Peter Pan Gradually Hardening Norwegian B2

ChapterI.PETERBREAKSTHROUGH

Allchildren,exceptone,growup.

Theysoonknowthattheywillgrowup,andthewayWendyknewwasthis.

Onedaywhenshewastwoyearsoldshewasplayinginagarden,andshe

plukket

pluckedanotherflowerandranwithittohermother.

Isupposeshemusthavelookedrather

herlig

delightful,forMrs.Darlingputherhandtoherheartandcried,“Oh,whycan’tyouremainlikethisforever!”

Thiswasallthatpassedbetweenthemonthesubject,buthenceforthWendyknewthatshemustgrowup.

Youalwaysknowafteryouaretwo.

Twoisthebeginningoftheend.

Ofcoursetheylivedat14,anduntilWendycamehermotherwasthechiefone.

Shewasalovelylady,witharomanticmindandsuchasweetmockingmouth.

Herromanticmindwaslikethetinyboxes,onewithintheother,thatcomefromthepuzzlingEast,howevermanyyou

oppdager

discoverthereisalwaysonemore;

andhersweetmockingmouthhadonekissonitthatWendycouldneverget,thoughthereitwas,perfectlyconspicuousintheright-handcorner.

ThewayMr.Darlingwonherwasthis:

themanygentlemenwhohadbeenboyswhenshewasagirl

oppdaget

discoveredsimultaneouslythattheylovedher,andtheyallrantoherhouseto

foreslå

proposetoherexceptMr.Darling,whotookacabandnippedinfirst,andsohegother.

Hegotallofher,excepttheinnermostboxandthekiss.

Heneverknewaboutthebox,andintimehegaveuptryingforthekiss.

WendythoughtNapoleoncouldhavegotit,butIcanpicturehimtrying,andthengoingoffinapassion,

smelle

slammingthedoor.

Mr.

Darlingusedto

skryte

boasttoWendythathermothernotonlylovedhimbutrespectedhim.

Hewasoneofthosedeeponeswhoknowaboutstocksandshares.

Ofcoursenoonereallyknows,buthequiteseemedtoknow,andheoftensaidstockswereupandsharesweredowninawaythatwouldhavemadeanywomanrespecthim.

Mrs.

Darlingwasmarriedinwhite,andatfirstshekeptthebooksperfectly,almostgleefully,asifitwereagame,notsomuchasaBrusselssproutwasmissing;

butbyandbywholecauliflowersdroppedout,andinsteadofthemtherewerepicturesofbabieswithoutfaces.

Shedrewthemwhensheshouldhavebeentottingup.

TheywereMrs.Darling’sguesses.

Wendycamefirst,thenJohn,thenMichael.

ForaweekortwoafterWendycameitwas

tvilsomt

doubtfulwhethertheywouldbeabletokeepher,asshewasanothermouthtofeed.

Mr.Darlingwasfrightfullyproudofher,buthewasveryhonourable,andhesatontheedgeofMrs.Darling’sbed,holdingherhandand

beregne

calculatingexpenses,whileshelookedathimimploringly.

Shewantedtoriskit,comewhatmight,butthatwasnothisway;

hiswaywaswitha

blyant

pencilandapieceofpaper,andifsheconfusedhimwithsuggestionshehadtobeginatthebeginningagain.

“Nowdon’tinterrupt,”hewouldbegofher.

“Ihaveone

pund

poundseventeenhere,andtwoandsixattheoffice;

Icancutoffmycoffeeattheoffice,saytenshillings,makingtwonineandsix,withyoureighteenandthreemakesthreenineseven,withfivenaughtnaughtinmycheque-bookmakeseightnineseven—whoisthatmoving?—eightnineseven,

punkt

dotandcarryseven—don’tspeak,myown—andthe

pundet

poundyoulenttothatmanwhocametothedoor—quiet,child—dotandcarrychild—there,you’vedoneit!—didIsayninenineseven?

yes,Isaidninenineseven;

thequestionis,canwetryitforayearonninenineseven?”

“Ofcoursewecan,George,”shecried.

ButshewasprejudicedinWendy’sfavour,andhewasreallythegrandercharacterofthetwo.

“Remembermumps,”hewarnedheralmostthreateningly,andoffhewentagain.

“Mumpsone

pund

pound,thatiswhatIhaveputdown,butIdaresayitwillbemorelikethirtyshillings—don’tspeak—measlesonefive,Germanmeasleshalfaguinea,makestwofifteensix—don’twaggleyourfinger—whooping-cough,sayfifteenshillings”—andsoonitwent,anditaddedup

forskjellig

differentlyeachtime;

butatlastWendyjustgotthrough,withmumps

redusert

reducedtotwelvesix,andthetwokindsofmeaslestreatedasone.

