ChapterI.PETERBREAKSTHROUGH
Allchildren,exceptone,growup.
Theysoonknowthattheywillgrowup,andthewayWendyknewwasthis.
Onedaywhenshewastwoyearsoldshewasplayingina
trädgård
garden,andshepluckedanotherblomma
flowerandranwithittohermother.Isupposeshemusthavelookedratherdelightful,forMrs.Darlingputherhandtoherheartandcried,“Oh,whycan’tyou
förbli
remainlikethisforever!”Thiswasallthatpassedbetweenthemonthe
ämnet
subject,buthenceforthWendyknewthatshemustgrowup.Youalwaysknowafteryouaretwo.
Twoisthebeginningoftheend.
Ofcoursetheylivedat14,anduntilWendycamehermotherwasthechiefone.
Shewasalovelylady,witharomanticmindandsuchasweetmockingmouth.
Her
romantiska
romanticmindwaslikethesmå
tinyboxes,onewithintheother,thatcomefromthepuzzlingEast,howevermanyyoudiscoverthereisalwaysonemore;andhersweetmockingmouthhadonekissonitthatWendycouldneverget,thoughthereitwas,
perfekt
perfectlyconspicuousintheright-handhörnet
corner.ThewayMr.Darlingwonherwasthis:
themanygentlemenwhohadbeenboyswhenshewasagirldiscoveredsimultaneouslythattheylovedher,andtheyallrantoherhousetoproposetoherexceptMr.Darling,whotookacabandnippedinfirst,andsohegother.
Hegotallofher,excepttheinnermostboxandthekiss.
Heneverknewaboutthebox,andintimehegaveuptryingforthekiss.
WendythoughtNapoleoncouldhavegotit,butIcanpicturehimtrying,andthengoingoffina
passion
passion,slammingthedoor.Mr.
DarlingusedtoboasttoWendythathermothernotonlylovedhimbutrespectedhim.
Hewasoneofthosedeeponeswhoknowaboutstocksandshares.
Ofcoursenoonereallyknows,buthequiteseemedtoknow,andheoftensaidstockswereupandsharesweredowninawaythatwouldhavemadeanywomanrespecthim.
Mrs.
Darlingwasmarriedinwhite,andatfirstshekeptthebooks
perfekt
perfectly,almostgleefully,asifitwereagame,notsomuchasaBrusselssproutwasmissing;butbyandbywholecauliflowersdroppedout,andinsteadofthemtherewerepicturesofbabieswithoutfaces.
She
ritade
drewthemwhensheshouldhavebeentottingup.TheywereMrs.Darling’sguesses.
Wendycamefirst,thenJohn,thenMichael.
ForaweekortwoafterWendycameitwasdoubtfulwhethertheywouldbeabletokeepher,asshewasanothermouthto
mata
feed.Mr.Darlingwasfrightfullyproudofher,buthewasveryhonourable,andhesatonthe
kanten
edgeofMrs.Darling’sbed,holdingherhandandcalculatingexpenses,whileshelookedathimimploringly.Shewantedtoriskit,comewhatmight,butthatwasnothisway;
hiswaywaswithapencilandapieceofpaper,andifsheconfusedhimwithsuggestionshehadtobeginatthebeginningagain.
“Nowdon’tinterrupt,”hewould
bad
begofher.“Ihaveonepoundseventeenhere,andtwoandsixattheoffice;
Icancutoffmycoffeeattheoffice,saytenshillings,makingtwonineandsix,withyoureighteenandthreemakesthreenineseven,withfivenaughtnaughtinmycheque-bookmakeseightnineseven—whoisthatmoving?—eightnineseven,dotandcarryseven—don’tspeak,myown—andthepoundyou
lånade
lenttothatmanwhocametothedoor—quiet,child—dotandcarrychild—there,you’vedoneit!—didIsayninenineseven?yes,Isaidninenineseven;
thequestionis,canwetryitforayearonninenineseven?”
“Ofcoursewecan,George,”shecried.
ButshewasprejudicedinWendy’s
förmån
favour,andhewasreallythegrandercharacterofthetwo.“Remembermumps,”he
varnade
warnedheralmostthreateningly,andoffhewentagain.“Mumpsonepound,thatiswhatIhaveputdown,butIdaresayitwillbemorelikethirtyshillings—don’tspeak—measlesonefive,Germanmeasleshalfaguinea,makestwofifteensix—don’twaggleyourfinger—whooping-cough,sayfifteenshillings”—andsoonitwent,anditaddedupdifferentlyeachtime;
butatlastWendyjustgotthrough,withmumpsreducedtotwelvesix,andthetwokindsofmeaslestreatedasone.
