ChapterI.PETERBREAKSTHROUGH
Allchildren,
bortsett fra
exceptone,growup.Theysoonknowthattheywill
vokse
growup,andthewayWendyknewwasthis.Onedaywhenshewastwoyearsoldshewasplayinginagarden,andshepluckedanotherflowerandranwithittohermother.
I
antar
supposeshemusthavelookedganske
ratherdelightful,forMrs.Darlingputherhandtoherheartandgråt
cried,“Oh,whycan’tyouremainlikethisforever!”Thiswasallthatpassedbetweenthemonthesubject,buthenceforthWendyknewthatshemust
vokse
growup.Youalwaysknowafteryouaretwo.
Twoisthe
begynnelsen
beginningoftheend.Ofcoursetheylivedat14,anduntilWendycamehermotherwasthechiefone.
Shewasa
herlig
lovelylady,witharomanticmindandsuchasweetmockingmunn
mouth.Herromanticmindwaslikethetinyboxes,onewithintheother,thatcomefromthepuzzling
Østen
East,howevermanyyoudiscoverthereisalwaysonemore;andhersweetmocking
munn
mouthhadonekissonitthatWendycouldneverget,thoughthereitwas,perfectlyconspicuousintheright-handcorner.ThewayMr.
Darling
Darlingwonherwasthis:themanygentlemenwhohadbeenboyswhenshewasagirldiscoveredsimultaneouslythattheylovedher,andtheyallrantoherhousetoproposetoher
bortsett fra
exceptMr.Darling,whotookacabandnippedinfirst,andsohegother.Hegotallofher,
bortsett fra
excepttheinnermostboxandthekysset
kiss.Heneverknewaboutthe
boksen
box,andintimehegaveuptryingforthekysset
kiss.WendythoughtNapoleoncouldhavegotit,butIcanpicturehimtrying,andthengoingoffinapassion,slammingthedoor.
Mr.
Darling
DarlingusedtoboasttoWendythathermothernotonlylovedhimbutrespekterte
respectedhim.Hewasoneofthose
dype
deeponeswhoknowaboutstocksandshares.Ofcoursenoonereallyknows,buthequite
syntes
seemedtoknow,andheofte
oftensaidstockswereupandsharesweredowninawaythatwouldhavemadeanywomanrespektere
respecthim.Mrs.
Darlingwasmarriedinwhite,andatfirstshekeptthebooksperfectly,almostgleefully,asifitwereagame,notsomuchasaBrusselssproutwasmissing;
butbyandbywholecauliflowersdroppedout,andinsteadofthemtherewerepicturesofbabieswithoutfaces.
Shedrewthemwhensheshouldhavebeentottingup.
TheywereMrs.Darling’sguesses.
Wendycamefirst,thenJohn,thenMichael.
ForaweekortwoafterWendycameitwasdoubtful
om
whethertheywouldbeabletokeepher,asshewasanothermunn
mouthtofeed.Mr.Darlingwasfrightfully
stolt
proudofher,buthewasveryhonourable,andhesatontheedgeofMrs.Darling’sbed,holdingherhandandcalculatingexpenses,whileshelookedathimimploringly.Shewantedto
risikere
riskit,comewhatmight,butthatwasnothisway;hiswaywaswithapencilanda
stykke
pieceofpaper,andifsheconfusedhimwithsuggestionshehadtobegynne
beginatthebeginningagain.“Nowdon’tinterrupt,”hewouldbegofher.
“Ihaveonepoundseventeenhere,andtwoandsixattheoffice;
Icancutoffmycoffeeattheoffice,saytenshillings,makingtwo
ni
nineandsix,withyoureighteenandthreemakesthreeni
nineseven,withfivenaughtnaughtinmycheque-bookmakesåtte
eightnineseven—whoisthatmoving?—eightni
nineseven,dotandcarryseven—don’tspeak,myown—andthepoundyoulenttothatmanwhocametothedoor—quiet,child—dotandbære
carrychild—there,you’vedoneit!—didIsayni
ninenineseven?yes,Isaid
ni
ninenineseven;thequestionis,canwetryitforayearon
ni
ninenineseven?”“Ofcoursewecan,George,”she
gråt
cried.ButshewasprejudicedinWendy’sfavour,andhewasreallythegrandercharacterofthetwo.
