ChapterI.PETERBREAKSTHROUGH
Allchildren,
förutom
exceptone,growup.Theysoonknowthattheywill
växa
growup,andthewayWendyknewwasthis.Onedaywhenshewastwoyearsoldshewasplayinginagarden,andshepluckedanotherflowerandranwithittohermother.
I
antar
supposeshemusthavelookedganska
ratherdelightful,forMrs.Darlingputherhandtoherheartandcried,“Oh,whycan’tyouremainlikethisforever!”Thiswasallthatpassedbetweenthemonthesubject,buthenceforthWendyknewthatshemust
växa
growup.Youalwaysknowafteryouaretwo.
Twoisthe
början
beginningoftheend.Ofcoursetheylivedat14,anduntilWendycamehermotherwasthechiefone.
Shewasa
härlig
lovelylady,witharomanticmindandsuchasweetmockingmun
mouth.Herromanticmindwaslikethetinyboxes,onewithintheother,thatcomefromthepuzzlingEast,howevermanyyoudiscoverthereisalwaysonemore;
andhersweetmocking
mun
mouthhadonekissonitthatWendycouldneverget,thoughthereitwas,perfectlyconspicuousintheright-handcorner.ThewayMr.
Darling
Darlingwonherwasthis:themanygentlemenwhohadbeenboyswhenshewasagirldiscoveredsimultaneouslythattheylovedher,andtheyallrantoherhousetoproposetoher
utom
exceptMr.Darling,whotookacabandnippedinfirst,andsohegother.Hegotallofher,
förutom
excepttheinnermostboxandthekyssen
kiss.Heneverknewaboutthebox,andintimehegaveuptryingforthe
kyssen
kiss.WendythoughtNapoleoncouldhavegotit,butIcan
föreställa
picturehimtrying,andthengoingoffinapassion,slammingthedoor.Mr.
Darling
DarlingusedtoboasttoWendythathermothernotonlylovedhimbutrespekterade
respectedhim.Hewasoneofthose
djupa
deeponeswhoknowaboutstocksandshares.Ofcoursenoonereallyknows,buthequite
verkade
seemedtoknow,andheofta
oftensaidstockswereupandsharesweredowninawaythatwouldhavemadeanywomanrespektera
respecthim.Mrs.
Darlingwasmarriedinwhite,andatfirstshekeptthebooksperfectly,almostgleefully,asifitwereagame,notsomuchasaBrusselssproutwasmissing;
butbyandbywholecauliflowersdroppedout,and
i stället
insteadofthemtherewerepicturesofbabieswithoutfaces.Shedrewthemwhensheshouldhavebeentottingup.
TheywereMrs.Darling’sguesses.
Wendycamefirst,thenJohn,thenMichael.
ForaweekortwoafterWendycameitwasdoubtful
om
whethertheywouldbeabletokeepher,asshewasanothermun
mouthtofeed.Mr.Darlingwasfrightfullyproudofher,buthewasveryhonourable,andhesatontheedgeofMrs.Darling’sbed,holdingherhandandcalculatingexpenses,whileshelookedathimimploringly.
Shewantedto
riskera
riskit,comewhatmight,butthatwasnothisway;hiswaywaswithapencilanda
bit
pieceofpaper,andifsheconfusedhimwithsuggestionshehadtobörja
beginatthebeginningagain.“Nowdon’tinterrupt,”hewouldbegofher.
“Ihaveonepoundseventeenhere,andtwoandsixattheoffice;
Icancutoffmycoffeeattheoffice,saytenshillings,makingtwo
nio
nineandsix,withyoureighteenandthreemakesthreenio
nineseven,withfivenaughtnaughtinmycheque-bookmakesåtta
eightnineseven—whoisthatmoving?—eightnio
nineseven,dotandcarryseven—don’tspeak,myown—andthepoundyoulenttothatmanwhocametothedoor—quiet,child—dotandbära
carrychild—there,you’vedoneit!—didIsaynio
ninenineseven?yes,Isaid
nio
ninenineseven;thequestionis,canwetryitforayearon
nio
ninenineseven?”“Ofcoursewecan,George,”she
grät
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.
