madeadisquietingrevelation.Someleavesof
et
atreehadbeenfoundonthenurseryfloor,whichcertainlywerenotthereda
whenthechildrenwenttosengs
bed,andMrs.Darlingwaspuzzlingover
overthemwhenWendysaidmed
withatolerantsmile:.“Ido
tror
believeitisthatPeteragain!”“Whateverdoyou
mener
mean,Wendy?”“Itissonaughtyofhimnottowipehisfeet,”Wendy
sa
said,sighing.Shewasatidy
barn
child.Sheexplainedinquite
en
amatter-of-factwaythatshetrodde
thoughtPetersometimescametothenurseryinthenatten
nightandsatonthefootofhersengen
bedandplayedonhispipestoher.Unfortunatelyshe
aldri
neverwoke,soshedidn’tvisste
knowhowsheknew,shebare
justknew.“Whatnonsenseyou
snakker
talk,precious.Noonecan
komme
getintothehousewithoutknocking.”“I
tror
thinkhecomesinbythewindow,”shesa
said.“Mylove,itis
tre
threefloorsup.”“Werenottheleavesatthefootofthewindow,mother?”
Itwas
helt
quitetrue;theleaveshadbeen
funnet
foundverynearthewindow.Mrs.
Darling
visste
didnotknowwhattotro
think,foritallseemedsonaturaltoWendythatyoukunne
couldnotdismissitbysi
sayingshehadbeendreaming.“Mychild,”the
moren
mothercried,“whydidyounotfortalte
tellmeofthisbefore?”“Iforgot,”
sa
saidWendylightly.Shewasina
hast
hurrytogetherbreakfast.Oh,surelyshemusthavebeen
drømt
dreaming.But,ontheother
side
hand,thereweretheleaves.Mrs.Darlingexaminedthem
veldig
verycarefully;theywereskeletonleaves,
men
butshewassuretheydidnotkom
comefromanytreethatgrewinEngland.Shecrawled
om
aboutthefloor,peeringatitmed
withacandleformarksofastrangefoot.Sherattledthepoker
opp
upthechimneyandtappedthewalls.She
la
letdownatapefromthewindowtothepavement,og
anditwasasheerdropofthirtyfeet,uten
withoutsomuchasaspouttoclimbopp
upby.CertainlyWendyhadbeen
drømt
dreaming.ButWendyhadnotbeen
drømt
dreaming,astheverynextnatten
nightshowed,thenightonwhichtheextraordinaryadventuresofdisse
thesechildrenmaybesaidtoha
havebegun.Onthenightwe
snakker
speakofallthechildrenwereoncemoreinsengen
bed.IthappenedtobeNana’s
kveld
eveningoff,andMrs.Darlinghadde
hadbathedthemandsungtothemtillen
onebyonetheyhadletgoherhånd
handandslidawayintothelandofsøvn
sleep.Allwerelookingso
trygt
safeandcosythatshesmiledatherfearsnå
nowandsatdowntranquillybythefiretosew.Itwas
noe
somethingforMichael,whoonhisbirthdaywaskom
gettingintoshirts.Thefirewaswarm,however,
og
andthenurserydimlylitbytre
threenight-lights,andpresentlythesewinglå
layonMrs.Darling’slap.Thenher
hodet
headnodded,oh,sogracefully.Shewasasleep.
Se
Lookatthefourofdem
them,WendyandMichaeloverder
there,Johnhere,andMrs.Darlingbyde
thefire.Thereshouldhavebeen
en
afourthnight-light.Whileshe
sov
sleptshehadadream.She
drømte
dreamtthattheNeverlandhadcomefor
toonearandthatastrangegutt
boyhadbrokenthroughfromit.Hedidnotalarm
henne
her,forshethoughtshehadseenhimfør
beforeinthefacesofmange
manywomenwhohavenobarn
children.Perhapsheistobe
funnet
foundinthefacesofnoen
somemothersalso.Butinher
drømmen
dreamhehadrentthefilmsom
thatobscurestheNeverland,andsheså
sawWendyandJohnandMichaelpeepinggjennom
throughthegap.Thedreambyitself
ville
wouldhavebeenatrifle,men
butwhileshewasdreamingthewindowofthenurseryblewåpent
open,andaboydiddroponthefloor.Hewasaccompaniedbyastrangelight,nobigger
enn
thanyourfist,whichdartedabouttherommet
roomlikealivingthingog
andIthinkitmusthavebeendette
thislightthatwakenedMrs.Darling.Shestarted
opp
upwithacry,andså
sawtheboy,andsomehowshevisste
knewatoncethathewasPeterPan.Hvis
IfyouorIorWendyhadbeender
thereweshouldhaveseenat
thathewasverylikeMrs.Darling’skiss.Hewas
en
alovelyboy,cladinskeletonleavesog
andthejuicesthatoozeut
outoftreesbutthemest
mostentrancingthingabouthimwasthathehadde
hadallhisfirstteeth.ChapterII.THESHADOW
Mrs.
