ChapterI.PETERBREAKSTHROUGH
Allchildren,
exceto
exceptone,growup.Theysoonknowthattheywill
crescer
growup,andthewayWendyknewwasthis.Onedaywhenshewastwoyearsoldshewasplayinginagarden,andshepluckedanotherflowerandranwithittohermother.
I
suponho
supposeshemusthavelookedbastante
ratherdelightful,forMrs.Darlingputherhandtoherheartandchorou
cried,“Oh,whycan’tyouremainlikethisforever!”Thiswasallthat
passou
passedbetweenthemonthesubject,buthenceforthWendyknewthatshemustcrescer
growup.Youalwaysknowafteryouaretwo.
Twoisthe
começo
beginningoftheend.Ofcoursetheylivedat14,anduntilWendycamehermotherwasthe
chefe
chiefone.Shewasa
adorável
lovelylady,witharomanticmindandsuchasweetmockingboca
mouth.Herromanticmindwaslikethetinyboxes,onewithintheother,thatcomefromthepuzzling
Oriente
East,howevermanyyoudiscoverthereisalwaysonemore;andhersweetmocking
boca
mouthhadonekissonitthatWendycouldneverget,thoughthereitwas,perfectlyconspicuousintheright-handcorner.ThewayMr.Darlingwonherwasthis:
themanygentlemenwhohadbeenboyswhenshewasagirldiscoveredsimultaneouslythattheylovedher,andtheyallrantoherhousetoproposetoher
exceto
exceptMr.Darling,whotookacabandnippedinfirst,andsohegother.Hegotallofher,
exceto
excepttheinnermostboxandthebeijo
kiss.Heneverknewaboutthe
caixa
box,andintimehegaveuptryingforthebeijo
kiss.WendythoughtNapoleoncouldhavegotit,butIcanpicturehimtrying,andthengoingoffinapassion,slammingthedoor.
Mr.
DarlingusedtoboasttoWendythathermothernotonlylovedhimbut
respeitava
respectedhim.Hewasoneofthosedeeponeswhoknowaboutstocksandshares.
Ofcoursenoonereallyknows,buthequite
parecia
seemedtoknow,andhemuitas vezes
oftensaidstockswereupandsharesweredowninawaythatwouldhavemadeanywomanrespecthim.Mrs.
Darlingwasmarriedinwhite,andatfirstshekeptthebooksperfectly,almostgleefully,asifitwereagame,notsomuchasaBrusselssproutwasmissing;
butbyandbywholecauliflowersdroppedout,and
em vez
insteadofthemtherewerepicturesofbabieswithoutfaces.Shedrewthemwhensheshouldhavebeentottingup.
TheywereMrs.Darling’sguesses.
Wendycamefirst,thenJohn,thenMichael.
ForaweekortwoafterWendycameitwasdoubtful
se
whethertheywouldbeabletokeepher,asshewasanotherboca
mouthtofeed.Mr.Darlingwasfrightfully
orgulhoso
proudofher,buthewasveryhonourable,andhesatontheedgeofMrs.Darling’sbed,holdingherhandandcalculatingexpenses,whileshelookedathimimploringly.Shewantedto
arriscar
riskit,comewhatmight,butthatwasnothisway;hiswaywaswithapencilanda
pedaço
pieceofpaper,andifsheconfusedhimwithsuggestionshehadtocomeçar
beginatthebeginningagain.“Nowdon’tinterrupt,”hewouldbegofher.