Darling
Darlinglovedtohaveeverythingjustso,andMr.Darling
Darlinghadapassionforbeingexactlylikehisneighbours;so,ofcourse,theyhadanurse.
Astheywerepoor,owingtotheamountof
mjölk
milkthechildrendrank,thisnursewasaprimNewfoundlanddog,calledNana,whohadbelongedtonooneinparticularuntiltheDarlingsengagedher.Shehadalwaysthoughtchildrenimportant,
emellertid
however,andtheDarlingshadbecomeacquaintedwithherinKensingtonGardens,whereshetillbringade
spentmostofhersparetimepeepingintoperambulators,andwasmuchhatedbycarelessnursemaids,whomshefollowedtotheirhomesandcomplainedoftotheirmistresses.Sheprovedtobequiteatreasureofanurse.
Howthoroughshewasatbath-time,andupatanymomentofthenightifoneofherchargesmadetheslightest
gråt
cry.Ofcourseherkennelwasinthenursery.
Shehadageniusforknowingwhenacoughisathingtohavenopatiencewithandwhenitneedsstockingaroundyourthroat.
Shebelievedtoherlastdayinold-fashionedremedieslikerhubarbleaf,andmadesoundsofcontemptoverallthisnew-fangledtalkaboutgerms,andsoon.
Itwasalessoninproprietytoseeherescortingthechildrentoschool,walkingsedatelybytheirsidewhentheywerewellbehaved,andbuttingthembackintolineiftheystrayed.
OnJohn’sfooterdayssheneveronceforgothissweater,andshe
vanligtvis
usuallycarriedanumbrellainhermunnen
mouthincaseofrain.ThereisaroominthebasementofMissFulsom’sschoolwherethenurseswait.
Theysatonforms,whileNanalayonthe
golvet
floor,butthatwastheonlyskillnaden
difference.Theyaffectedtoignoreherasofaninferiorsocialstatustothemselves,andshedespisedtheirlighttalk.
SheresentedvisitstothenurseryfromMrs.Darling’sfriends,butiftheydidcomeshefirstwhippedoffMichael’spinaforeandputhimintotheonewith
blå
bluebraiding,andsmoothedoutWendyandmadeadashatJohn’shair.Nonurserycouldpossiblyhavebeenconductedmorecorrectly,andMr.
Darling
Darlingknewit,yethesometimesundrade
wondereduneasilywhethertheneighbourstalked.Hehadhis
ställning
positioninthecitytoconsider.Nanaalsotroubledhiminanotherway.
Hehadsometimesafeelingthatshedidnotadmirehim.
“Iknowsheadmiresyoutremendously,George,”Mrs.
Darling
Darlingwouldassurehim,andthenshewouldsigntothechildrentobespeciallynicetofather.Vackra
Lovelydancesfollowed,inwhichtheonlyotherservant,Liza,wassometimesallowedtojoin.Suchamidgetshelookedinherlongskirtandmaid’scap,thoughshehad
svurit
sworn,whenengaged,thatshewouldneverseetenagain.Thegaietyofthoseromps!
AndgayestofallwasMrs.
Darling
Darling,whowouldpirouettesowildlythatallyoucouldseeofherwasthekyssen
kiss,andthenifyouhaddashedatheryoumighthavegotit.ThereneverwasasimplerhappierfamilyuntilthecomingofPeterPan.
Mrs.
Darling
DarlingfirstheardofPeterwhenshewastidyingupherchildren’sminds.Itisthenightlycustomofeverygoodmotherafterherchildrenare
somnat
asleeptorummageintheirmindsandputthingsstraightfornextmorning,repackingintotheirproperplacesthemanyarticlesthathavewanderedunder
duringtheday.Ifyoucouldkeepawake(butofcourseyoucan’t)youwouldseeyourownmotherdoingthis,andyouwouldfinditvery
intressant
interestingtowatchher.Itisquiteliketidyingupdrawers.
