ChapterI.PETERBREAKS
Igenom
THROUGHAllchildren,exceptone,grow
upp
up.Theysoonknowthatthey
kommer
willgrowup,andthesättet
wayWendyknewwasthis.One
dag
daywhenshewastwoyearsgammal
oldshewasplayinginagarden,och
andshepluckedanotherfloweroch
andranwithittohermor
mother.Isupposeshemusthave
sett
lookedratherdelightful,forMrs.Darlingsatte
putherhandtoherhjärta
heartandcried,“Oh,whycan’tyouremainlikehär
thisforever!”Thiswas
allt
allthatpassedbetweenthemonthesubject,men
buthenceforthWendyknewthatshemåste
mustgrowup.Youalways
vet
knowafteryouaretwo.Två
Twoisthebeginningoftheslutet
end.Ofcoursetheylivedat14,
och
anduntilWendycamehermamma
motherwasthechiefone.Shewasalovely
dam
lady,witharomanticmindoch
andsuchasweetmockingmouth.Herromantic
sinne
mindwaslikethetinyboxes,en
onewithintheother,thatkommer
comefromthepuzzlingEast,howevermånga
manyyoudiscoverthereisalltid
alwaysonemore;andher
söta
sweetmockingmouthhadonekissonitsom
thatWendycouldneverget,thoughthereitwas,perfectlyconspicuousintheright-handcorner.ThewayMr.Darling
vann
wonherwasthis:the
många
manygentlemenwhohadbeenboysnär
whenshewasagirldiscoveredsimultaneouslythattheyälskade
lovedher,andtheyallsprang
rantoherhousetoproposetoherexceptMr.Darling,whotog
tookacabandnippedinförst
first,andsohegother.He
fick
gotallofher,exceptden
theinnermostboxandthekiss.He
aldrig
neverknewaboutthebox,och
andintimehegaveupp
uptryingforthekiss.Wendy
trodde
thoughtNapoleoncouldhavegotit,men
butIcanpicturehimförsöka
trying,andthengoingoffinen
apassion,slammingthedoor.Mr.
Darling
brukade
usedtoboasttoWendythathermor
mothernotonlylovedhimutan
butrespectedhim.Hewas
en
oneofthosedeeponessom
whoknowaboutstocksandshares.Ofcourse
ingen
noonereallyknows,buthequiteseemedtoknow,och
andheoftensaidstockswereupp
upandsharesweredowninasätt
waythatwouldhavemadeanykvinna
womanrespecthim.Mrs.
Darlingwas
gift
marriedinwhite,andatfirstshehöll
keptthebooksperfectly,almostgleefully,asom
ifitwereagame,notsomycket
muchasaBrusselssproutwasmissing;butby
och
andbywholecauliflowersdroppedut
out,andinsteadofthemdet
therewerepicturesofbabieswithoutfaces.Shedrewthem
när
whensheshouldhavebeentottingupp
up.TheywereMrs.Darling’sguesses.