“Ihaveonepoundseventeenhere,andtwoandsixattheoffice;
Icancutoffmycoffeeattheoffice,saytenshillings,makingtwo
nove
nineandsix,withyoureighteenandthreemakesthreenove
nineseven,withfivenaughtnaughtinmycheque-bookmakesoito
eightnineseven—whoisthatmoving?—eightnove
nineseven,dotandcarryseven—don’tspeak,myown—andthepoundyoulenttothatmanwhocametothedoor—quiet,child—dotandcarregar
carrychild—there,you’vedoneit!—didIsaynove
ninenineseven?yes,Isaid
nove
ninenineseven;thequestionis,canwetryitforayearon
nove
ninenineseven?”“Ofcoursewecan,George,”she
chorou
cried.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,
devido
owingtotheamountofleite
milkthechildrendrank,thisnursewasaprimNewfoundlanddog,calledNana,whohadbelongedtonooneinparticularuntiltheDarlingsengagedher.Shehadalwaysthoughtchildrenimportant,
no entanto
however,andtheDarlingshadbecomeacquaintedwithherinKensingtonGardens,whereshepassava
spentmostofhersparetimepeepingintoperambulators,andwasmuchhatedbycarelessnursemaids,whomshefollowedtotheirhomesandcomplainedoftotheirmistresses.She
provou
provedtobequiteatreasureofanurse.Howthoroughshewasatbath-time,andupatanymomentofthenightifoneofherchargesmadetheslightest
grito
cry.Ofcourseherkennelwasinthenursery.
Shehadageniusforknowingwhenacoughisathingtohavenopatiencewithandwhenitneedsstockingaroundyourthroat.
Shebelievedtoherlastdayinold-fashionedremedieslikerhubarbleaf,andmadesoundsofcontemptoverallthisnew-fangledtalkaboutgerms,andsoon.
Itwasalessoninproprietytoseeherescortingthechildrentoschool,walkingsedatelybytheirsidewhentheywerewellbehaved,andbuttingthembackintolineiftheystrayed.
OnJohn’sfooterdayssheneveronceforgothissweater,andshe
geralmente
usuallycarriedanumbrellainherboca
mouthincaseofrain.ThereisaroominthebasementofMissFulsom’sschoolwherethenurseswait.
Theysatonforms,whileNanalayonthe
chão
floor,butthatwastheonlydiferença
difference.Theyaffectedtoignoreherasofaninferiorsocialstatustothemselves,andshedespisedtheirlighttalk.
SheresentedvisitstothenurseryfromMrs.Darling’sfriends,butiftheydidcomeshefirstwhippedoffMichael’spinaforeandputhimintotheonewithbluebraiding,andsmoothedoutWendyandmadeadashatJohn’shair.
Nonurserycouldpossiblyhavebeenconductedmorecorrectly,andMr.Darlingknewit,yethesometimeswondereduneasily
se
whethertheneighbourstalked.Hehadhis
posição
positioninthecitytoconsider.Nanaalsotroubledhiminanotherway.
Hehadsometimesafeelingthatshedidnotadmirehim.
“Iknowsheadmiresyoutremendously,George,”Mrs.Darlingwouldassurehim,andthenshewouldsigntothechildrentobespeciallynicetofather.
Lovelydancesfollowed,inwhichtheonlyotherservant,Liza,wassometimesallowedto
juntar
join.Suchamidgetshelookedinherlongskirtandmaid’scap,thoughshehadsworn,whenengaged,thatshewouldneverseetenagain.
Thegaietyofthoseromps!
AndgayestofallwasMrs.Darling,whowouldpirouettesowildlythatallyoucouldseeofherwasthe
beijo
kiss,andthenifyouhaddashedatheryoumighthavegotit.ThereneverwasasimplerhappierfamilyuntilthecomingofPeterPan.
Mrs.
DarlingfirstheardofPeterwhenshewastidyingupherchildren’sminds.
Itisthenightlycustomofeverygoodmotherafterherchildrenareasleeptorummageintheirmindsandputthingsstraightfornextmorning,repackingintotheirproperplacesthemanyarticlesthathavewandered
durante
duringtheday.Ifyoucouldkeepawake(butofcourseyoucan’t)youwouldseeyourownmotherdoingthis,andyouwouldfinditvery
interessante
interestingtowatchher.Itisquiteliketidyingupdrawers.