Youwouldseeheronherknees,I
förväntar
expect,lingeringhumorouslyoversomeofyourcontents,undra
wonderingwhereonearthyouhadpickedthisthingup,makingdiscoveriessweetandnotsosweet,trycka
pressingthistohercheekasifitwereasniceasakitten,andhurriedlystowingthatoutofsight.Whenyouwakeinthemorning,thenaughtinessand
onda
evilpassionswithwhichyouwenttobedhavebeenfoldedupsmallandplacedatthebottomofyourmindandonthetop,beautifullyaired,arespreadoutyourprettierthoughts,readyforyoutoputon.Idon’tknow
om
whetheryouhaveeverseenamapofaperson’smind.Doctorssometimesdrawmapsofotherpartsofyou,andyourownmapcanbecomeintensely
intressant
interesting,butcatchthemtryingtodrawamapofachild’smind,whichisnotonlyconfused,butkeepsgoingroundallthetime.Therearezigzaglinesonit,justlikeyourtemperatureona
kort
card,andtheseareprobablyroadsintheisland,fortheNeverlandisalwaysmoreormindre
lessanisland,withastonishingsplashesofcolourhereandthere,andcoralreefsandrakish-lookingcraftintheoffing,andsavagesandlonelylairs,andgnomeswhoaremostlytailors,andcavesthroughwhichaflod
riverruns,andprinceswithsixelderbrothers,andahutfastgoingtodecay,andoneverysmalloldladywithahookednäsa
nose.Itwouldbeaneasymapifthatwereall,butthereisalsofirstdayatschool,religion,fathers,the
runda
roundpond,needle-work,murders,hangings,verbsthattakethedative,chocolatepuddingday,gettingintobraces,sayninety-nine,three-pencefordra
pullingoutyourtoothyourself,andsoon,andeitherthesearepartoftheön
islandortheyareanothermapshowingthrough,anditisallganska
ratherconfusing,especiallyasnothingwillstandstill.OfcoursetheNeverlandsvaryagooddeal.
John’s,forinstance,hadalagoonwithflamingoes
flög
flyingoveritatwhichJohnwasshooting,whileMichael,whowasverysmall,hadaflamingowithlagoonsflög
flyingoverit.Johnlivedina
båt
boatturnedupsidedownonthesands,Michaelinawigwam,Wendyinahouseofleavesdeftlysewntogether.Johnhadnofriends,Michaelhadfriendsatnight,Wendyhadapetwolfforsakenbyitsparents,butonthewholetheNeverlandshaveafamilyresemblance,andiftheystoodstillinarowyoucouldsayofthemthattheyhaveeachother’s
näsa
nose,andsoforth.Onthesemagicshoreschildrenatplayareforeverbeachingtheircoracles.
Wetoohavebeenthere;
wecanstillhearthesoundofthesurf,thoughweshall
landa
landnomore.OfalldelectableislandstheNeverlandisthesnuggestandmostcompact,not
stor
largeandsprawly,youknow,withtediousdistancesbetweenoneadventureandanother,butnicelycrammed.Whenyouplayatitbydaywiththechairsandtable-cloth,itisnotintheleastalarming,butinthetwominutesbeforeyougotosleepitbecomesveryreal.
Thatiswhytherearenight-lights.
Occasionallyinhertravelsthroughherchildren’smindsMrs.
Darling
Darlingfoundthingsshecouldnotunderstand,andofthesequitethemostperplexingwasthewordPeter.SheknewofnoPeter,andyethewashereandthereinJohnandMichael’sminds,whileWendy’s
började
begantobescrawledalloverwithhim.Thenamestoodoutinbolderlettersthananyoftheotherwords,andasMrs.
Darling
Darlinggazedshefeltthatithadanoddlycockyappearance.“Yes,heis
ganska
rathercocky,”Wendyadmittedwithregret.Hermotherhadbeenquestioningher.
“Butwhoishe,mypet?”