TherewasthesameexcitementoverJohn,andMichaelhadevenanarrowersqueak;

butbothwerekept,andsoon,youmighthaveseenthethreeofthemgoinginarowtoMissFulsom’s

Barnehage

Kindergartenschool,accompaniedbytheirnurse.

Mrs.

Darlinglovedtohaveeverythingjustso,andMr.Darlinghadapassionforbeingexactlylikehisneighbours;

so,ofcourse,theyhadanurse.

Astheywerepoor,owingtotheamountofmilkthechildrendrank,thisnursewasaprimNewfoundlanddog,calledNana,whohadbelongedtonooneinparticularuntiltheDarlingsengagedher.

Shehadalwaysthoughtchildrenimportant,however,andtheDarlingshadbecomeacquaintedwithherinKensingtonGardens,whereshespentmostofhersparetimepeepingintoperambulators,andwasmuchhatedbycarelessnursemaids,whomshefollowedtotheirhomesand

klaget

complainedoftotheirmistresses.

Sheprovedtobequiteatreasureofanurse.

How

grundig

thoroughshewasatbath-time,andupatanymomentofthenightifoneofherchargesmadetheslightestcry.

Ofcourseherkennelwasinthenursery.

Shehadageniusforknowingwhena

hoste

coughisathingtohaveno

tålmodighet

patiencewithandwhenitneedsstockingaroundyourthroat.

Shebelievedtoherlastdayinold-fashionedremedieslikerhubarb

blad

leaf,andmadesoundsof

forakt

contemptoverallthisnew-fangledtalkaboutgerms,andsoon.

Itwasalessoninproprietytoseeher

eskortere

escortingthechildrentoschool,walkingsedatelybytheirsidewhentheywerewellbehaved,andbuttingthembackintolineiftheystrayed.

OnJohn’sfooterdayssheneveronceforgothissweater,andsheusuallycarriedan

paraply

umbrellainhermouthincaseofrain.

ThereisaroominthebasementofMissFulsom’sschoolwherethenurseswait.

Theysatonforms,whileNanalayonthefloor,butthatwastheonlydifference.

Theyaffectedtoignoreherasofaninferiorsocial

status

statustothemselves,andshe

foraktet

despisedtheirlighttalk.

She

mislikte

resentedvisitstothenurseryfromMrs.Darling’sfriends,butiftheydidcomeshefirst

pisket

whippedoffMichael’spinaforeandputhimintotheonewithbluebraiding,andsmoothedoutWendyandmadea

dash

dashatJohn’shair.

barnehage

nurserycouldpossiblyhavebeen

gjennomført

conductedmorecorrectly,andMr.Darlingknewit,yethesometimeswondereduneasilywhethertheneighbourstalked.

Hehadhispositioninthecitytoconsider.

Nanaalsotroubledhiminanotherway.

Hehadsometimesafeelingthatshedidnot

beundret

admirehim.

“Iknowshe

beundrer

admiresyoutremendously,George,”Mrs.Darlingwould

forsikre

assurehim,andthenshewouldsigntothechildrentobe

spesielt

speciallynicetofather.

Lovelydancesfollowed,inwhichtheonlyotherservant,Liza,wassometimesallowedtojoin.

Sucha

dverg

midgetshelookedinherlong

skjørt

skirtandmaid’scap,thoughshehadsworn,whenengaged,thatshewouldneverseetenagain.

Thegaietyofthoseromps!

AndgayestofallwasMrs.Darling,whowouldpirouetteso

vilt

wildlythatallyoucouldseeofherwasthekiss,andthenifyouhaddashedatheryoumighthavegotit.

Thereneverwasasimpler

lykkeligere

happierfamilyuntilthecomingofPeter

Pan

Pan.

Mrs.

DarlingfirstheardofPeterwhenshewas

rydde

tidyingupherchildren’sminds.

Itisthe

nattlig

nightlycustomofeverygoodmotherafterherchildrenareasleeptorummageintheirmindsandputthingsstraightfornextmorning,repackingintotheirproperplacesthemanyarticlesthathavewanderedduringtheday.

Ifyoucouldkeepawake(butofcourseyoucan’t)youwouldseeyourownmotherdoingthis,andyouwouldfinditveryinterestingtowatchher.

Itisquitelike

rydde

tidyingupdrawers.

