ChapterI.PETERBREAKSTHROUGH
Allchildren,exceptone,growup.
Theysoonknowthattheywillgrowup,andthewayWendyknewwasthis.
Onedaywhenshewastwoyearsoldshewasplayinginagarden,andshe
arrancó
pluckedanotherflowerandranwithittohermother.Isupposeshemusthavelookedratherdelightful,forMrs.Darlingputherhandtoherheartandcried,“Oh,whycan’tyouremainlikethisforever!”
Thiswasallthatpassedbetweenthemonthesubject,buthenceforthWendyknewthatshemustgrowup.
Youalwaysknowafteryouaretwo.
Twoisthebeginningoftheend.
Ofcoursetheylivedat14,anduntilWendycamehermotherwasthechiefone.
Shewasalovelylady,witharomanticmindandsuchasweetmockingmouth.
Herromanticmindwaslikethetinyboxes,onewithintheother,thatcomefromthepuzzlingEast,howevermanyyou
descubras
discoverthereisalwaysonemore;andhersweetmockingmouthhadonekissonitthatWendycouldneverget,thoughthereitwas,perfectlyconspicuousintheright-handcorner.
ThewayMr.Darlingwonherwasthis:
themanygentlemenwhohadbeenboyswhenshewasagirl
descubrieron
discoveredsimultaneouslythattheylovedher,andtheyallrantoherhousetoproponerle
proposetoherexceptMr.Darling,whotookacabandnippedinfirst,andsohegother.Hegotallofher,excepttheinnermostboxandthekiss.
Heneverknewaboutthebox,andintimehegaveuptryingforthekiss.
WendythoughtNapoleoncouldhavegotit,butIcanpicturehimtrying,andthengoingoffinapassion,slammingthedoor.
Mr.
Darlingusedto
jactarse
boasttoWendythathermothernotonlylovedhimbutrespectedhim.Hewasoneofthosedeeponeswhoknowaboutstocksandshares.
Ofcoursenoonereallyknows,buthequiteseemedtoknow,andheoftensaidstockswereupandsharesweredowninawaythatwouldhavemadeanywomanrespecthim.
Mrs.
Darlingwasmarriedinwhite,andatfirstshekeptthebooksperfectly,almostgleefully,asifitwereagame,notsomuchasaBrusselssproutwasmissing;
butbyandbywholecauliflowersdroppedout,andinsteadofthemtherewerepicturesofbabieswithoutfaces.
Shedrewthemwhensheshouldhavebeentottingup.
TheywereMrs.Darling’sguesses.
Wendycamefirst,thenJohn,thenMichael.
ForaweekortwoafterWendycameitwas
dudoso
doubtfulwhethertheywouldbeabletokeepher,asshewasanothermouthtofeed.Mr.Darlingwasfrightfullyproudofher,buthewasvery
honorable
honourable,andhesatontheedgeofMrs.Darling’sbed,holdingherhandandcalculando
calculatingexpenses,whileshelookedathimimploringly.Shewantedtoriskit,comewhatmight,butthatwasnothisway;
hiswaywaswitha
lápiz
pencilandapieceofpaper,andifsheconfusedhimwithsuggestionshehadtobeginatthebeginningagain.“Nowdon’tinterrupt,”hewouldbegofher.
“Ihaveone
libra
poundseventeenhere,andtwoandsixattheoffice;Icancutoffmycoffeeattheoffice,saytenshillings,makingtwonineandsix,withyoureighteenandthreemakesthreenineseven,withfivenaughtnaughtinmycheque-bookmakeseightnineseven—whoisthatmoving?—eightnineseven,
punto
dotandcarryseven—don’tspeak,myown—andthelibra
poundyoulenttothatmanwhocametothedoor—quiet,child—dotandcarrychild—there,you’vedoneit!—didIsayninenineseven?yes,Isaidninenineseven;
thequestionis,canwetryitforayearonninenineseven?”
“Ofcoursewecan,George,”shecried.
ButshewasprejudicedinWendy’sfavour,andhewasreallythegrandercharacterofthetwo.
“Remembermumps,”hewarnedheralmostthreateningly,andoffhewentagain.
“Mumpsone
libra
pound,thatiswhatIhaveputdown,butIdaresayitwillbemorelikethirtyshillings—don’tspeak—measlesonefive,Germanmeasleshalfaguinea,makestwofifteensix—don’twaggleyourfinger—whooping-cough,sayfifteenshillings”—andsoonitwent,anditaddedupdifferentlyeachtime;butatlastWendyjustgotthrough,withmumpsreducedtotwelvesix,andthetwokindsofmeaslestreatedasone.