Darlingscreamed,
og
and,asifinanswertoen
abell,thedooropened,og
andNanaentered,returnedfromherkveld
eveningout.Shegrowledandsprangatthe
gutten
boy,wholeaptlightlythroughthewindow.Igjen
AgainMrs.Darlingscreamed,thisgangen
timeindistressforhim,forshetrodde
thoughthewaskilled,andsheløp
randownintothestreettolookforhislille
littlebody,butitwasnotthere;og
andshelookedup,andinden
theblacknightshecouldse
seenothingbutwhatshetrodde
thoughtwasashootingstar.Shereturnedtothenursery,
og
andfoundNanawithsomethinginhermouth,som
whichprovedtobetheboy’sshadow.AsheleaptatthewindowNanahadcloseditquickly,
for
toolatetocatchhim,men
buthisshadowhadnothadtid
timetogetout;slam
gikk
wentthewindowandsnappeditav
off.YoumaybesureMrs.Darlingexaminedtheshadowcarefully,
men
butitwasquitetheordinarytype
kind.Nanahadnodoubtofwhatwasthe
beste
bestthingtodowithdenne
thisshadow.Shehungit
ut
outatthewindow,meaning“Heissikker
suretocomebackforit;la
letusputitwherehekan
cangetiteasilywithoutdisturbingthechildren.”Men
ButunfortunatelyMrs.Darlingcouldnotla
leaveithangingoutatthewindow,itså
lookedsolikethewashingog
andloweredthewholetoneofthehuset
house.ShethoughtofshowingittoMr.Darling,
men
buthewastottingupwintergreat-coatsforJohnog
andMichael,withawettowelrundt
aroundhisheadtokeephisbrainklar
clear,anditseemedashametotroubleham
him;besides,sheknewexactlywhathe
ville
wouldsay:“Itallcomesof
ha
havingadogforanurse.”Shedecidedtorolltheshadow
opp
upandputitawaycarefullyinen
adrawer,untilafittingopportunitykom
camefortellingherhusband.Ah
meg
me!Theopportunitycamea
uke
weeklater,onthatnever-to-be-forgottenFriday.Of
selvfølgelig
courseitwasaFriday.“Ioughtto
ha
havebeenspeciallycarefulonen
aFriday,”sheusedtosi
sayafterwardstoherhusband,mens
whileperhapsNanawasonden
theothersideofher,holder
holdingherhand.“No,no,”Mr.Darling
alltid
alwayssaid,“Iamresponsibleforitall.Jeg
I,GeorgeDarling,didit.Meaculpa,meaculpa.”
Hehadhad
en
aclassicaleducation.Theysatthus
natt
nightafternightrecallingthatfatalFriday,tillhver
everydetailofitwasstampedontheirbrainsog
andcamethroughontheandre
othersidelikethefacesonen
abadcoinage.“IfonlyI
hadde
hadnotacceptedthatinvitationtodineat27,”Mrs.Darlingsa
said.“IfonlyIhadnotpouredmymedicineintoNana’sbowl,”
sa
saidMr.Darling.“IfonlyI
hadde
hadpretendedtolikethemedicine,”waswhatNana’sweteyessa
said.“Mylikingforparties,George.”
“Myfatalgiftofhumour,dearest.”
“Mytouchiness
om
abouttrifles,dearmasterandmistress.”Then
en
oneormoreofthemville
wouldbreakdownaltogether;Nanaatthethought,“It’s
sant
true,it’strue,theyoughtnottoha
havehadadogforen
anurse.”ManyatimeitwasMr.Darling
som
whoputthehandkerchieftoNana’seyes.“Thatfiend!”
Mr.Darling
ville
wouldcry,andNana’sbarkwastheechoofdet
it,butMrs.DarlingneverupbraidedPeter;therewas
noe
somethingintheright-handcornerofhermouththatville
wantedhernottocallPeternames.They
ville
wouldsitthereintheemptynursery,recallingfondlyhver
everysmallestdetailofthatdreadfulkvelden
evening.