Youwouldseeheronherknees,Iexpect,lingeringhumorouslyoversomeofyourcontents,wonderingwhereonearthyouhadpickedthisthingup,makingdiscoveriessweetandnotsosweet,pressingthistoher

kinnet

cheekasifitwereasniceasakitten,andhurriedlystowingthatoutofsight.

Whenyouwakeinthemorning,thenaughtinessandevilpassionswithwhichyouwenttobedhavebeen

foldet

foldedupsmallandplacedatthebottomofyourmindandonthetop,

vakkert

beautifullyaired,arespreadoutyourprettierthoughts,readyforyoutoputon.

Idon’tknowwhetheryouhaveeverseenamapofaperson’smind.

Doctorssometimesdrawmapsofotherpartsofyou,andyourownmapcanbecomeintenselyinteresting,butcatchthemtryingtodrawamapofachild’smind,whichisnotonlyconfused,butkeepsgoingroundallthetime.

Therearezigzaglinesonit,justlikeyourtemperatureonacard,andtheseareprobablyroadsintheisland,fortheNeverlandisalwaysmoreorlessanisland,with

forbløffende

astonishingsplashesofcolourhereandthere,andcoralreefsandrakish-lookingcraftintheoffing,andsavagesandlonelylairs,andgnomeswhoaremostlytailors,andcavesthroughwhichariverruns,andprinceswithsix

eldre

elderbrothers,andahutfastgoingto

forfall

decay,andoneverysmalloldladywithahookednose.

Itwouldbeaneasymapifthatwereall,butthereisalsofirstdayatschool,religion,fathers,theround

dammen

pond,needle-work,murders,hangings,verbsthattakethedative,chocolate

pudding

puddingday,gettingintobraces,sayninety-nine,three-penceforpullingoutyour

tannen

toothyourself,andsoon,andeitherthesearepartoftheislandortheyareanothermapshowingthrough,anditisallrather

forvirrende

confusing,especiallyasnothingwillstandstill.

OfcoursetheNeverlands

variere

varyagooddeal.

John’s,for

eksempel

instance,hadalagoonwithflamingoesflyingoveritatwhichJohnwasshooting,whileMichael,whowasverysmall,hadaflamingowithlagoonsflyingoverit.

Johnlivedinaboatturned

opp

upsidedownonthesands,Michaelinawigwam,Wendyinahouseofleavesdeftlysewntogether.

Johnhadnofriends,Michaelhadfriendsatnight,Wendyhada

kjæledyr

petwolfforsakenbyitsparents,butonthewholetheNeverlandshaveafamily

likhet

resemblance,andiftheystoodstillinarowyoucouldsayofthemthattheyhaveeachother’snose,andso

videre

forth.

Onthesemagicshoreschildrenatplayareforeverbeachingtheircoracles.

Wetoohavebeenthere;

wecanstillhearthesoundofthesurf,thoughweshalllandnomore.

OfalldelectableislandstheNeverlandisthesnuggestandmostcompact,notlargeandsprawly,youknow,with

kjedelig

tediousdistancesbetweenoneadventureandanother,but

pent

nicelycrammed.

Whenyouplayatitbydaywiththechairsandtable-cloth,itisnotintheleastalarming,butinthetwominutesbeforeyougotosleepitbecomesveryreal.

Thatiswhytherearenight-lights.

Occasionallyinhertravelsthroughherchildren’smindsMrs.Darlingfoundthingsshecouldnotunderstand,andofthesequitethemostperplexingwasthewordPeter.

SheknewofnoPeter,andyethewashereandthereinJohnandMichael’sminds,whileWendy’sbegantobescrawledalloverwithhim.

Thenamestoodoutinbolderlettersthananyoftheotherwords,andasMrs.Darling

stirret

gazedshefeltthatithadan

merkelig

oddlycockyappearance.

“Yes,heisrathercocky,”Wendyadmittedwithregret.

Hermotherhadbeenquestioningher.

“Butwhoishe,mypet?”

“HeisPeter

Pan

Pan,youknow,mother.”

AtfirstMrs.Darlingdidnotknow,butafterthinkingbackintoherchildhoodshejustrememberedaPeter

Pan

Panwhowassaidtolivewiththefairies.

Therewereoddstoriesabouthim,asthatwhenchildrendiedhewentpartofthewaywiththem,sothattheyshouldnotbe

skremt

frightened.

Shehadbelievedinhimatthetime,butnowthatshewasmarriedandfullofsenseshequitedoubtedwhethertherewasanysuchperson.

“Besides,”shesaidtoWendy,“hewouldbegrownupbythistime.”