Therewasthesame
emoción
excitementoverJohn,andMichaelhadevenanarrowerchirrido
squeak;butbothwerekept,andsoon,youmighthaveseenthethreeofthemgoinginarowtoMissFulsom’sKindergartenschool,accompaniedbytheirnurse.
Mrs.
Darlinglovedtohaveeverythingjustso,andMr.Darlinghadapassionforbeingexactlylikehisneighbours;
so,ofcourse,theyhadanurse.
Astheywerepoor,owingtotheamountofmilkthechildrendrank,thisnursewasaprimNewfoundlanddog,calledNana,whohadbelongedtonooneinparticularuntiltheDarlings
comprometieron
engagedher.Shehadalwaysthoughtchildrenimportant,however,andtheDarlingshadbecomeacquaintedwithherinKensingtonGardens,whereshespentmostofhersparetimepeepingintoperambulators,andwasmuchhatedbycarelessnursemaids,whomshefollowedtotheirhomesand
quejaba
complainedoftotheirmistresses.Sheprovedtobequiteatreasureofanurse.
Howthoroughshewasatbath-time,andupatanymomentofthenightifoneofherchargesmadetheslightestcry.
Ofcourseherkennelwasinthe
guardería
nursery.Shehadageniusforknowingwhena
tos
coughisathingtohavenopatiencewithandwhenitneedsstockingaroundyourthroat.Shebelievedtoherlastdayinold-fashionedremedieslikerhubarb
hoja
leaf,andmadesoundsofdesprecio
contemptoverallthisnew-fangledtalkaboutgerms,andsoon.Itwasalessoninproprietytoseeher
escoltar
escortingthechildrentoschool,walkingsedatelybytheirsidewhentheywerewellbehaved,andbuttingthembackintolineiftheydesviaban
strayed.OnJohn’sfooterdayssheneveronceforgothis
suéter
sweater,andsheusuallycarriedanparaguas
umbrellainhermouthincaseofrain.ThereisaroominthebasementofMissFulsom’sschoolwherethenurseswait.
Theysatonforms,whileNanalayonthefloor,butthatwastheonlydifference.
Theyaffectedtoignoreherasofaninferiorsocial
estatus
statustothemselves,andshedespreciaba
despisedtheirlighttalk.She
resentía
resentedvisitstothenurseryfromMrs.Darling’sfriends,butiftheydidcomeshefirstwhippedoffMichael’spinaforeandputhimintotheonewithbluebraiding,andsmoothedoutWendyandmadeadashatJohn’shair.No
guardería
nurserycouldpossiblyhavebeenconductedmorecorrectamente
correctly,andMr.Darlingknewit,yethesometimeswondereduneasilywhethertheneighbourstalked.Hehadhispositioninthecitytoconsider.
Nanaalsotroubledhiminanotherway.
Hehadsometimesafeelingthatshedidnot
admiraba
admirehim.“Iknowshe
admira
admiresyoutremendously,George,”Mrs.Darlingwouldaseguraba
assurehim,andthenshewouldsigntothechildrentobeespecialmente
speciallynicetofather.Lovelydancesfollowed,inwhichtheonlyotherservant,Liza,wassometimesallowedtojoin.
Sucha
enano
midgetshelookedinherlongfalda
skirtandmaid’scap,thoughshehadsworn,whencomprometió
engaged,thatshewouldneverseetenagain.Thegaietyofthoseromps!
AndgayestofallwasMrs.Darling,whowouldpirouetteso
salvajemente
wildlythatallyoucouldseeofherwasthekiss,andthenifyouhaddashedatheryoumighthavegotit.Thereneverwasasimpler
feliz
happierfamilyuntilthecomingofPeterPan
Pan.Mrs.
DarlingfirstheardofPeterwhenshewastidyingupherchildren’sminds.
Itisthenightly
costumbre
customofeverygoodmotherafterherchildrenareasleeptorummageintheirmindsandputthingsstraightfornextmorning,repackingintotheirproperplacesthemanyarticlesthathavevagado
wanderedduringtheday.Ifyoucouldkeepawake(butofcourseyoucan’t)youwouldseeyourownmotherdoingthis,andyouwouldfinditveryinterestingtowatchher.
Itisquiteliketidyingupdrawers.