“HeisPeterPan,youknow,mother.”
AtfirstMrs.
Darling
Darlingdidnotknow,butafterthinkingbackintoherchildhoodshejustrememberedaPeterPanwhowassaidtolivewiththefairies.Therewereoddstoriesabouthim,asthatwhenchildrendiedhewentpartofthewaywiththem,sothattheyshouldnotbefrightened.
Shehadbelievedinhimatthetime,butnowthatshewasmarriedandfullof
förnuft
senseshequitedoubtedwhethertherewasanysuchperson.“Besides,”shesaidtoWendy,“hewouldbegrownupbythistime.”
“Ohno,heisn’tgrownup,”Wendyassuredherconfidently,“andheisjustmysize.”
Shemeantthathewasher
storlek
sizeinbothmindandbody;shedidn’tknowhowsheknew,shejustknewit.
Mrs.
Darling
DarlingconsultedMr.Darling,buthelog
smiledpooh-pooh.“Markmywords,”hesaid,“itissomenonsenseNanahasbeenputtingintotheirheads;
justthesortofideaadogwouldhave.
Leaveitalone,anditwillblowover.”
Butitwouldnot
blåsa
blowoverandsoonthetroublesomeboygaveMrs.Darling
Darlingquiteashock.Childrenhavethestrangestadventureswithoutbeingtroubledbythem.
Forinstance,theymayrememberto
nämna
mention,aweekaftertheeventhappened,thatwhentheywereinthewoodtheyhadmettheirdeadfatherandhadagamewithhim.ItwasinthiscasualwaythatWendyonemorningmadeadisquietingrevelation.
Someleavesofa
träd
treehadbeenfoundonthenurserygolvet
floor,whichcertainlywerenottherewhenthechildrenwenttobed,andMrs.Darling
DarlingwaspuzzlingoverthemwhenWendysaidwithatolerantleende
smile:.“IdobelieveitisthatPeteragain!”
“Whateverdoyoumean,Wendy?”
“Itissonaughtyofhimnottowipehisfeet,”Wendysaid,sighing.
Shewasatidychild.
She
förklarade
explainedinquiteamatter-of-factwaythatshethoughtPetersometimescametothenurseryinthenightandsatonthefoten
footofherbedandplayedonhispipestoher.Unfortunatelysheneverwoke,soshedidn’tknowhowsheknew,shejustknew.
“Whatnonsenseyoutalk,precious.
Noonecangetintothehousewithoutknocking.”
“Ithinkhecomesinbythewindow,”shesaid.
“Mylove,itisthreefloorsup.”
“Werenottheleavesatthefootofthe
fönstret
window,mother?”Itwasquitetrue;
theleaveshadbeenfoundvery
nära
nearthewindow.Mrs.
Darlingdidnotknowwhattothink,foritall
verkade
seemedsonaturaltoWendythatyoucouldnotdismissitbysayingshehadbeendreaming.“Mychild,”themothercried,“whydidyounottellmeofthisbefore?”
“Iforgot,”saidWendylightly.
Shewasinahurrytogether
frukost
breakfast.Oh,surelyshemusthavebeendreaming.
But,ontheotherhand,thereweretheleaves.
Mrs.
Darling
Darlingexaminedthemverycarefully;theywereskeletonleaves,butshewassuretheydidnotcomefromany
träd
treethatgrewinEngland.Shecrawledaboutthe
golvet
floor,peeringatitwithacandleformarksofafrämmande
strangefoot.Sherattledthepokerupthechimneyandtappedthewalls.
Sheletdowna
band
tapefromthewindowtothepavement,anditwasasheerdroppe
dropofthirtyfeet,withoutsomuchasaspouttoclimbupby.CertainlyWendyhadbeendreaming.
ButWendyhadnotbeendreaming,astheverynextnightshowed,thenightonwhichtheextraordinaryadventuresofthesechildrenmaybesaidtohave
börjat
begun.Onthenightwespeakofallthechildrenwereoncemoreinbed.