“Ohno,heisn’tgrownup,”Wendy

forsikret

assuredherconfidently,“andheisjustmysize.”

Shemeantthathewashersizeinbothmindandbody;

shedidn’tknowhowsheknew,shejustknewit.

Mrs.

Darling

konsulterte

consultedMr.Darling,buthesmiledpooh-pooh.

“Markmywords,”hesaid,“itissomenonsenseNanahasbeenputtingintotheirheads;

justthesortofideaadogwouldhave.

Leaveitalone,anditwillblowover.”

ButitwouldnotblowoverandsoonthetroublesomeboygaveMrs.Darlingquiteashock.

Childrenhavethestrangestadventureswithoutbeingtroubledbythem.

For

eksempel

instance,theymayremembertomention,aweekaftertheeventhappened,thatwhentheywereinthewoodtheyhadmettheirdeadfatherandhadagamewithhim.

ItwasinthiscasualwaythatWendyonemorningmadeadisquieting

åpenbaring

revelation.

Someleavesofatreehadbeenfoundonthenurseryfloor,whichcertainlywerenottherewhenthechildrenwenttobed,andMrs.DarlingwaspuzzlingoverthemwhenWendysaidwitha

tolerant

tolerantsmile:.

“IdobelieveitisthatPeteragain!”

“Whateverdoyoumean,Wendy?”

“Itissonaughtyofhimnottowipehisfeet,”Wendysaid,sighing.

Shewasa

ryddig

tidychild.

Sheexplainedinquiteamatter-of-factwaythatshethoughtPetersometimescametothenurseryinthenightandsatonthefootofherbedandplayedonhispipestoher.

Unfortunatelysheneverwoke,soshedidn’tknowhowsheknew,shejustknew.

“Whatnonsenseyoutalk,precious.

Noonecangetintothehousewithoutknocking.”

“Ithinkhecomesinbythewindow,”shesaid.

“Mylove,itisthreefloorsup.”

“Werenottheleavesatthefootofthewindow,mother?”

Itwasquitetrue;

theleaveshadbeenfoundverynearthewindow.

Mrs.

Darlingdidnotknowwhattothink,foritallseemedsonaturaltoWendythatyoucouldnot

avvise

dismissitbysayingshehadbeendreaming.

“Mychild,”themothercried,“whydidyounottellmeofthisbefore?”

“Iforgot,”saidWendy

lett

lightly.

Shewasinahurrytogetherbreakfast.

Oh,surelyshemusthavebeendreaming.

But,ontheotherhand,thereweretheleaves.

Mrs.Darling

undersøkte

examinedthemverycarefully;

theywere

skjelett

skeletonleaves,butshewassuretheydidnotcomefromanytreethatgrewinEngland.

Shecrawledaboutthefloor,peeringatitwitha

stearinlys

candleformarksofastrangefoot.

Sherattledthepokerupthe

skorsteinen

chimneyandtappedthewalls.

Sheletdownatapefromthewindowtothepavement,anditwasasheerdropofthirtyfeet,withoutsomuchasaspouttoclimbupby.

CertainlyWendyhadbeendreaming.

ButWendyhadnotbeendreaming,astheverynextnightshowed,thenightonwhichtheextraordinaryadventuresofthesechildrenmaybesaidtohavebegun.

Onthenightwespeakofallthechildrenwereoncemoreinbed.

IthappenedtobeNana’seveningoff,andMrs.Darlinghadbathedthemandsungtothemtillonebyonetheyhadletgoherhandandslidawayintothelandofsleep.

Allwerelookingsosafeandcosythatshesmiledatherfearsnowandsatdowntranquillybythefireto

sew.

ItwassomethingforMichael,whoonhisbirthdaywasgettingintoshirts.

Thefirewaswarm,however,andthenurserydimly

opplyst

litbythreenight-lights,and

øyeblikket

presentlythesewinglayonMrs.Darling’slap.

Thenherhead

nikket

nodded,oh,sogracefully.

Shewasasleep.

Lookatthefourofthem,WendyandMichaeloverthere,Johnhere,andMrs.Darlingbythefire.

Thereshouldhavebeenafourthnight-light.

Whileshesleptshehadadream.

ShedreamtthattheNeverlandhadcometoonearandthatastrangeboyhadbrokenthroughfromit.

Hedidnotalarmher,forshethoughtshehadseenhimbeforeinthefacesofmanywomenwhohavenochildren.

Perhapsheistobefoundinthefacesofsomemothersalso.

ButinherdreamhehadrentthefilmthatobscurestheNeverland,andshesawWendyandJohnandMichaelpeepingthroughthe

gapet

gap.