Youwouldseeheronherknees,Iexpect,lingeringhumorouslyoversomeofyourcontents,wonderingwhereonearthyouhadpickedthisthingup,makingdiscoveriessweetandnotsosweet,pressingthistoher
mejilla
cheekasifitwereasniceasagatito
kitten,andhurriedlystowingthatoutofsight.Whenyouwakeinthemorning,thenaughtinessandevilpassionswithwhichyouwenttobedhavebeenfoldedupsmallandplacedatthebottomofyourmindandonthetop,
bellamente
beautifullyaired,arespreadoutyourprettierthoughts,readyforyoutoputon.Idon’tknowwhetheryouhaveeverseenamapofaperson’smind.
Doctorssometimesdrawmapsofotherpartsofyou,andyourownmapcanbecome
intensamente
intenselyinteresting,butcatchthemtryingtodrawamapofachild’smind,whichisnotonlyconfused,butkeepsgoingroundallthetime.Therearezigzaglinesonit,justlikeyour
temperatura
temperatureonacard,andtheseareprobablyroadsintheisland,fortheNeverlandisalwaysmoreorlessanisland,withastonishingsplashesofcolor
colourhereandthere,andcoral
coralreefsandrakish-lookingcraftintheoffing,andsavagesandlonelylairs,andgnomeswhoaremostlytailors,andcavesthroughwhichariverruns,andprinceswithsixelderbrothers,andacabaña
hutfastgoingtodecay,andoneverysmalloldladywithahookednose.Itwouldbeaneasymapifthatwereall,butthereisalsofirstdayatschool,religion,fathers,theround
estanque
pond,needle-work,murders,hangings,verbsthattakethedative,chocolatepudín
puddingday,gettingintobraces,sayninety-nine,three-penceforpullingoutyourdiente
toothyourself,andsoon,andeitherthesearepartoftheislandortheyareanothermapshowingthrough,anditisallratherconfuso
confusing,especiallyasnothingwillstandstill.OfcoursetheNeverlands
varían
varyagooddeal.John’s,for
ejemplo
instance,hadalagoonwithflamingoesflyingoveritatwhichJohnwasshooting,whileMichael,whowasverysmall,hadaflamingowithlagoonsflyingoverit.Johnlivedinaboatturned
al revés
upsidedownonthesands,Michaelinawigwam,Wendyinahouseofleavesdeftlysewntogether.Johnhadnofriends,Michaelhadfriendsatnight,Wendyhada
mascota
petwolfforsakenbyitsparents,butonthewholetheNeverlandshaveafamilyparecido
resemblance,andiftheystoodstillinarowyoucouldsayofthemthattheyhaveeachother’snose,andsosucesivamente
forth.Onthesemagicshoreschildrenatplayareforeverbeachingtheircoracles.
Wetoohavebeenthere;
wecanstillhearthesoundofthesurf,thoughweshalllandnomore.
OfalldelectableislandstheNeverlandisthesnuggestandmostcompact,notlargeandsprawly,youknow,withtediousdistancesbetweenone
aventura
adventureandanother,butnicelycrammed.Whenyouplayatitbydaywiththechairsandtable-cloth,itisnotintheleastalarming,butinthetwominutesbeforeyougotosleepitbecomesveryreal.
Thatiswhytherearenight-lights.
Ocasionalmente
Occasionallyinhertravelsthroughherchildren’smindsMrs.Darlingfoundthingsshecouldnotunderstand,andofthesequitethemostperplexingwasthewordPeter.SheknewofnoPeter,andyethewashereandthereinJohnandMichael’sminds,whileWendy’sbegantobescrawledalloverwithhim.
Thenamestoodoutinbolderlettersthananyoftheotherwords,andasMrs.Darlinggazedshefeltthatithadan
extrañamente
oddlycockyappearance.“Yes,heisrathercocky,”Wendyadmittedwithregret.
Hermotherhadbeenquestioningher.
“Butwhoishe,mypet?”
“HeisPeter
Pan
Pan,youknow,mother.”AtfirstMrs.Darlingdidnotknow,butafterthinkingbackintoherchildhoodshejustrememberedaPeter
Pan
Panwhowassaidtolivewiththefairies.Therewereoddstoriesabouthim,asthatwhenchildrendiedhewentpartofthewaywiththem,sothattheyshouldnotbe
asustaran
frightened.Shehadbelievedinhimatthetime,butnowthatshewasmarriedandfullofsenseshequitedoubtedwhethertherewasanysuchperson.
“Besides,”shesaidtoWendy,“hewouldbegrownupbythistime.”
“Ohno,heisn’tgrownup,”Wendy
aseguró
assuredherconfidently,“andheisjustmysize.”Shemeantthathewashersizeinbothmindandbody;
shedidn’tknowhowsheknew,shejustknewit.