“Remembermumps,”hewarnedheralmostthreateningly,andoffhewentagain.
“Mumpsonepound,thatiswhatIhaveputdown,butIdaresayitwillbemorelikethirtyshillings—don’tspeak—measlesonefive,Germanmeasleshalfaguinea,makestwofifteensix—don’twaggleyourfinger—whooping-cough,sayfifteenshillings”—andsoonitwent,anditaddedupdifferentlyeachtime;
butatlastWendyjustgotthrough,withmumpsreducedtotwelvesix,andthetwokindsofmeasles
behandlet
treatedasone.TherewasthesameexcitementoverJohn,andMichaelhadevenanarrowersqueak;
butbothwerekept,andsoon,youmighthaveseenthethreeofthemgoinginarowtoMissFulsom’sKindergartenschool,accompaniedbytheirnurse.
Mrs.
Darling
Darlinglovedtohaveeverythingjustso,andMr.Darling
Darlinghadapassionforbeingexactlylikehisneighbours;so,ofcourse,theyhadanurse.
Astheywerepoor,owingtotheamountof
melk
milkthechildrendrank,thisnursewasaprimNewfoundlanddog,calledNana,whohadbelongedtonooneinparticularuntiltheDarlingsengagedher.Shehadalwaysthoughtchildrenimportant,however,andtheDarlingshadbecomeacquaintedwithherinKensingtonGardens,whereshe
tilbrakte
spentmostofhersparetimepeepingintoperambulators,andwasmuchhatedbycarelessnursemaids,whomshefollowedtotheirhomesandcomplainedoftotheirmistresses.Sheprovedtobequiteatreasureofanurse.
Howthoroughshewasatbath-time,andupatanymomentofthenightifoneofherchargesmadetheslightest
gråte
cry.Ofcourseherkennelwasinthenursery.
Shehadageniusforknowingwhenacoughisathingtohavenopatiencewithandwhenitneedsstockingaroundyourthroat.
Shebelievedtoherlastdayinold-fashionedremedieslikerhubarbleaf,andmadesoundsofcontemptoverallthisnew-fangledtalkaboutgerms,andsoon.
Itwasalessoninproprietytoseeherescortingthechildrentoschool,walkingsedatelybytheirsidewhentheywerewellbehaved,andbuttingthembackintolineiftheystrayed.
OnJohn’sfooterdayssheneveronceforgothissweater,andsheusually
bære
carriedanumbrellainhermunnen
mouthincaseofrain.ThereisaroominthebasementofMissFulsom’sschoolwherethenurseswait.
Theysatonforms,whileNanalayonthe
gulvet
floor,butthatwastheonlyforskjellen
difference.Theyaffectedtoignoreherasofaninferiorsocialstatustothemselves,andshedespisedtheirlighttalk.
SheresentedvisitstothenurseryfromMrs.Darling’sfriends,butiftheydidcomeshefirstwhippedoffMichael’spinaforeandputhimintotheonewith
blå
bluebraiding,andsmoothedoutWendyandmadeadashatJohn’shair.Nonurserycouldpossiblyhavebeenconductedmorecorrectly,andMr.
Darling
Darlingknewit,yethesometimeslurte
wondereduneasilywhethertheneighbourstalked.Hehadhis
posisjon
positioninthecitytoconsider.Nanaalsotroubledhiminanotherway.
Hehadsometimesafeelingthatshedidnotadmirehim.
“Iknowsheadmiresyoutremendously,George,”Mrs.
Darling
Darlingwouldassurehim,andthenshewouldsigntothechildrentobespeciallynicetofather.Vakre
Lovelydancesfollowed,inwhichtheonlyotherservant,Liza,wassometimesallowedtobli
join.Suchamidgetshelookedinherlongskirtandmaid’scap,thoughshehad
sverget
sworn,whenengaged,thatshewouldneverseetenagain.Thegaietyofthoseromps!
AndgayestofallwasMrs.
Darling
Darling,whowouldpirouettesowildlythatallyoucouldseeofherwasthekysset
kiss,andthenifyouhaddashedatheryoumighthavegotit.ThereneverwasasimplerhappierfamilyuntilthecomingofPeterPan.
Mrs.