TherewasthesameexcitementoverJohn,andMichaelhadevenanarrowersqueak;
butbothwerekept,andsoon,youmighthaveseenthethreeofthemgoingina
rad
rowtoMissFulsom’sKindergartenschool,accompaniedbytheirsjuksköterska
nurse.Mrs.
Darlinglovedtohaveeverythingjustso,andMr.Darlinghada
passion
passionforbeingexactlylikehisneighbours;so,ofcourse,theyhada
sjuksköterska
nurse.Astheywerepoor,owingtothe
mängd
amountofmilkthechildrendrank,thisnursewasaprimNewfoundlanddog,calledNana,whohadtillhört
belongedtonooneinsärskilt
particularuntiltheDarlingsengagedher.Shehadalwaysthoughtchildrenimportant,however,andtheDarlingshadbecomeacquaintedwithherinKensingtonGardens,whereshespentmostofhersparetimepeepingintoperambulators,andwasmuchhatedbycarelessnursemaids,whomshefollowedtotheirhomesandcomplainedoftotheirmistresses.
Sheprovedtobequitea
skatt
treasureofanurse.Howthoroughshewasatbath-time,andupatanymomentofthenightifoneofherchargesmadetheslightestcry.
Ofcourseherkennelwasinthenursery.
Shehada
geni
geniusforknowingwhenacoughisathingtohavenopatiencewithandwhenitneedsstockingaroundyourhalsen
throat.Shebelievedtoherlastdayinold-fashionedremedieslikerhubarbleaf,andmadesoundsofcontemptoverallthisnew-fangledtalkaboutgerms,andsoon.
Itwasa
lektion
lessoninproprietytoseeherescortingthechildrentoschool,walkingsedatelybytheirsidewhentheywerewellbehaved,andbuttingthembackintolineiftheystrayed.OnJohn’sfooterdayssheneveronceforgothissweater,andsheusuallycarriedanumbrellainhermouthincaseofrain.
Thereisaroominthe
källaren
basementofMissFulsom’sschoolwherethenurseswait.Theysatonforms,whileNanalayonthefloor,butthatwastheonlydifference.
Theyaffectedto
ignorera
ignoreherasofaninferiorsocial
socialstatustothemselves,andshedespisedtheirlighttalk.SheresentedvisitstothenurseryfromMrs.Darling’sfriends,butiftheydidcomeshefirstwhippedoffMichael’spinaforeandputhimintotheonewithbluebraiding,andsmoothedoutWendyandmadeadashatJohn’shair.
Nonurserycouldpossiblyhavebeenconductedmorecorrectly,andMr.Darlingknewit,yethesometimeswondereduneasilywhethertheneighbourstalked.
Hehadhispositioninthecityto
överväga
consider.Nanaalsotroubledhiminanotherway.
Hehadsometimesafeelingthatshedidnotadmirehim.
“Iknowsheadmiresyoutremendously,George,”Mrs.Darlingwouldassurehim,andthenshewouldsigntothechildrentobespeciallynicetofather.
Lovelydancesfollowed,inwhichtheonlyotherservant,Liza,wassometimesallowedtojoin.
Suchamidgetshelookedinherlongskirtandmaid’scap,thoughshehadsworn,whenengaged,thatshewouldneverseetenagain.
Thegaietyofthoseromps!
AndgayestofallwasMrs.Darling,whowouldpirouettesowildlythatallyoucouldseeofherwasthekiss,andthenifyouhaddashedatheryoumighthavegotit.
ThereneverwasasimplerhappierfamilyuntilthecomingofPeterPan.
Mrs.
DarlingfirstheardofPeterwhenshewastidyingupherchildren’sminds.
Itisthenightlycustomofeverygoodmotherafterherchildrenareasleeptorummageintheirmindsandputthingsstraightfornextmorning,repackingintotheir
rätt
properplacesthemanyarticlesthathavewanderedduringtheday.Ifyoucouldkeep
vaken
awake(butofcourseyoucan’t)youwouldseeyourownmotherdoingthis,andyouwouldfinditveryinterestingtowatchher.Itisquiteliketidyingupdrawers.