Mrs.
Darling
consultó
consultedMr.Darling,buthesmiledpooh-pooh.“Markmywords,”hesaid,“itissomenonsenseNanahasbeenputtingintotheirheads;
justthesortofideaadogwouldhave.
Leaveitalone,anditwillblowover.”
Butitwouldnotblowoverandsoonthe
problemático
troublesomeboygaveMrs.Darlingquiteashock.Childrenhavethestrangestadventureswithoutbeingtroubledbythem.
For
ejemplo
instance,theymayremembertomention,aweekaftertheeventhappened,thatwhentheywereinthewoodtheyhadmettheirdeadfatherandhadagamewithhim.Itwasinthis
casual
casualwaythatWendyonemorningmadeadisquietingrevelación
revelation.Someleavesofatreehadbeenfoundonthe
guardería
nurseryfloor,whichcertainlywerenottherewhenthechildrenwenttobed,andMrs.DarlingwaspuzzlingoverthemwhenWendysaidwithatolerante
tolerantsmile:.“IdobelieveitisthatPeteragain!”
“Whateverdoyoumean,Wendy?”
“Itisso
travieso
naughtyofhimnottowipehisfeet,”Wendysaid,suspirando
sighing.Shewasatidychild.
Sheexplainedinquiteamatter-of-factwaythatshethoughtPetersometimescametothe
guardería
nurseryinthenightandsatonthefootofherbedandplayedonhispipestoher.Unfortunatelysheneverwoke,soshedidn’tknowhowsheknew,shejustknew.
“Whatnonsenseyoutalk,precious.
Noonecangetintothehousewithoutknocking.”
“Ithinkhecomesinbythewindow,”shesaid.
“Mylove,itisthreefloorsup.”
“Werenottheleavesatthefootofthewindow,mother?”
Itwasquitetrue;
theleaveshadbeenfoundverynearthewindow.
Mrs.
Darlingdidnotknowwhattothink,foritallseemedsonaturaltoWendythatyoucouldnot
descartar
dismissitbysayingshehadbeendreaming.“Mychild,”themothercried,“whydidyounottellmeofthisbefore?”
“Iforgot,”saidWendy
ligeramente
lightly.Shewasinahurrytogetherbreakfast.
Oh,surelyshemusthavebeendreaming.
But,ontheotherhand,thereweretheleaves.
Mrs.Darling
examinó
examinedthemverycarefully;theywere
esqueleto
skeletonleaves,butshewassuretheydidnotcomefromanytreethatgrewinEngland.She
arrastró
crawledaboutthefloor,peeringatitwithavela
candleformarksofastrangefoot.Sherattledthepokerupthe
chimenea
chimneyandtappedthewalls.Sheletdownatapefromthewindowtothe
acera
pavement,anditwasasheerdropofthirtyfeet,withoutsomuchasaspouttoclimbupby.CertainlyWendyhadbeendreaming.
ButWendyhadnotbeendreaming,astheverynextnightshowed,thenightonwhichtheextraordinaryadventuresofthesechildrenmaybesaidtohavebegun.
Onthenightwespeakofallthechildrenwereoncemoreinbed.
IthappenedtobeNana’seveningoff,andMrs.Darlinghadbathedthemandsungtothemtillonebyonetheyhadletgoherhandand
deslizaron
slidawayintothelandofsleep.Allwerelookingsosafeandcosythatshesmiledatherfearsnowandsatdowntranquillybythefireto
coser
sew.ItwassomethingforMichael,whoonhisbirthdaywasgettingintoshirts.
Thefirewaswarm,however,andthe
guardería
nurserydimlylitbythreenight-lights,andpresentlythesewinglayonMrs.Darling’sregazo
lap.Thenherheadnodded,oh,sogracefully.
Shewasasleep.
Lookatthefourofthem,WendyandMichaeloverthere,Johnhere,andMrs.Darlingbythefire.
Thereshouldhavebeenafourthnight-light.
Whileshesleptshehadadream.
ShedreamtthattheNeverlandhadcometoonearandthatastrangeboyhadbrokenthroughfromit.
Hedidnotalarmher,forshethoughtshehadseenhimbeforeinthefacesofmanywomenwhohavenochildren.
Perhapsheistobefoundinthefacesofsomemothersalso.