Wendy
kom
camefirst,thenJohn,thenMichael.For
en
aweekortwoafterWendykom
cameitwasdoubtfulwhethertheykom
wouldbeabletokeephenne
her,asshewasanothermouthtofeed.Mr.Darlingwasfrightfullyproudofher,
men
buthewasveryhonourable,och
andhesatontheedgeofMrs.Darling’ssäng
bed,holdingherhandandcalculatingexpenses,medan
whileshelookedathimimploringly.She
ville
wantedtoriskit,comewhatmight,men
butthatwasnothissätt
way;hiswaywaswith
en
apencilandapieceofpaper,och
andifsheconfusedhimmed
withsuggestionshehadtobeginatthebeginningigen
again.“Nowdon’tinterrupt,”hewouldbegof
henne
her.“Ihaveonepoundseventeen
här
here,andtwoandsixattheoffice;I
kan
cancutoffmycoffeeattheoffice,säger
saytenshillings,makingtwonineoch
andsix,withyoureighteenoch
andthreemakesthreenineseven,med
withfivenaughtnaughtinmycheque-bookmakeseightnineseven—whoisthatmoving?—eightnineseven,dotoch
andcarryseven—don’tspeak,myown—andthepoundyoulenttothatmannen
manwhocametothedoor—quiet,child—dotoch
andcarrychild—there,you’vedoneit!—didIsäger
sayninenineseven?yes,I
sa
saidninenineseven;thequestion
är
is,canwetryitforett
ayearonninenineseven?”“Ofcoursewe
kan
can,George,”shecried.ButshewasprejudicedinWendy’sfavour,
och
andhewasreallythegrandercharacterofthetvå
two.“Remembermumps,”hewarnedher
nästan
almostthreateningly,andoffhegick
wentagain.“Mumpsonepound,thatiswhatI
har
haveputdown,butIdaresayitkommer
willbemorelikethirtyshillings—don’tspeak—measlesonefem
five,Germanmeasleshalfaguinea,gör
makestwofifteensix—don’twaggleyourfinger—whooping-cough,säga
sayfifteenshillings”—andsoonitwent,och
anditaddedupdifferentlyvarje
eachtime;butatlastWendy
bara
justgotthrough,withmumpsreducedtotwelvesex
six,andthetwokindsofmeaslestreatedasen
one.Therewasthesameexcitement
över
overJohn,andMichaelhadäven
evenanarrowersqueak;but
båda
bothwerekept,andsoon,youkunde
mighthaveseenthethreeofthemgå
goinginarowtoFröken
MissFulsom’sKindergartenschool,accompaniedbytheirnurse.Mrs.
Darling
älskade
lovedtohaveeverythingjustso,och
andMr.Darlinghadapassionforbeingexactlysom
likehisneighbours;so,ofcourse,they
hade
hadanurse.Astheywere
fattiga
poor,owingtotheamountofmilkthebarnen
childrendrank,thisnursewasaprimNewfoundlandhund
dog,calledNana,whohadbelongedtointe
nooneinparticularuntiltheDarlingsengagedhenne
her.Shehadalwaysthought
barn
childrenimportant,however,andtheDarlingshade
hadbecomeacquaintedwithherinKensingtonGardens,whereshespentmostofhersparetimepeepingintoperambulators,och
andwasmuchhatedbycarelessnursemaids,whomsheföljde
followedtotheirhomesandcomplainedoftotheirmistresses.Sheprovedtobe
riktigt
quiteatreasureofanurse.Hur
Howthoroughshewasatbath-time,och
andupatanymomentofden
thenightifoneofherchargesgjorde
madetheslightestcry.Ofcourseherkennelwasinthenursery.
Shehadageniusfor
veta
knowingwhenacoughisasak
thingtohavenopatiencemed
withandwhenitneedsstockingrunt
aroundyourthroat.Shebelievedtoher
sista
lastdayinold-fashionedremediessom
likerhubarbleaf,andmadesoundsofcontemptöver
overallthisnew-fangledtalkaboutgerms,och
andsoon.Itwas
en
alessoninproprietytose
seeherescortingthechildrentoskolan
school,walkingsedatelybytheirsida
sidewhentheywerewellbehaved,och
andbuttingthembackintolinje
lineiftheystrayed.OnJohn’sfooterdaysshe
aldrig
neveronceforgothissweater,och
andsheusuallycarriedanumbrellainhermouthincaseofrain.Thereis
ett
aroominthebasementofFröken
MissFulsom’sschoolwherethenursesväntar
wait.Theysatonforms,
medan
whileNanalayonthefloor,men
butthatwastheonlydifference.Theyaffectedtoignoreherasof
en
aninferiorsocialstatustothemselves,och
andshedespisedtheirlighttalk.SheresentedvisitstothenurseryfromMrs.Darling’sfriends,
men
butiftheydidcomesheförst
firstwhippedoffMichael’spinaforeoch
andputhimintotheonemed
withbluebraiding,andsmoothedut
outWendyandmadeadashatJohn’shår
hair.Nonurserycouldpossibly
ha
havebeenconductedmorecorrectly,och
andMr.Darlingknewit,men
yethesometimeswondereduneasilywhethertheneighbourspratade
talked.Hehadhispositioninthe
staden
citytoconsider.Nanaalsotroubledhiminanother
sätt
way.Hehadsometimesafeeling
att
thatshedidnotadmirehonom
him.“Iknowsheadmiresyoutremendously,George,”Mrs.Darlingwouldassure
honom
him,andthenshewouldsigntothebarnen
childrentobespeciallynicetofar
father.Lovelydancesfollowed,in
vilka
whichtheonlyotherservant,Liza,wasibland
sometimesallowedtojoin.Such
en
amidgetshelookedinherlongskirtoch
andmaid’scap,thoughshehade
hadsworn,whenengaged,thatshewouldaldrig
neverseetenagain.Thegaietyofthoseromps!