Youwouldseeheronherknees,Iexpect,lingeringhumorouslyoversomeofyourcontents,wonderingwhereonearthyouhadpickedthisthingup,makingdiscoveriessweetandnotsosweet,
pressionando
pressingthistohercheekasifitwereasniceasakitten,andhurriedlystowingthatoutofsight.Whenyouwakeinthemorning,thenaughtinessand
maldade
evilpassionswithwhichyouwenttobedhavebeenfoldedupsmallandplacedatthebottomofyourmindandonthetop,beautifullyaired,arespreadoutyourprettierthoughts,readyforyoutoputon.Idon’tknow
se
whetheryouhaveeverseenamapofaperson’smind.Doctorssometimesdrawmapsofotherpartsofyou,andyourownmapcanbecomeintensely
interessante
interesting,butcatchthemtryingtodrawamapofachild’smind,whichisnotonlyconfused,butkeepsgoingroundallthetime.Therearezigzaglinesonit,justlikeyourtemperatureona
cartão
card,andtheseareprobablyroadsintheilha
island,fortheNeverlandisalwaysmoreormenos
lessanisland,withastonishingsplashesofcolourhereandthere,andcoralreefsandrakish-lookingcraftintheoffing,andsavagesandlonelylairs,andgnomeswhoaremostlytailors,andcavesthroughwhichario
riverruns,andprinceswithsixelderbrothers,andahutfastgoingtodecay,andoneverysmalloldladywithahookednose.Itwouldbeaneasymapifthatwereall,butthereisalsofirstdayatschool,religion,fathers,the
redondo
roundpond,needle-work,murders,hangings,verbsthattakethedative,chocolatepuddingday,gettingintobraces,sayninety-nine,three-penceforpullingoutyourtoothyourself,andsoon,andeitherthesearepartoftheilha
islandortheyareanothermapshowingthrough,anditisallratherconfusing,especiallyasnothingwillstandstill.OfcoursetheNeverlandsvaryagooddeal.
John’s,forinstance,hadalagoonwithflamingoes
voando
flyingoveritatwhichJohnwasshooting,whileMichael,whowasverysmall,hadaflamingowithlagoonsvoando
flyingoverit.Johnlivedina
barco
boatturnedupsidedownonthesands,Michaelinawigwam,Wendyinahouseofleavesdeftlysewntogether.Johnhadnofriends,Michaelhadfriendsatnight,Wendyhadapetwolfforsakenbyitsparents,butonthewholetheNeverlandshaveafamilyresemblance,andiftheystoodstillinarowyoucouldsayofthemthattheyhaveeachother’s
nariz
nose,andsoforth.Onthesemagicshoreschildrenatplayareforeverbeachingtheircoracles.
Wetoohavebeenthere;
wecanstillhearthesoundofthesurf,thoughweshalllandnomore.
OfalldelectableislandstheNeverlandisthesnuggestandmostcompact,not
grande
largeandsprawly,youknow,withtediousdistancesbetweenoneadventureandanother,butnicelycrammed.Whenyouplayatitbydaywiththechairsandtable-cloth,itisnotintheleastalarming,butinthetwominutesbeforeyougotosleepitbecomesveryreal.
Thatiswhytherearenight-lights.
Occasionallyinhertravelsthroughherchildren’smindsMrs.Darlingfoundthingsshecouldnotunderstand,andofthesequitethemostperplexingwasthewordPeter.
SheknewofnoPeter,andyethewashereandthereinJohnandMichael’sminds,whileWendy’s
começou
begantobescrawledalloverwithhim.Thenamestoodoutinbolderlettersthananyoftheotherwords,andasMrs.Darlinggazedshefeltthatithadanoddlycockyappearance.
“Yes,heis
bastante
rathercocky,”Wendyadmittedwithregret.Hermotherhadbeenquestioningher.
“Butwhoishe,mypet?”
“HeisPeterPan,youknow,mother.”
AtfirstMrs.Darlingdidnotknow,butafterthinkingbackintoherchildhoodshejustrememberedaPeterPanwhowassaidtolivewiththefairies.
Therewereoddstoriesabouthim,asthatwhenchildrendiedhewentpartofthewaywiththem,sothattheyshouldnotbefrightened.
Shehadbelievedinhimatthetime,butnowthatshewasmarriedandfullof
sentido
senseshequitedoubtedwhethertherewasanysuchperson.“Besides,”shesaidtoWendy,“hewouldbegrownupbythistime.”