Butinherdreamhehadrentthefilmthat
oscurece
obscurestheNeverland,andshesawWendyandJohnandMichaelpeepingthroughthebrecha
gap.Thedreambyitselfwouldhavebeenatrifle,butwhileshewasdreamingthewindowofthe
guardería
nurseryblewopen,andaboydiddroponthefloor.Hewas
acompañado
accompaniedbyastrangelight,nobiggerthanyourpuño
fist,whichdartedabouttheroomlikealivingthingandIthinkitmusthavebeenthislightthatwakenedMrs.Darling.Shestartedupwithacry,andsawtheboy,andsomehowsheknewatoncethathewasPeter
Pan
Pan.IfyouorIorWendyhadbeenthereweshouldhaveseenthathewasverylikeMrs.Darling’skiss.
Hewasalovelyboy,cladinskeletonleavesandthejuicesthatoozeoutoftreesbutthemostentrancingthingabouthimwasthathehadallhisfirstteeth.
Capítulo
ChapterII.THESHADOWMrs.
Darlingscreamed,and,asifinanswertoabell,thedooropened,andNanaentered,returnedfromhereveningout.
She
gruñó
growledandsprangattheboy,whosaltó
leaptlightlythroughthewindow.AgainMrs.Darlingscreamed,thistimein
angustia
distressforhim,forshethoughthewaskilled,andsherandownintothestreettolookforhislittlebody,butitwasnotthere;andshelookedup,andintheblacknightshecouldseenothingbutwhatshethoughtwasashootingstar.
Shereturnedtothe
guardería
nursery,andfoundNanawithsomethinginhermouth,whichprovedtobetheboy’sshadow.Ashe
saltó
leaptatthewindowNanahadcloseditquickly,toolatetocatchhim,buthisshadowhadnothadtimetogetout;slamwentthewindowandsnappeditoff.
YoumaybesureMrs.Darling
examinó
examinedtheshadowcarefully,butitwasquitetheordinarykind.Nanahadnodoubtofwhatwasthebestthingtodowiththisshadow.
Shehungitoutatthewindow,meaning“Heissuretocomebackforit;
letusputitwherehecangetiteasilywithout
molestar
disturbingthechildren.”ButunfortunatelyMrs.Darlingcouldnotleaveithangingoutatthewindow,itlookedsolikethewashingandloweredthewholetoneofthehouse.
ShethoughtofshowingittoMr.Darling,buthewastottingupwintergreat-coatsforJohnandMichael,withawet
toalla
towelaroundhisheadtokeephisbrainclear,anditseemedashametotroublehim;besides,sheknewexactlywhathewouldsay:
“Itallcomesofhavingadogforanurse.”
Shedecidedtorolltheshadowupandputitawaycarefullyina
cajón
drawer,untilafittingopportunitycamefortellingherhusband.Ahme!
Theopportunitycameaweeklater,onthatnever-to-be-forgottenFriday.
OfcourseitwasaFriday.
“Ioughttohavebeen
especialmente
speciallycarefulonaFriday,”sheusedtosayafterwardstoherhusband,whileperhapsNanawasontheothersideofher,holdingherhand.“No,no,”Mr.Darlingalwayssaid,“Iamresponsibleforitall.
I,GeorgeDarling,didit.
Meaculpa,meaculpa.”
Hehadhadaclassicaleducation.
Theysatthusnightafternight
recordando
recallingthatfatalFriday,tilleverydetalle
detailofitwasstampedontheirbrainsandcamethroughontheothersidelikethefacesonabadcoinage.“IfonlyIhadnotacceptedthat
invitación
invitationtodineat27,”Mrs.Darlingsaid.“IfonlyIhadnot
vertido
pouredmymedicineintoNana’sbowl,”saidMr.Darling.“IfonlyIhadpretendedtolikethemedicine,”waswhatNana’sweteyessaid.
“Mylikingforparties,George.”
“My
fatal
fatalgiftofhumour,dearest.”“Mytouchinessabouttrifles,dearmasterandmistress.”
Thenoneormoreofthemwouldbreakdownaltogether;
Nanaatthethought,“It’strue,it’strue,theyoughtnottohavehadadogforanurse.”
ManyatimeitwasMr.Darlingwhoputthe
pañuelo
handkerchieftoNana’seyes.“Thatfiend!”
Mr.Darlingwouldcry,andNana’s
ladrido
barkwastheechoofit,butMrs.DarlingneverupbraidedPeter;therewassomethingintheright-handcornerofhermouththatwantedhernottocallPeternames.
Theywouldsitthereintheemptynursery,
recordando
recallingfondlyeverysmallestdetailofthatterrible
dreadfulevening.