Och
AndgayestofallwasMrs.Darling,whowouldpirouettesowildlythatallyoukunde
couldseeofherwasthekiss,och
andthenifyouhaddashedatheryoumightha
havegotit.Thereneverwas
en
asimplerhappierfamilyuntilthekom
comingofPeterPan.Mrs.
Darling
först
firstheardofPeterwhenshewastidyingupherchildren’sminds.Itisthenightlycustomof
varje
everygoodmotherafterherbarn
childrenareasleeptorummageintheirmindsoch
andputthingsstraightfornästa
nextmorning,repackingintotheirproperplacesthemånga
manyarticlesthathavewanderedduringthedagen
day.Ifyoucouldkeepawake(butofcourseyoucan’t)youwouldseeyour
egen
ownmotherdoingthis,andyouwouldfinditmycket
veryinterestingtowatchher.Itisquite
som
liketidyingupdrawers.Youwould
se
seeheronherknees,Iexpect,lingeringhumorouslyöver
oversomeofyourcontents,wonderingvar
whereonearthyouhadplockat
pickedthisthingup,makingdiscoveriessöta
sweetandnotsosweet,pressingthistohercheekasifitwereasniceasen
akitten,andhurriedlystowingthatoutofsight.När
Whenyouwakeinthemorning,de
thenaughtinessandevilpassionsmed
withwhichyouwenttosängs
bedhavebeenfoldedupsmå
smallandplacedatthebottomofyoursinne
mindandonthetop,beautifullyluftade
aired,arespreadoutyourprettierthoughts,redo
readyforyoutoputon.Idon’t
vet
knowwhetheryouhaveeversett
seenamapofaperson’ssinne
mind.Doctorssometimesdrawmapsof
andra
otherpartsofyou,andyouregen
ownmapcanbecomeintenselyinteresting,butfångar
catchthemtryingtodrawamapofachild’ssinne
mind,whichisnotonlyconfused,butkeepsgå
goingroundallthetime.Therearezigzaglinesonit,
precis
justlikeyourtemperatureonacard,och
andtheseareprobablyroadsintheisland,fortheNeverlandisalltid
alwaysmoreorlessanisland,med
withastonishingsplashesofcolourhär
hereandthere,andcoralreefsoch
andrakish-lookingcraftintheoffing,och
andsavagesandlonelylairs,och
andgnomeswhoaremostlytailors,och
andcavesthroughwhichariverruns,och
andprinceswithsixelderbrothers,och
andahutfastgoingtodecay,och
andoneverysmallolddam
ladywithahookednose.Itwouldbe
en
aneasymapifthatwereallt
all,butthereisalsoförsta
firstdayatschool,religion,fathers,theroundpond,needle-work,murders,hangings,verbsthattar
takethedative,chocolatepuddingday,gettingintobraces,säga
sayninety-nine,three-penceforpullingut
outyourtoothyourself,andsoon,och
andeitherthesearepartoftheislandeller
ortheyareanothermapvisar
showingthrough,anditisallt
allratherconfusing,especiallyasingenting
nothingwillstandstill.OfcoursetheNeverlandsvaryagooddeal.