Youwouldseeheronherknees,Iexpect,lingeringhumorouslyoversomeofyourcontents,wonderingwhereonearthyouhadpickedthisthingup,makingdiscoveriessweetandnotsosweet,pressingthistohercheekasifitwereasniceasakitten,andhurriedlystowingthatoutof
sikte
sight.Whenyouwakeinthemorning,thenaughtinessandevilpassionswithwhichyouwenttobedhavebeenfoldedupsmallandplacedatthe
botten
bottomofyourmindandonthetop,beautifullyaired,arespreadoutyourprettierthoughts,readyforyoutoputon.Idon’tknowwhetheryouhaveeverseena
karta
mapofaperson’smind.Doctorssometimes
rita
drawmapsofotherpartsofyou,andyourownkarta
mapcanbecomeintenselyinteresting,butcatchthemtryingtorita
drawamapofachild’smind,whichisnotonlyconfused,butkeepsgoingroundallthetime.Therearezigzaglinesonit,justlikeyourtemperatureonacard,andtheseareprobablyroadsintheisland,fortheNeverlandisalwaysmoreorlessanisland,withastonishingsplashesofcolourhereandthere,andcoralreefsandrakish-lookingcraftintheoffing,andsavagesandlonelylairs,andgnomeswhoare
mestadels
mostlytailors,andcavesthroughwhichariverruns,andprinceswithsixelderbrothers,andahutfastgoingtodecay,andoneverysmalloldladywithahookednose.Itwouldbeaneasy
karta
mapifthatwereall,butthereisalsofirstdayatschool,religion
religion,fathers,theroundpond,needle-work,murders,hangings,verbsthattakethedative,chocolatepuddingday,gettingintobraces,sayninety-nine,three-penceforpullingoutyourtoothyourself,andsoon,andeitherthesearepartoftheislandortheyareanotherkarta
mapshowingthrough,anditisallratherconfusing,especiallyasnothingwillstandstill.OfcoursetheNeverlandsvaryagooddeal.
John’s,forinstance,hadalagoonwithflamingoesflyingoveritatwhichJohnwasshooting,whileMichael,whowasverysmall,hadaflamingowithlagoonsflyingoverit.
Johnlivedinaboatturnedupsidedownonthesands,Michaelinawigwam,Wendyinahouseofleavesdeftlysewntogether.
Johnhadnofriends,Michaelhadfriendsatnight,Wendyhadapetwolfforsakenbyitsparents,butonthewholetheNeverlandshaveafamilyresemblance,andiftheystoodstillina
rad
rowyoucouldsayofthemthattheyhaveeachother’snose,andsoforth.Onthesemagicshoreschildrenatplayareforeverbeachingtheircoracles.
Wetoohavebeenthere;
wecanstillhearthesoundofthesurf,thoughweshalllandnomore.
OfalldelectableislandstheNeverlandisthesnuggestandmostcompact,notlargeandsprawly,youknow,withtediousdistancesbetweenoneadventureandanother,butnicelycrammed.
Whenyouplayatitbydaywiththechairsandtable-cloth,itisnotintheleastalarming,butinthetwominutesbeforeyougotosleepitbecomesveryreal.
Thatiswhytherearenight-lights.
Occasionallyinhertravelsthroughherchildren’smindsMrs.Darlingfoundthingsshecouldnotunderstand,andofthesequitethemostperplexingwasthewordPeter.
SheknewofnoPeter,andyethewashereandthereinJohnandMichael’sminds,whileWendy’sbegantobescrawledalloverwithhim.
Thenamestoodoutinbolderlettersthananyoftheotherwords,andasMrs.Darlinggazedshefeltthatithadanoddlycockyappearance.
“Yes,heisrathercocky,”Wendy
medgav
admittedwithregret.Hermotherhadbeenquestioningher.
“Butwhoishe,mypet?”
“HeisPeterPan,youknow,mother.”
AtfirstMrs.Darlingdidnotknow,butafterthinkingbackintoher
barndom
childhoodshejustrememberedaPeterPanwhowassaidtolivewiththefairies.Therewereoddstoriesabouthim,asthatwhenchildrendiedhewentpartofthewaywiththem,sothattheyshouldnotbefrightened.
Shehadbelievedinhimatthetime,butnowthatshewasmarriedandfullofsenseshequitedoubtedwhethertherewasanysuchperson.
“Besides,”shesaidtoWendy,“hewouldbegrownupbythistime.”
“Ohno,heisn’tgrownup,”Wendyassuredherconfidently,“andheisjustmysize.”