“Ohno,heisn’tgrownup,”Wendyassuredherconfidently,“andheisjustmysize.”
Shemeantthathewasher
tamanho
sizeinbothmindandbody;shedidn’tknowhowsheknew,shejustknewit.
Mrs.
DarlingconsultedMr.Darling,buthe
sorriu
smiledpooh-pooh.“Markmywords,”hesaid,“itissomenonsenseNanahasbeenputtingintotheirheads;
justthesortofideaadogwouldhave.
Leaveitalone,anditwillblowover.”
Butitwouldnot
soprar
blowoverandsoonthetroublesomeboygaveMrs.Darlingquiteashock.Childrenhavethestrangestadventureswithoutbeingtroubledbythem.
Forinstance,theymayrememberto
mencionar
mention,aweekaftertheeventhappened,thatwhentheywereinthewoodtheyhadmettheirdeadfatherandhadagamewithhim.ItwasinthiscasualwaythatWendyonemorningmadeadisquietingrevelation.
Someleavesofa
árvore
treehadbeenfoundonthenurserychão
floor,whichcertainlywerenottherewhenthechildrenwenttobed,andMrs.DarlingwaspuzzlingoverthemwhenWendysaidwithatolerantsorriso
smile:.“IdobelieveitisthatPeteragain!”
“Whateverdoyoumean,Wendy?”
“Itissonaughtyofhimnottowipehisfeet,”Wendysaid,sighing.
Shewasatidychild.
She
explicou
explainedinquiteamatter-of-factwaythatshethoughtPetersometimescametothenurseryinthenightandsatonthepé
footofherbedandplayedonhispipestoher.Unfortunatelysheneverwoke,soshedidn’tknowhowsheknew,shejustknew.
“Whatnonsenseyoutalk,precious.
Noonecangetintothehousewithoutknocking.”
“Ithinkhecomesinbythewindow,”shesaid.
“Mylove,itisthreefloorsup.”
“Werenottheleavesatthe
pé
footofthewindow,mother?”Itwasquitetrue;
theleaveshadbeenfoundvery
perto
nearthewindow.Mrs.
Darlingdidnotknowwhattothink,foritall
parecia
seemedsonaturaltoWendythatyoucouldnotdismissitbysayingshehadbeendreaming.“Mychild,”themother
chorou
cried,“whydidyounottellmeofthisbefore?”“Iforgot,”saidWendylightly.
Shewasinahurrytogether
almoço
breakfast.Oh,surelyshemusthavebeendreaming.
But,ontheotherhand,thereweretheleaves.
Mrs.Darlingexaminedthemverycarefully;
theywereskeletonleaves,butshewassuretheydidnotcomefromany
árvore
treethatgrewinEngland.Shecrawledaboutthe
chão
floor,peeringatitwithacandleformarksofaestranho
strangefoot.Sherattledthepokerupthechimneyandtappedthewalls.
Sheletdowna
fita
tapefromthewindowtothepavement,anditwasasheerqueda
dropofthirtyfeet,withoutsomuchasaspouttoclimbupby.Certamente
CertainlyWendyhadbeendreaming.ButWendyhadnotbeendreaming,astheverynextnightshowed,thenightonwhichtheextraordinaryadventuresofthesechildrenmaybesaidtohave
começaram
begun.Onthenightwespeakofallthechildrenwereoncemoreinbed.
IthappenedtobeNana’seveningoff,andMrs.Darlinghadbathedthemandsungtothemtillonebyonetheyhadletgoherhandandslidawayintothe
terra
landofsleep.Allwerelookingsosafeandcosythatshe
sorriu
smiledatherfearsnowandsatdowntranquillybythefiretosew.ItwassomethingforMichael,whoonhis
aniversário
birthdaywasgettingintoshirts.Thefirewas
quente
warm,however,andthenurserydimlylitbythreenight-lights,andpresentlythesewinglayonMrs.Darling’slap.Thenherheadnodded,oh,sogracefully.
Shewasasleep.
Lookatthefourofthem,WendyandMichaeloverthere,Johnhere,andMrs.Darlingbythefire.
Thereshouldhavebeenafourthnight-light.