Thedreambyitselfwouldhavebeenatrifle,butwhileshewasdreamingthewindowofthenurseryblewopen,andaboydiddroponthefloor.

Hewas

ledsaget

accompaniedbyastrangelight,nobiggerthanyour

knyttneve

fist,whichdartedabouttheroomlikealivingthingandIthinkitmusthavebeenthislightthatwakenedMrs.Darling.

Shestartedupwithacry,andsawtheboy,andsomehowsheknewatoncethathewasPeter

Pan

Pan.

IfyouorIorWendyhadbeenthereweshouldhaveseenthathewasverylikeMrs.Darling’skiss.

Hewasalovelyboy,cladin

skjelett

skeletonleavesandthejuicesthatoozeoutoftreesbutthemostentrancingthingabouthimwasthathehadallhisfirstteeth.

Kapittel

ChapterII.THESHADOW

Mrs.

Darlingscreamed,and,asifinanswertoabell,thedooropened,andNanaentered,returnedfromhereveningout.

She

knurret

growledandsprangattheboy,wholeapt

lett

lightlythroughthewindow.

AgainMrs.Darlingscreamed,thistimein

nød

distressforhim,forshethoughthewaskilled,andsherandownintothestreettolookforhislittlebody,butitwasnotthere;

andshelookedup,andintheblacknightshecouldseenothingbutwhatshethoughtwasashootingstar.

Shereturnedtothenursery,andfoundNanawithsomethinginhermouth,whichprovedtobetheboy’sshadow.

AsheleaptatthewindowNanahadcloseditquickly,toolatetocatchhim,buthisshadowhadnothadtimetogetout;

slam

slamwentthewindowandsnappeditoff.

YoumaybesureMrs.Darling

undersøkte

examinedtheshadowcarefully,butitwasquitetheordinarykind.

Nanahadnodoubtofwhatwasthebestthingtodowiththisshadow.

Shehungitoutatthewindow,meaning“Heissuretocomebackforit;

letusputitwherehecangetiteasilywithout

forstyrre

disturbingthechildren.”

ButunfortunatelyMrs.Darlingcouldnotleaveithangingoutatthewindow,itlookedsolikethewashingandloweredthewholetoneofthehouse.

ShethoughtofshowingittoMr.Darling,buthewastottingupwintergreat-coatsforJohnandMichael,withawet

håndkle

towelaroundhisheadtokeephisbrainclear,anditseemedashametotroublehim;

besides,sheknewexactlywhathewouldsay:

“Itallcomesofhavingadogforanurse.”

Shedecidedtorolltheshadowupandputitawaycarefullyina

skuff

drawer,untilafittingopportunitycamefortellingherhusband.

Ahme!

Theopportunitycameaweeklater,onthatnever-to-be-forgottenFriday.

OfcourseitwasaFriday.

“Ioughttohavebeen

spesielt

speciallycarefulonaFriday,”sheusedtosayafterwardstoherhusband,whileperhapsNanawasontheothersideofher,holdingherhand.

“No,no,”Mr.Darlingalwayssaid,“Iamresponsibleforitall.

I,GeorgeDarling,didit.

Meaculpa,meaculpa.”

Hehadhada

klassisk

classicaleducation.

Theysatthusnightafternight

minnes

recallingthatfatalFriday,tillevery

detalj

detailofitwasstampedontheirbrainsandcamethroughontheothersidelikethefacesonabadcoinage.

“IfonlyIhadnotacceptedthatinvitationtodineat27,”Mrs.Darlingsaid.

“IfonlyIhadnotpouredmymedicineintoNana’sbowl,”saidMr.Darling.

“IfonlyIhadpretendedtolikethemedicine,”waswhatNana’sweteyessaid.

“Mylikingforparties,George.”

“Myfatalgiftofhumour,dearest.”

“Mytouchinessabouttrifles,dearmasterandmistress.”

Thenoneormoreofthemwouldbreakdown

helt

altogether;

Nanaatthethought,“It’strue,it’strue,theyoughtnottohavehadadogforanurse.”

ManyatimeitwasMr.DarlingwhoputthehandkerchieftoNana’seyes.

“Thatfiend!”

Mr.Darlingwouldcry,andNana’s

bark

barkwastheechoofit,butMrs.DarlingneverupbraidedPeter;

therewassomethingintheright-handcornerofhermouththatwantedhernottocallPeternames.

Theywouldsitthereintheemptynursery,

minnes

recallingfondlyeverysmallestdetailofthatdreadfulevening.

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