Darling
DarlingfirstheardofPeterwhenshewastidyingupherchildren’sminds.Itisthenightlycustomofeverygoodmotherafterherchildrenareasleeptorummageintheirmindsandputthings
rett
straightfornextmorning,repackingintotheirproperplacesthemanyarticlesthathavewanderedduringtheday.Ifyoucouldkeepawake(butofcourseyoucan’t)youwouldseeyourownmotherdoingthis,andyouwouldfinditvery
interessant
interestingtowatchher.Itisquiteliketidyingupdrawers.
Youwouldseeheronherknees,I
forventer
expect,lingeringhumorouslyoversomeofyourcontents,lurer
wonderingwhereonearthyouhadpickedthisthingup,makingdiscoveriessweetandnotsosweet,trykker
pressingthistohercheekasifitwereasniceasakitten,andhurriedlystowingthatoutofsight.Whenyouwakeinthemorning,thenaughtinessand
onde
evilpassionswithwhichyouwenttobedhavebeenfoldedupsmallandplacedatthebottomofyourmindandonthetop,beautifullyaired,arespreadoutyourprettierthoughts,readyforyoutoputon.Idon’tknow
om
whetheryouhaveeverseenamapofaperson’smind.Doctorssometimesdrawmapsofotherpartsofyou,andyourownmapcanbecomeintensely
interessant
interesting,butcatchthemtryingtodrawamapofachild’smind,whichisnotonlyconfused,butkeepsgoingrundt
roundallthetime.Therearezigzaglinesonit,justlikeyourtemperatureona
kort
card,andtheseareprobablyroadsintheisland,fortheNeverlandisalwaysmoreormindre
lessanisland,withastonishingsplashesofcolourhereandthere,andcoralreefsandrakish-lookingcraftintheoffing,andsavagesandlonelylairs,andgnomeswhoaremostlytailors,andcavesthroughwhichaelv
riverruns,andprinceswithsixelderbrothers,andahutfastgoingtodecay,andoneverysmalloldladywithahookednese
nose.Itwouldbeaneasymapifthatwereall,butthereisalsofirstdayatschool,religion,fathers,the
runde
roundpond,needle-work,murders,hangings,verbsthattakethedative,chocolatepuddingday,gettingintobraces,sayninety-nine,three-pencefortrekke
pullingoutyourtoothyourself,andsoon,andeitherthesearepartoftheøya
islandortheyareanothermapshowingthrough,anditisallganske
ratherconfusing,especiallyasnothingwillstandstill.OfcoursetheNeverlandsvaryagooddeal.
John’s,forinstance,hadalagoonwithflamingoes
fløy
flyingoveritatwhichJohnwasshooting,whileMichael,whowasverysmall,hadaflamingowithlagoonsfløy
flyingoverit.Johnlivedina
båt
boatturnedupsidedownonthesands,Michaelinawigwam,Wendyinahouseofleavesdeftlysewntogether.Johnhadnofriends,Michaelhadfriendsatnight,Wendyhadapetwolfforsakenbyitsparents,butonthewholetheNeverlandshaveafamilyresemblance,andiftheystoodstillinarowyoucouldsayofthemthattheyhaveeachother’s
nese
nose,andsoforth.Onthesemagicshoreschildrenatplayareforeverbeachingtheircoracles.
Wetoohavebeenthere;
wecanstillhearthesoundofthesurf,thoughweshall
lande
landnomore.OfalldelectableislandstheNeverlandisthesnuggestandmostcompact,not
stor
largeandsprawly,youknow,withtediousdistancesbetweenoneadventureandanother,butnicelycrammed.Whenyouplayatitbydaywiththechairsandtable-cloth,itisnotintheleastalarming,butinthetwominutesbeforeyougotosleepitbecomesveryreal.
Thatiswhytherearenight-lights.
Occasionallyinhertravelsthroughherchildren’smindsMrs.
Darling
Darlingfoundthingsshecouldnotunderstand,andofthesequitethemostperplexingwasthewordPeter.SheknewofnoPeter,andyethewashereandthereinJohnandMichael’sminds,whileWendy’s
begynte
begantobescrawledalloverwithhim.Thenamestoodoutinbolderlettersthananyoftheotherwords,andasMrs.