Shemeantthathewashersizeinbothmindandbody;
shedidn’tknowhowsheknew,shejustknewit.
Mrs.
DarlingconsultedMr.Darling,buthesmiledpooh-pooh.
“Markmywords,”hesaid,“itissome
nonsens
nonsenseNanahasbeenputtingintotheirheads;justthesortofideaadogwouldhave.
Leaveitalone,anditwillblowover.”
ButitwouldnotblowoverandsoonthetroublesomeboygaveMrs.Darlingquitea
chock
shock.Childrenhavethestrangestadventureswithoutbeingtroubledbythem.
Forinstance,theymayremembertomention,aweekaftertheeventhappened,thatwhentheywereinthewoodtheyhadmettheirdeadfatherandhadagamewithhim.
ItwasinthiscasualwaythatWendyonemorningmadeadisquietingrevelation.
Someleavesofatreehadbeenfoundonthenurseryfloor,whichcertainlywerenottherewhenthechildrenwenttobed,andMrs.DarlingwaspuzzlingoverthemwhenWendysaidwithatolerantsmile:.
“IdobelieveitisthatPeteragain!”
“Whateverdoyoumean,Wendy?”
“Itissonaughtyofhimnotto
torka
wipehisfeet,”Wendysaid,sighing.Shewasatidychild.
Sheexplainedinquiteamatter-of-factwaythatshethoughtPetersometimescametothenurseryinthenightandsatonthefootofherbedandplayedonhispipestoher.
Tyvärr
Unfortunatelysheneverwoke,soshedidn’tknowhowsheknew,shejustknew.“What
nonsens
nonsenseyoutalk,precious.Noonecangetintothehousewithoutknocking.”
“Ithinkhecomesinbythewindow,”shesaid.
“Mylove,itisthreefloorsup.”
“Werenottheleavesatthefootofthewindow,mother?”
Itwasquitetrue;
theleaveshadbeenfoundverynearthewindow.
Mrs.
Darlingdidnotknowwhattothink,foritallseemedsonaturaltoWendythatyoucouldnotdismissitbysayingshehadbeendreaming.
“Mychild,”themothercried,“whydidyounottellmeofthisbefore?”
“Iforgot,”saidWendylightly.
Shewasinahurrytogetherbreakfast.
Oh,surelyshemusthavebeendreaming.
But,ontheotherhand,thereweretheleaves.
Mrs.Darlingexaminedthemvery
noggrant
carefully;theywereskeletonleaves,butshewassuretheydidnotcomefromanytreethatgrewinEngland.
Shecrawledaboutthefloor,peeringatitwithacandleformarksofastrangefoot.
Sherattledthepokerupthechimneyandtappedthewalls.
Sheletdownatapefromthewindowtothepavement,anditwasasheerdropofthirtyfeet,withoutsomuchasaspoutto
klättra
climbupby.CertainlyWendyhadbeendreaming.
ButWendyhadnotbeendreaming,astheverynextnightshowed,thenightonwhichthe
extraordinära
extraordinaryadventuresofthesechildrenmaybesaidtohavebegun.Onthenightwespeakofallthechildrenwereoncemoreinbed.
IthappenedtobeNana’seveningoff,andMrs.Darlinghad
badat
bathedthemandsungtothemtillonebyonetheyhadletgoherhandandslidawayintothelandofsleep.Allwerelookingsosafeandcosythatshesmiledatherfearsnowandsatdowntranquillybythefiretosew.
ItwassomethingforMichael,whoonhisbirthdaywasgettingintoshirts.
Thefirewaswarm,however,andthenurserydimlylitbythreenight-lights,andpresentlythesewinglayonMrs.Darling’slap.
Thenherheadnodded,oh,sogracefully.
Shewasasleep.
Lookatthefourofthem,WendyandMichaeloverthere,Johnhere,andMrs.Darlingbythefire.
Thereshouldhavebeena
fjärde
fourthnight-light.Whileshesleptshehadadream.
ShedreamtthattheNeverlandhadcometoonearandthatastrangeboyhadbrokenthroughfromit.
Hedidnotalarmher,forshethoughtshehadseenhimbeforeinthefacesofmanywomenwhohavenochildren.
Perhapsheistobefoundinthefacesofsomemothersalso.
Butinherdreamhehad
hyrt
rentthefilmthatobscurestheNeverland,andshesawWendyandJohnandMichaelpeepingthroughthegap.Thedreambyitselfwouldhavebeenatrifle,butwhileshewasdreamingthewindowofthenurseryblewopen,andaboydiddroponthefloor.