IthappenedtobeNana’s
kväll
eveningoff,andMrs.Darlinghadbathedthemandsungtothemtillonebyonetheyhadletgoherhandandslidawayintotheland
landofsleep.Allwerelookingsosafeandcosythatshe
log
smiledatherfearsnowandsatdowntranquillybythefiretosew.ItwassomethingforMichael,whoonhis
födelsedag
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
nära
nearandthatastrangeboyhadbrokenthroughfromit.Hedidnotalarmher,forshethoughtshehadseenhimbeforeinthefacesofmanywomenwhohavenochildren.
Perhapsheistobefoundinthefacesofsomemothersalso.
ButinherdreamhehadrentthefilmthatobscurestheNeverland,andshesawWendyandJohnandMichaelpeepingthroughthegap.
Thedreambyitselfwouldhavebeenatrifle,butwhileshewasdreamingthe
fönstret
windowofthenurseryblewopen,andaboydiddroponthegolvet
floor.Hewasaccompaniedbyastrangelight,no
större
biggerthanyourfist,whichdartedabouttheroomlikealivingthingandIthinkitmusthavebeenthislightthatwakenedMrs.Darling
Darling.Shestartedupwitha
gråta
cry,andsawtheboy,andsomehowsheknewatoncethathewasPeterPan.IfyouorIorWendyhadbeenthereweshouldhaveseenthathewasverylikeMrs.Darling’s
kyss
kiss.Hewasalovelyboy,cladinskeletonleavesandthejuicesthatoozeoutoftreesbutthemostentrancingthingabouthimwasthathehadallhisfirstteeth.
ChapterII.THESHADOW
Mrs.
Älskling
Darlingscreamed,and,asifinanswertoabell,thedooropened,andNanaentered,returnedfromherkväll
eveningout.Shegrowledandsprangattheboy,wholeaptlightlythroughthe
fönstret
window.AgainMrs.Darlingscreamed,thistimeindistressforhim,forshethoughthewaskilled,andsherandownintothestreettolookforhislittlebody,butitwasnotthere;
andshelookedup,andintheblacknightshecouldseenothingbutwhatshethoughtwasashootingstar.
Shereturnedtothenursery,andfoundNanawithsomethinginher
munnen
mouth,whichprovedtobetheboy’sshadow.Asheleaptatthe
fönstret
windowNanahadcloseditsnabbt
quickly,toolatetocatchhim,buthisshadowhadnothadtimetogetout;slamwentthe
fönstret
windowandsnappeditoff.YoumaybesureMrs.
Darling
Darlingexaminedtheshadowcarefully,butitwasquitetheordinarykind.Nanahadno
tvivel
doubtofwhatwasthebestthingtodowiththisshadow.Shehungitoutatthe
fönstret
window,meaning“Heissuretocomebackforit;letusputitwherehecangetiteasilywithoutdisturbingthechildren.”
ButunfortunatelyMrs.
Darling
Darlingcouldnotleaveithangingoutatthefönstret
window,itlookedsolikethewashingandloweredthewholetoneofthehouse.ShethoughtofshowingittoMr.
Darling
Darling,buthewastottingupwintergreat-coatsforJohnandMichael,withawettowelaroundhisheadtokeephishjärnan
brainclear,anditseemedaskam
shametotroublehim;besides,sheknewexactlywhathewouldsay:
“Itallcomesofhavingadogforanurse.”
She
bestämde
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.
“IfonlyIhadnot
accepterat
acceptedthatinvitationtodineat27,”Mrs.Darling
Darlingsaid.“IfonlyIhadnotpouredmymedicineintoNana’sbowl,”saidMr.
Darling
Darling.“IfonlyIhadpretendedtolikethemedicine,”waswhatNana’sweteyessaid.
“Mylikingforparties,George.”
“Myfatal
gåva
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
mun
mouththatwantedhernottocallPeternames.Theywouldsitthereinthe
tomma
emptynursery,recallingfondlyeverysmallestdetailofthatdreadfulevening.