John’s,forinstance,
hade
hadalagoonwithflamingoesflyingöver
overitatwhichJohnwassköt
shooting,whileMichael,whowasmycket
verysmall,hadaflamingomed
withlagoonsflyingoverit.John
bodde
livedinaboatturnedupsidener
downonthesands,Michaelinawigwam,Wendyinahus
houseofleavesdeftlysewnihop
together.Johnhadnofriends,Michaelhadfriendsatnight,Wendyhad
en
apetwolfforsakenbyitsparents,men
butonthewholetheNeverlandshar
haveafamilyresemblance,andiftheystod
stoodstillinarowyoukunde
couldsayofthemthattheyhar
haveeachother’snose,andsoforth.On
dessa
thesemagicshoreschildrenatleker
playareforeverbeachingtheircoracles.We
också
toohavebeenthere;we
kan
canstillhearthesoundofthesurf,thoughweshalllandinte
nomore.Ofalldelectableislands
den
theNeverlandisthesnuggestoch
andmostcompact,notlargeoch
andsprawly,youknow,withtediousdistancesmellan
betweenoneadventureandanother,men
butnicelycrammed.Whenyou
leker
playatitbydaymed
withthechairsandtable-cloth,itisnotintheleastalarming,men
butinthetwominutesinnan
beforeyougotosleepitblir
becomesveryreal.Thatis
därför
whytherearenight-lights.Occasionallyinhertravels
genom
throughherchildren’smindsMrs.Darlingfann
foundthingsshecouldnotförstå
understand,andofthesequitedet
themostperplexingwastheordet
wordPeter.Sheknewof
inte
noPeter,andyethewashär
hereandthereinJohnoch
andMichael’sminds,whileWendy’sbegantobescrawledallovermed
withhim.Thenamestood
ut
outinbolderlettersthannågot
anyoftheotherwords,och
andasMrs.Darlinggazedshekände
feltthatithadanoddlycockyappearance.“Yes,heisrathercocky,”Wendyadmitted
med
withregret.Hermotherhadbeen
ifrågasatt
questioningher.“Butwhois
han
he,mypet?”“HeisPeterPan,you
vet
know,mother.”AtfirstMrs.Darlingdidnot
visste
know,butafterthinkingbackintoherchildhoodshebara
justrememberedaPeterPansom
whowassaidtolivewiththefairies.Therewereoddstories
om
abouthim,asthatwhenbarn
childrendiedhewentpartofthevägen
waywiththem,sothattheyshouldnotbefrightened.She
hade
hadbelievedinhimatthetiden
time,butnowthatshewasgift
marriedandfullofsensesheganska
quitedoubtedwhethertherewasnågon
anysuchperson.“Besides,”she
sa
saidtoWendy,“hewouldbegrownupbyhär
thistime.”“Ohno,heisn’tgrownup,”Wendyassuredherconfidently,“andheis
precis
justmysize.”Shemeant
att
thathewashersizeinbåde
bothmindandbody;shedidn’t
visste
knowhowsheknew,shebara
justknewit.Mrs.
DarlingconsultedMr.Darling,
men
buthesmiledpooh-pooh.“Markmywords,”he
sa
said,“itissomenonsenseNanahar
hasbeenputtingintotheirheads;precis
justthesortofideaen
adogwouldhave.Leaveit
ifred
alone,anditwillblowover.”Men
Butitwouldnotblowöver
overandsoonthetroublesomeboygav
gaveMrs.Darlingquiteashock.Barn
Childrenhavethestrangestadventuresutan
withoutbeingtroubledbythem.Forinstance,they
kan
mayremembertomention,avecka
weekaftertheeventhappened,thatnär
whentheywereinthewoodtheyhade
hadmettheirdeadfatheroch
andhadagamewithhonom
him.Itwasinthiscasual
sätt
waythatWendyonemorninggjorde
madeadisquietingrevelation.Someleavesof
ett
atreehadbeenfoundonthenurseryfloor,whichcertainlywerenottherenär
whenthechildrenwenttosängs
bed,andMrs.Darlingwaspuzzlingöver
overthemwhenWendysaidmed
withatolerantsmile:.“Ido
tror
believeitisthatPeteragain!”“Whateverdoyou
menar
mean,Wendy?”“Itissonaughtyofhimnottowipehisfeet,”Wendy
sa
said,sighing.Shewasatidy
barn
child.Sheexplainedinquite
ett
amatter-of-factwaythatshetyckte
thoughtPetersometimescametothenurseryinthenatten
nightandsatonthefootofhersäng
bedandplayedonhispipestoher.Unfortunatelyshe
aldrig
neverwoke,soshedidn’tvisste
knowhowsheknew,shebara
justknew.“Whatnonsenseyou
pratar
talk,precious.Noonecan
komma
getintothehousewithoutknocking.”“I
tror
thinkhecomesinbythewindow,”shesa
said.“Mylove,itis
tre
threefloorsup.”“Werenot
det
theleavesatthefootofdet
thewindow,mother?”Itwas
helt
quitetrue;theleaveshadbeenfound
mycket
verynearthewindow.Mrs.