Darling
Darlinggazedshefeltthatithadanoddlycockyappearance.“Yes,heis
ganske
rathercocky,”Wendyadmittedwithregret.Hermotherhadbeenquestioningher.
“Butwhoishe,mypet?”
“HeisPeterPan,youknow,mother.”
AtfirstMrs.
Darling
Darlingdidnotknow,butafterthinkingbackintoherchildhoodshejustrememberedaPeterPanwhowassaidtolivewiththefairies.Therewereoddstoriesabouthim,asthatwhenchildrendiedhewentpartofthewaywiththem,sothattheyshouldnotbefrightened.
Shehadbelievedinhimatthetime,butnowthatshewasmarriedandfullof
fornuft
senseshequitedoubtedwhethertherewasanysuchperson.“Besides,”shesaidtoWendy,“hewouldbegrownupbythistime.”
“Ohno,heisn’tgrownup,”Wendyassuredherconfidently,“andheisjustmysize.”
Shemeantthathewasher
størrelse
sizeinbothmindandbody;shedidn’tknowhowsheknew,shejustknewit.
Mrs.
Darling
DarlingconsultedMr.Darling,buthesmilte
smiledpooh-pooh.“Markmywords,”hesaid,“itissomenonsenseNanahasbeenputtingintotheirheads;
justthesortofideaadogwouldhave.
Leaveitalone,anditwill
blåse
blowover.”Butitwouldnot
blåse
blowoverandsoonthetroublesomeboygaveMrs.Darling
Darlingquiteashock.Childrenhavethestrangestadventureswithoutbeingtroubledbythem.
Forinstance,theymayrememberto
nevne
mention,aweekaftertheeventhappened,thatwhentheywereinthewoodtheyhadmettheirdeadfatherandhadagamewithhim.ItwasinthiscasualwaythatWendyonemorningmadeadisquietingrevelation.
Someleavesofa
tre
treehadbeenfoundonthenurserygulvet
floor,whichcertainlywerenottherewhenthechildrenwenttobed,andMrs.Darling
DarlingwaspuzzlingoverthemwhenWendysaidwithatolerantsmil
smile:.“IdobelieveitisthatPeteragain!”
“Whateverdoyoumean,Wendy?”
“Itissonaughtyofhimnottowipehisfeet,”Wendysaid,sighing.
Shewasatidychild.
She
forklarte
explainedinquiteamatter-of-factwaythatshethoughtPetersometimescametothenurseryinthenightandsatonthefoten
footofherbedandplayedonhispipestoher.Unfortunatelysheneverwoke,soshedidn’tknowhowsheknew,shejustknew.
“Whatnonsenseyoutalk,precious.
Noonecangetintothehousewithoutknocking.”
“Ithinkhecomesinbythewindow,”shesaid.
“Mylove,itisthreefloorsup.”
“Werenottheleavesatthe
foten
footofthewindow,mother?”Itwasquitetrue;
theleaveshadbeenfoundvery
nær
nearthewindow.Mrs.
Darlingdidnotknowwhattothink,foritall
virket
seemedsonaturaltoWendythatyoucouldnotdismissitbysayingshehadbeendreaming.“Mychild,”themother
gråt
cried,“whydidyounottellmeofthisbefore?”“Iforgot,”saidWendylightly.
Shewasinahurrytogether
frokost
breakfast.Oh,surelyshemusthavebeendreaming.
But,ontheotherhand,thereweretheleaves.
Mrs.
Darling
Darlingexaminedthemverycarefully;theywereskeletonleaves,butshewassuretheydidnotcomefromany
tre
treethatgrewinEngland.Shecrawledaboutthe
gulvet
floor,peeringatitwithacandleformarksofamerkelig
strangefoot.Sherattledthepokerupthechimneyandtappedthewalls.
Sheletdowna
bånd
tapefromthewindowtothepavement,anditwasasheerdropofthirtyfot
feet,withoutsomuchasaspouttoclimbupby.Sikkert
CertainlyWendyhadbeendreaming.ButWendyhadnotbeendreaming,astheverynextnightshowed,thenightonwhichtheextraordinaryadventuresofthesechildrenmaybesaidtohave
begynt
begun.Onthenightwespeakofallthechildrenwereoncemoreinbed.