Hewasaccompaniedbyastrangelight,nobiggerthanyourfist,whichdartedabouttheroomlikealivingthingandIthinkitmusthavebeenthislightthatwakenedMrs.Darling.
Shestartedupwithacry,andsawtheboy,and
något
somehowsheknewatoncethathewasPeterPan.IfyouorIorWendyhadbeenthereweshouldhaveseenthathewasverylikeMrs.Darling’skiss.
Hewasalovelyboy,cladinskeletonleavesandthejuicesthatoozeoutoftreesbutthemostentrancingthingabouthimwasthathehadallhisfirstteeth.
ChapterII.THESHADOW
Mrs.
Darling
skrek
screamed,and,asifinanswertoaklocka
bell,thedooropened,andNanaentered,returnedfromhereveningout.Shegrowledandsprangattheboy,wholeaptlightlythroughthewindow.
AgainMrs.Darling
skrek
screamed,thistimeindistressforhim,forshethoughthewaskilled,andsherandownintothestreettolookforhislittlebody,butitwasnotthere;andshelookedup,andintheblacknightshecouldseenothingbutwhatshethoughtwasashootingstar.
Shereturnedtothenursery,andfoundNanawithsomethinginhermouth,whichprovedtobetheboy’s
skugga
shadow.AsheleaptatthewindowNanahadcloseditquickly,toolatetocatchhim,buthis
skugga
shadowhadnothadtimetogetout;slamwentthewindowandsnappeditoff.
YoumaybesureMrs.Darlingexaminedtheshadow
noggrant
carefully,butitwasquitethevanlig
ordinarykind.Nanahadnodoubtofwhatwasthebestthingtodowiththisshadow.
Shehungitoutatthewindow,meaning“Heissuretocomebackforit;
letusputitwherehecangetit
lätt
easilywithoutdisturbingthechildren.”But
tyvärr
unfortunatelyMrs.Darlingcouldnotleaveithangingoutatthewindow,itlookedsolikethewashingandsänkte
loweredthewholetoneofthehouse.ShethoughtofshowingittoMr.Darling,buthewastottingupwintergreat-coatsforJohnandMichael,witha
våt
wettowelaroundhisheadtokeephisbrainclear,anditseemedashametotroublehim;besides,sheknewexactlywhathewouldsay:
“Itallcomesofhavingadogforanurse.”
Shedecidedtorolltheshadowupandputitaway
försiktigt
carefullyinadrawer,untilafittingtillfälle
opportunitycamefortellingherhusband.Ahme!
Theopportunitycameaweeklater,onthatnever-to-be-forgottenFriday.
Ofcourseitwasa
Fredag
Friday.“IoughttohavebeenspeciallycarefulonaFriday,”sheusedtosay
efteråt
afterwardstoherhusband,whileperhapsNanawasontheothersideofher,holdingherhand.“No,no,”Mr.Darlingalwayssaid,“Iam
ansvarig
responsibleforitall.I,GeorgeDarling,didit.
Meaculpa,meaculpa.”
Hehadhadaclassical
utbildning
education.TheysatthusnightafternightrecallingthatfatalFriday,tilleverydetailofitwasstampedontheirbrainsandcamethroughontheothersidelikethefacesonabadcoinage.
“IfonlyIhadnotacceptedthatinvitationtodineat27,”Mrs.Darlingsaid.
“IfonlyIhadnotpouredmy
medicin
medicineintoNana’sbowl,”saidMr.Darling.“IfonlyIhad
låtsats
pretendedtolikethemedicine,”waswhatNana’svåta
weteyessaid.“Mylikingforparties,George.”
“Myfatalgiftofhumour,dearest.”
“Mytouchinessabouttrifles,dearmasterandmistress.”
Thenoneormoreofthemwouldbreakdownaltogether;
Nanaatthethought,“It’strue,it’strue,theyoughtnottohavehadadogforanurse.”
ManyatimeitwasMr.DarlingwhoputthehandkerchieftoNana’seyes.
“Thatfiend!”
Mr.Darlingwouldcry,andNana’sbarkwastheechoofit,butMrs.DarlingneverupbraidedPeter;
therewassomethingintheright-hand
hörnet
cornerofhermouththatwantedhernottocallPeternames.Theywouldsitthereintheemptynursery,recallingfondlyeverysmallestdetailofthatdreadfulevening.