Darlingdidnot
visste
knowwhattothink,foritallt
allseemedsonaturaltoWendythatyoukunde
couldnotdismissitbysäga
sayingshehadbeendreaming.“Mychild,”
det
themothercried,“whydidyounotberättade
tellmeofthisbefore?”“Iforgot,”
sa
saidWendylightly.Shewasina
bråttom
hurrytogetherbreakfast.Oh,surelyshemusthavebeen
drömt
dreaming.But,ontheother
sidan
hand,thereweretheleaves.Mrs.Darlingexaminedthem
mycket
verycarefully;theywereskeletonleaves,
men
butshewassuretheydidnotkom
comefromanytreethatgrewinEngland.Shecrawledaboutthefloor,peeringatit
med
withacandleformarksofastrangefoot.Sherattledthepoker
upp
upthechimneyandtappedthewalls.Shelet
ner
downatapefromthewindowtothepavement,och
anditwasasheerdropofthirtyfeet,utan
withoutsomuchasaspouttoclimbupp
upby.CertainlyWendyhadbeen
drömt
dreaming.ButWendyhadnotbeen
drömt
dreaming,astheverynextnatt
nightshowed,thenightonwhichden
theextraordinaryadventuresofthesebarns
childrenmaybesaidtoha
havebegun.Onthenightwe
talar
speakofallthechildrenwereoncemoreinsängen
bed.IthappenedtobeNana’seveningoff,
och
andMrs.Darlinghadbathedthemoch
andsungtothemtillen
onebyonetheyhadletgoherhand
handandslidawayintothelandofsleep.Alla
Allwerelookingsosafeoch
andcosythatshesmiledatherfearsnu
nowandsatdowntranquillybytheelden
firetosew.Itwas
något
somethingforMichael,whoonhisbirthdaywasgettingintoshirts.The
elden
firewaswarm,however,andthenurserydimlylitbytre
threenight-lights,andpresentlythesewinglåg
layonMrs.Darling’slap.Thenherheadnodded,oh,sogracefully.
Shewasasleep.
Titta
Lookatthefourofthem,Wendyoch
andMichaeloverthere,Johnhär
here,andMrs.Darlingbyde
thefire.Thereshouldhavebeen
ett
afourthnight-light.Whileshe
sov
sleptshehadadream.She
drömde
dreamtthattheNeverlandhadkommit
cometoonearandthaten
astrangeboyhadbrokenigenom
throughfromit.Hedidnotalarm
henne
her,forshethoughtshehade
hadseenhimbeforeinthefacesofmånga
manywomenwhohavenobarn
children.Perhapsheistobefoundinthefacesof
vissa
somemothersalso.Butinher
dröm
dreamhehadrentthefilmsom
thatobscurestheNeverland,andshesåg
sawWendyandJohnandMichaelpeepinggenom
throughthegap.Thedreambyitselfwould
ha
havebeenatrifle,butmedan
whileshewasdreamingthewindowofthenurseryblewopen,och
andaboydiddroponthefloor.Hewasaccompaniedbyastrange
ljus
light,nobiggerthanyourfist,whichdartedabouttherummet
roomlikealivingthingoch
andIthinkitmusthavebeendetta
thislightthatwakenedMrs.Darling.She
började
startedupwithacry,och
andsawtheboy,andsomehowshevisste
knewatoncethathewasPeterPan.Om
IfyouorIorWendyhadbeendär
thereweshouldhaveseenatt
thathewasverylikeMrs.Darling’skiss.Hewas
en
alovelyboy,cladinskeletonleavesoch
andthejuicesthatoozeut
outoftreesbutthemest
mostentrancingthingabouthimwasthathehade
hadallhisfirstteeth.ChapterII.THESHADOW
Mrs.