Whileshesleptshehadadream.
ShedreamtthattheNeverlandhadcometoo
perto
nearandthatastrangeboyhadbrokenthroughfromit.Hedidnotalarmher,forshethoughtshehadseenhimbeforeinthefacesofmanywomenwhohavenochildren.
Perhapsheistobefoundinthefacesofsomemothersalso.
ButinherdreamhehadrentthefilmthatobscurestheNeverland,andshesawWendyandJohnandMichaelpeepingthroughthegap.
Thedreambyitselfwouldhavebeenatrifle,butwhileshewasdreamingthe
janela
windowofthenurseryblewopen,andaboydiddroponthechão
floor.Hewasaccompaniedbyastrangelight,no
maior
biggerthanyourfist,whichdartedabouttheroomlikealivingthingandIthinkitmusthavebeenthislightthatwakenedMrs.Darling.Shestartedupwitha
chorar
cry,andsawtheboy,andsomehowsheknewatoncethathewasPeterPan.IfyouorIorWendyhadbeenthereweshouldhaveseenthathewasverylikeMrs.Darling’s
beijo
kiss.Hewasalovelyboy,cladinskeletonleavesandthejuicesthatoozeoutoftreesbutthemostentrancingthingabouthimwasthathehadallhisfirstteeth.
ChapterII.THESHADOW
Mrs.
Darlingscreamed,and,asifinanswertoabell,thedooropened,andNanaentered,returnedfromhereveningout.
Shegrowledandsprangattheboy,wholeaptlightlythroughthe
janela
window.AgainMrs.Darlingscreamed,thistimeindistressforhim,forshethoughthewaskilled,andsherandownintothestreettolookforhislittlebody,butitwasnotthere;
andshelookedup,andintheblacknightshecouldseenothingbutwhatshethoughtwasashooting
estrela
star.Shereturnedtothenursery,andfoundNanawithsomethinginher
boca
mouth,whichprovedtobetheboy’sshadow.Asheleaptatthe
janela
windowNanahadcloseditrapidamente
quickly,toolatetocatchhim,buthisshadowhadnothadtimetogetout;slamwentthe
janela
windowandsnappeditoff.YoumaybesureMrs.Darlingexaminedtheshadowcarefully,butitwasquitetheordinarykind.
Nanahadnodoubtofwhatwasthebestthingtodowiththisshadow.
Shehungitoutatthe
janela
window,meaning“Heissuretocomebackforit;letusputitwherehecangetiteasilywithoutdisturbingthechildren.”
ButunfortunatelyMrs.Darlingcouldnotleaveithangingoutatthe
janela
window,itlookedsolikethewashingandloweredthewholetoneofthehouse.ShethoughtofshowingittoMr.Darling,buthewastottingupwintergreat-coatsforJohnandMichael,withawettowelaroundhisheadtokeephis
cérebro
brainclear,anditseemedapena
shametotroublehim;besides,sheknewexactlywhathewouldsay:
“Itallcomesofhavingadogforanurse.”
She
decidiu
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.
“IfonlyIhadnotacceptedthatinvitationtodineat27,”Mrs.Darlingsaid.
“IfonlyIhadnotpouredmymedicineintoNana’sbowl,”saidMr.Darling.
“IfonlyIhadpretendedtolikethemedicine,”waswhatNana’sweteyessaid.
“Mylikingforparties,George.”
“Myfatal
dom
giftofhumour,dearest.”“Mytouchinessabouttrifles,dearmasterandmistress.”
Thenoneormoreofthemwouldbreakdownaltogether;
Nanaatthethought,“It’strue,it’strue,theyoughtnottohavehadadogforanurse.”
ManyatimeitwasMr.DarlingwhoputthehandkerchieftoNana’seyes.
“Thatfiend!”
Mr.Darlingwould
chorava
cry,andNana’sbarkwastheechoofit,butMrs.DarlingneverupbraidedPeter;therewassomethingintheright-handcornerofher
boca
mouththatwantedhernottocallPeternames.Theywouldsitthereinthe
vazio
emptynursery,recallingfondlyeverysmallestdetailofthatdreadfulevening.