IthappenedtobeNana’s
kveld
eveningoff,andMrs.Darlinghadbathedthemandsungtothemtillonebyonetheyhadletgoherhandandslidawayintothelandet
landofsleep.Allwerelookingsosafeandcosythatshe
smilte
smiledatherfearsnowandsatdowntranquillybythefiretosew.ItwassomethingforMichael,whoonhis
bursdag
birthdaywasgettingintoshirts.Thefirewas
varm
warm,however,andthenurserydimlylitbythreenight-lights,andpresentlythesewinglayonMrs.Darling’slap.Thenherheadnodded,oh,sogracefully.
Shewas
sov
asleep.Lookatthefourofthem,WendyandMichaeloverthere,Johnhere,andMrs.
Darling
Darlingbythefire.Thereshouldhavebeenafourthnight-light.
Whileshesleptshehadadream.
ShedreamtthattheNeverlandhadcometoo
nær
nearandthatastrangeboyhadbrokenthroughfromit.Hedidnotalarmher,forshethoughtshehadseenhimbeforeinthefacesofmanywomenwhohavenochildren.
Perhapsheistobefoundinthefacesofsomemothersalso.
ButinherdreamhehadrentthefilmthatobscurestheNeverland,andshesawWendyandJohnandMichaelpeepingthroughthegap.
Thedreambyitselfwouldhavebeenatrifle,butwhileshewasdreamingthe
vinduet
windowofthenurseryblewopen,andaboydiddroponthegulvet
floor.Hewasaccompaniedbya
merkelig
strangelight,nobiggerthanyourfist,whichdartedabouttheroomlikealivingthingandIthinkitmusthavebeenthislightthatwakenedMrs.Darling
Darling.Shestartedupwitha
gråt
cry,andsawtheboy,andsomehowsheknewatoncethathewasPeterPan.IfyouorIorWendyhadbeenthereweshouldhaveseenthathewasverylikeMrs.Darling’s
kyss
kiss.Hewasalovelyboy,cladinskeletonleavesandthejuicesthatoozeoutoftreesbutthemostentrancingthingabouthimwasthathehadallhisfirstteeth.
ChapterII.THESHADOW
Mrs.
Darlingscreamed,and,asifinanswertoabell,thedooropened,andNanaentered,returnedfromher
kveld
eveningout.Shegrowledandsprangattheboy,wholeaptlightlythroughthe
vinduet
window.AgainMrs.Darlingscreamed,thistimeindistressforhim,forshethoughthewaskilled,andsherandownintothestreettolookforhislittlebody,butitwasnotthere;
andshelookedup,andintheblacknightshecouldseenothingbutwhatshethoughtwasashooting
stjerne
star.Shereturnedtothenursery,andfoundNanawithsomethinginher
munnen
mouth,whichprovedtobetheboy’sshadow.Asheleaptatthe
vinduet
windowNanahadcloseditraskt
quickly,toolatetocatchhim,buthisshadowhadnothadtimetogetout;slamwentthe
vinduet
windowandsnappeditoff.YoumaybesureMrs.
Darling
Darlingexaminedtheshadowcarefully,butitwasquitetheordinarykind.Nanahadno
tvil
doubtofwhatwasthebestthingtodowiththisshadow.Shehungitoutatthe
vinduet
window,meaning“Heissuretocomebackforit;letusputitwherehecangetiteasilywithoutdisturbingthechildren.”
ButunfortunatelyMrs.
Darling
Darlingcouldnotleaveithangingoutatthevinduet
window,itlookedsolikethevask
washingandloweredthewholetoneofthehouse.ShethoughtofshowingittoMr.
Darling
Darling,buthewastottingupwintergreat-coatsforJohnandMichael,withawettowelaroundhisheadtokeephishjernen
brainclear,anditseemedaskam
shametotroublehim;besides,sheknewexactlywhathewouldsay:
“Itallcomesofhavingadogforanurse.”
She
bestemte
decidedtorolltheshadowupandputitawaycarefullyinadrawer,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.”
“Myfatal
gave
giftofhumour,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
munnen
mouththatwantedhernottocallPeternames.Theywouldsitthereinthe
tomme
emptynursery,recallingfondlyeverysmallestdetailofthatdreadfulkvelden
evening.