Darlingscreamed,
och
and,asifinanswertoen
abell,thedooropened,och
andNanaentered,returnedfromhereveningut
out.Shegrowledandsprangattheboy,
som
wholeaptlightlythroughthewindow.Åter
AgainMrs.Darlingscreamed,thisgången
timeindistressforhim,forshetrodde
thoughthewaskilled,andshesprang
randownintothestreettolookforhislilla
littlebody,butitwasnotthere;och
andshelookedup,andinden
theblacknightshecouldse
seenothingbutwhatshetrodde
thoughtwasashootingstar.She
återvände
returnedtothenursery,andfann
foundNanawithsomethinginhermouth,som
whichprovedtobetheboy’sshadow.AsheleaptatthewindowNanahad
stängt
closeditquickly,toolatetofånga
catchhim,buthisshadowhadnothadtid
timetogetout;slam
gick
wentthewindowandsnappeditav
off.YoumaybesureMrs.Darlingexaminedtheshadowcarefully,
men
butitwasquitetheordinarytyp
kind.Nanahadnodoubtofwhatwasthe
bästa
bestthingtodowithhär
thisshadow.Shehungit
ut
outatthewindow,meaning“Heissuretokommer
comebackforit;letus
lägga
putitwherehecanfå
getiteasilywithoutdisturbingthechildren.”Men
ButunfortunatelyMrs.Darlingcouldnotlämna
leaveithangingoutatthewindow,itsåg
lookedsolikethewashingoch
andloweredthewholetoneofthehouse.Shethoughtof
visa
showingittoMr.Darling,men
buthewastottingupwintergreat-coatsforJohnoch
andMichael,withawettowelrunt
aroundhisheadtokeephisbrainklar
clear,anditseemedashametotroublehonom
him;besides,sheknewexactlywhathewould
säga
say:“Itallcomesof
ha
havingadogforanurse.”Shedecidedtorolltheshadow
upp
upandputitawaycarefullyinadrawer,tills
untilafittingopportunitycameforberätta
tellingherhusband.Ahme!
Den
Theopportunitycameaweeksenare
later,onthatnever-to-be-forgottenFriday.Ofcourseitwas
en
aFriday.“Ioughtto
ha
havebeenspeciallycarefulonen
aFriday,”sheusedtosäga
sayafterwardstoherhusband,medan
whileperhapsNanawasontheandra
othersideofher,holdingherhand.“No,no,”Mr.Darling
alltid
alwayssaid,“Iamresponsibleforitallt
all.I,GeorgeDarling,did
det
it.Meaculpa,meaculpa.”
He
hade
hadhadaclassicaleducation.They
satt
satthusnightafternightrecallingthatfatalFriday,tilleverydetailofitwasstampedontheirbrainsoch
andcamethroughontheandra
othersidelikethefacesonett
abadcoinage.“IfonlyI
hade
hadnotacceptedthatinvitationtodineat27,”Mrs.Darlingsa
said.“IfonlyIhadnotpouredmymedicineintoNana’sbowl,”
sa
saidMr.Darling.“IfonlyI
hade
hadpretendedtolikethemedicine,”waswhatNana’sweteyessa
said.“Mylikingforparties,George.”
“Myfatalgiftofhumour,dearest.”
“Mytouchinessabouttrifles,
kära
dearmasterandmistress.”Then
en
oneormoreofthemwouldbreakdownaltogether;Nanaatthe
tänkte
thought,“It’strue,it’strue,theyoughtnottoha
havehadadogforen
anurse.”ManyatimeitwasMr.Darling
som
whoputthehandkerchieftoNana’seyes.“Thatfiend!”
Mr.Darlingwouldcry,
och
andNana’sbarkwastheechoofit,men
butMrs.DarlingneverupbraidedPeter;therewas
något
somethingintheright-handcornerofhermouththatville
wantedhernottocallPeternames.Theywould
sitta
sitthereintheemptynursery,recallingfondlyvarje
everysmallestdetailofthatdreadfulevening.