peter pan（英文原版)

CHAPTER1PETERBREAKSTHROUGHALLCHILDREN,EXCEPTONE,GROWUPTHEYSOONKNOWTHATTHEYWILLGROWUP,ANDTHEWAYWENDYKNEWWASTHISONEDAYWHENSHEWASTWOYEARSOLDSHEWASPLAYINGINAGARDEN,ANDSHEPLUCKEDANOTHERFLOWERANDRANWITHITTOHERMOTHERISUPPOSESHEMUSTHAVELOOKEDRATHERDELIGHTFUL,FORMRSDARLINGPUTHERHANDTOHERHEARTANDCRIED,“OH,WHYCANTYOUREMAINLIKETHISFOREVER“THISWASALLTHATPASSEDBETWEENTHEMONTHESUBJECT,BUTHENCEFORTHWENDYKNEWTHATSHEMUSTGROWUPYOUALWAYSKNOWAFTERYOUARETWOTWOISTHEBEGINNINGOFTHEENDOFCOURSETHEYLIVEDAT14THEIRHOUSENUMBERONTHEIRSTREET,ANDUNTILWENDYCAMEHERMOTHERWASTHECHIEFONESHEWASALOVELYLADY,WITHAROMANTICMINDANDSUCHASWEETMOCKINGMOUTHHERROMANTICMINDWASLIKETHETINYBOXES,ONEWITHINTHEOTHER,THATCOMEFROMTHEPUZZLINGEAST,HOWEVERMANYYOUDISCOVERTHEREISALWAYSONEMOREANDHERSWEETMOCKINGMOUTHHADONEKISSONITTHATWENDYCOULDNEVERGET,THOUGHTHEREISWAS,PERFECTLYCONSPICUOUSINTHERIGHTHANDCORNERTHEWAYMRDARLINGWONHERWASTHISTHEMANYGENTLEMENWHOHADBEENBOYSWHENSHEWASAGIRLDISCOVEREDSIMULTANEOUSLYTHATTHEYLOVEDHER,ANDTHEYALLRANTOHERHOUSETOPROPOSETOHEREXCEPTMRDARLING,WHOTOOKACABANDNIPPEDINFIRST,ANDSOHEGOTHERHEGOTALLOFHER,EXCEPTTHEINNERMOSTBOXANDTHEKISSHENEVERKNEWABOUTTHEBOX,ANDINTIMEHEGAVEUPTRYINGFORTHEKISSWENDYTHOUGHTNAPOLEONCOULDHAVEGOTIT,BUTICANPICTUREHIMTRYING,ANDTHENGOINGOFFINAPASSION,SLAMMINGTHEDOORMRDARLINGUSEDTOBOASTTOWENDYTHATHERMOTHERNOTONLYLOVEDHIMBUTRESPECTEDHIMHEWASONEOFTHOSEDEEPONESWHOKNOWABOUTSTOCKSANDSHARESOFCOURSENOONEREALLYKNOWS,BUTHEQUITESEEMEDTOKNOW,ANDHEOFTENSAIDSTOCKSWEREUPANDSHARESWEREDOWNINAWAYTHATWOULDHAVEMADEANYWOMANRESPECTHIMMRSDARLINGWASMARRIEDINWHITE,ANDATFIRSTSHEKEPTTHEBOOKSPERFECTLY,ALMOSTGLEEFULLY,ASIFITWEREAGAME,NOTSOMUCHASABRUSSELSSPROUTWASMISSINGBUTBYANDBYWHOLECAULIFLOWERSDROPPEDOUT,ANDINSTEADOFTHEMTHEREWEREPICTURESOFBABIESWITHOUTFACESSHEDREWTHEMWHENSHESHOULDHAVEBEENTOTTINGUPTHEYWEREMRSDARLINGSGUESSESWENDYCAMEFIRST,THENJOHN,THENMICHAELFORAWEEKORTWOAFTERWENDYCAMEITWASDOUBTFULWHETHERTHEYWOULDBEABLETOKEEPHER,ASSHEWASANOTHERMOUTHTOFEEDMRDARLINGWASFRIGHTFULLYPROUDOFHER,BUTHEWASVERYHONOURABLE,ANDHESATONTHEEDGEOFMRSDARLINGSBED,HOLDINGHERHANDANDCALCULATINGEXPENSES,WHILESHELOOKEDATHIMIMPLORINGLYSHEWANTEDTORISKIT,COMEWHATMIGHT,BUTTHATWASNOTHISWAYHISWAYWASWITHAPENCILANDAPIECEOFPAPER,ANDIFSHECONFUSEDHIMWITHSUGGESTIONSHEHADTOBEGINATTHEBEGINNINGAGAIN“NOWDONTINTERRUPT,“HEWOULDBEGOFHER“IHAVEONEPOUNDSEVENTEENHERE,ANDTWOANDSIXATTHEOFFICEICANCUTOFFMYCOFFEEATTHEOFFICE,SAYTENSHILLINGS,MAKINGTWONINEANDSIX,WITHYOUREIGHTEENANDTHREEMAKESTHREENINESEVEN,WITHFIVENAUGHTNAUGHTINMYCHEQUEBOOKMAKESEIGHTNINESEVENWHOISTHATMOVINGEIGHTNINESEVEN,DOTANDCARRYSEVENDONTSPEAK,MYOWNANDTHEPOUNDYOULENTTOTHATMANWHOCAMETOTHEDOORQUIET,CHILDDOTANDCARRYCHILDTHERE,YOUVEDONEITDIDISAYNINENINESEVENYES,ISAIDNINENINESEVENTHEQUESTIONIS,CANWETRYITFORAYEARONNINENINESEVEN“OFCOURSEWECAN,GEORGE,“SHECRIEDBUTSHEWASPREJUDICEDINWENDYSFAVOUR,ANDHEWASREALLYTHEGRANDERCHARACTEROFTHETWO“REMEMBERMUMPS,“HEWARNEDHERALMOSTTHREATENINGLY,ANDOFFHEWENTAGAIN“MUMPSONEPOUND,THATISWHATIHAVEPUTDOWN,BUTIDARESAYITWILLBEMORELIKETHIRTYSHILLINGSDONTSPEAKMEASLESONEFIVE,GERMANMEASLESHALFAGUINEA,MAKESTWOFIFTEENSIXDONTWAGGLEYOURFINGERWHOOPINGCOUGH,SAYFIFTEENSHILLINGS“ANDSOONITWENT,ANDITADDEDUPDIFFERENTLYEACHTIMEBUTATLASTWENDYJUSTGOTTHROUGH,WITHMUMPSREDUCEDTOTWELVESIX,ANDTHETWOKINDSOFMEASLESTREATEDASONETHEREWASTHESAMEEXCITEMENTOVERJOHN,ANDMICHAELHADEVENANARROWERSQUEAKBUTBOTHWEREKEPT,ANDSOON,YOUMIGHTHAVESEENTHETHREEOFTHEMGOINGINAROWTOMISSFULSOMSKINDERGARTENSCHOOL,ACCOMPANIEDBYTHEIRNURSEMRSDARLINGLOVEDTOHAVEEVERYTHINGJUSTSO,ANDMRDARLINGHADAPASSIONFORBEINGEXACTLYLIKEHISNEIGHBOURSSO,OFCOURSE,THEYHADANURSEASTHEYWEREPOOR,OWINGTOTHEAMOUNTOFMILKTHECHILDRENDRANK,THISNURSEWASAPRIMNEWFOUNDLANDDOG,CALLEDNANA,WHOHADBELONGEDTONOONEINPARTICULARUNTILTHEDARLINGSENGAGEDHERSHEHADALWAYSTHOUGHTCHILDRENIMPORTANT,HOWEVER,ANDTHEDARLINGSHADBECOMEACQUAINTEDWITHHERINKENSINGTONGARDENS,WHERESHESPENTMOSTOFHERSPARETIMEPEEPINGINTOPERAMBULATORS,ANDWASMUCHHATEDBYCARELESSNURSEMAIDS,WHOMSHEFOLLOWEDTOTHEIRHOMESANDCOMPLAINEDOFTOTHEIRMISTRESSESSHEPROVEDTOBEQUITEATREASUREOFANURSEHOWTHOROUGHSHEWASATBATHTIME,ANDUPATANYMOMENTOFTHENIGHTIFONEOFHERCHARGESMADETHESLIGHTESTCRYOFCOURSEHERKENNELWASINTHENURSERYSHEHADAGENIUSFORKNOWINGWHENACOUGHISATHINGTOHAVENOPATIENCEWITHANDWHENITNEEDSSTOCKINGAROUNDYOURTHROATSHEBELIEVEDTOHERLASTDAYINOLDFASHIONEDREMEDIESLIKERHUBARBLEAF,ANDMADESOUNDSOFCONTEMPTOVERALLTHISNEWFANGLEDTALKABOUTGERMS,ANDSOONITWASALESSONINPROPRIETYTOSEEHERESCORTINGTHECHILDRENTOSCHOOL,WALKINGSEDATELYBYTHEIRSIDEWHENTHEYWEREWELLBEHAVED,ANDBUTTINGTHEMBACKINTOLINEIFTHEYSTRAYEDONJOHNSFOOTERINENGLANDSOCCERWASCALLEDFOOTBALL,“FOOTERFORSHORTDAYSSHENEVERONCEFORGOTHISSWEATER,ANDSHEUSUALLYCARRIEDANUMBRELLAINHERMOUTHINCASEOFRAINTHEREISAROOMINTHEBASEMENTOFMISSFULSOMSSCHOOLWHERETHENURSESWAITTHEYSATONFORMS,WHILENANALAYONTHEFLOOR,BUTTHATWASTHEONLYDIFFERENCETHEYAFFECTEDTOIGNOREHERASOFANINFERIORSOCIALSTATUSTOTHEMSELVES,ANDSHEDESPISEDTHEIRLIGHTTALKSHERESENTEDVISITSTOTHENURSERYFROMMRSDARLINGSFRIENDS,BUTIFTHEYDIDCOMESHEFIRSTWHIPPEDOFFMICHAELSPINAFOREANDPUTHIMINTOTHEONEWITHBLUEBRAIDING,ANDSMOOTHEDOUTWENDYANDMADEADASHATJOHNSHAIRNONURSERYCOULDPOSSIBLYHAVEBEENCONDUCTEDMORECORRECTLY,ANDMRDARLINGKNEWIT,YETHESOMETIMESWONDEREDUNEASILYWHETHERTHENEIGHBOURSTALKEDHEHADHISPOSITIONINTHECITYTOCONSIDERNANAALSOTROUBLEDHIMINANOTHERWAYHEHADSOMETIMESAFEELINGTHATSHEDIDNOTADMIREHIM“IKNOWSHEADMIRESYOUTREMENDOUSLY,GEORGE,“MRSDARLINGWOULDASSUREHIM,ANDTHENSHEWOULDSIGNTOTHECHILDRENTOBESPECIALLYNICETOFATHERLOVELYDANCESFOLLOWED,INWHICHTHEONLYOTHERSERVANT,LIZA,WASSOMETIMESALLOWEDTOJOINSUCHAMIDGETSHELOOKEDINHERLONGSKIRTANDMAIDSCAP,THOUGHSHEHADSWORN,WHENENGAGED,THATSHEWOULDNEVERSEETENAGAINTHEGAIETYOFTHOSEROMPSANDGAYESTOFALLWASMRSDARLING,WHOWOULDPIROUETTESOWILDLYTHATALLYOUCOULDSEEOFHERWASTHEKISS,ANDTHENIFYOUHADDASHEDATHERYOUMIGHTHAVEGOTITTHERENEVERWASASIMPLERHAPPIERFAMILYUNTILTHECOMINGOFPETERPANMRSDARLINGFIRSTHEARDOFPETERWHENSHEWASTIDYINGUPHERCHILDRENSMINDSITISTHENIGHTLYCUSTOMOFEVERYGOODMOTHERAFTERHERCHILDRENAREASLEEPTORUMMAGEINTHEIRMINDSANDPUTTHINGSSTRAIGHTFORNEXTMORNING,REPACKINGINTOTHEIRPROPERPLACESTHEMANYARTICLESTHATHAVEWANDEREDDURINGTHEDAYIFYOUCOULDKEEPAWAKEBUTOFCOURSEYOUCANTYOUWOULDSEEYOUROWNMOTHERDOINGTHIS,ANDYOUWOULDFINDITVERYINTERESTINGTOWATCHHERITISQUITELIKETIDYINGUPDRAWERSYOUWOULDSEEHERONHERKNEES,IEXPECT,LINGERINGHUMOROUSLYOVERSOMEOFYOURCONTENTS,WONDERINGWHEREONEARTHYOUHADPICKEDTHISTHINGUP,MAKINGDISCOVERIESSWEETANDNOTSOSWEET,PRESSINGTHISTOHERCHEEKASIFITWEREASNICEASAKITTEN,ANDHURRIEDLYSTOWINGTHATOUTOFSIGHTWHENYOUWAKEINTHEMORNING,THENAUGHTINESSANDEVILPASSIONSWITHWHICHYOUWENTTOBEDHAVEBEENFOLDEDUPSMALLANDPLACEDATTHEBOTTOMOFYOURMINDANDONTHETOP,BEAUTIFULLYAIRED,ARESPREADOUTYOURPRETTIERTHOUGHTS,READYFORYOUTOPUTONIDONTKNOWWHETHERYOUHAVEEVERSEENAMAPOFAPERSONSMINDDOCTORSSOMETIMESDRAWMAPSOFOTHERPARTSOFYOU,ANDYOUROWNMAPCANBECOMEINTENSELYINTERESTING,BUTCATCHTHEMTRYINGTODRAWAMAPOFACHILDSMIND,WHICHISNOTONLYCONFUSED,BUTKEEPSGOINGROUNDALLTHETIMETHEREAREZIGZAGLINESONIT,JUSTLIKEYOURTEMPERATUREONACARD,ANDTHESEAREPROBABLYROADSINTHEISLAND,FORTHENEVERLANDISALWAYSMOREORLESSANISLAND,WITHASTONISHINGSPLASHESOFCOLOURHEREANDTHERE,ANDCORALREEFSANDRAKISHLOOKINGCRAFTINTHEOFFING,ANDSAVAGESANDLONELYLAIRS,ANDGNOMESWHOAREMOSTLYTAILORS,ANDCAVESTHROUGHWHICHARIVERRUNS,ANDPRINCESWITHSIXELDERBROTHERS,ANDAHUTFASTGOINGTODECAY,ANDONEVERYSMALLOLDLADYWITHAHOOKEDNOSEITWOULDBEANEASYMAPIFTHATWEREALL,BUTTHEREISALSOFIRSTDAYATSCHOOL,RELIGION,FATHERS,THEROUNDPOND,NEEDLEWORK,MURDERS,HANGINGS,VERBSTHATTAKETHEDATIVE,CHOCOLATEPUDDINGDAY,GETTINGINTOBRACES,SAYNINETYNINE,THREEPENCEFORPULLINGOUTYOURTOOTHYOURSELF,ANDSOON,ANDEITHERTHESEAREPARTOFTHEISLANDORTHEYAREANOTHERMAPSHOWINGTHROUGH,ANDITISALLRATHERCONFUSING,ESPECIALLYASNOTHINGWILLSTANDSTILLOFCOURSETHENEVERLANDSVARYAGOODDEALJOHNS,FORINSTANCE,HADALAGOONWITHFLAMINGOESFLYINGOVERITATWHICHJOHNWASSHOOTING,WHILEMICHAEL,WHOWASVERYSMALL,HADAFLAMINGOWITHLAGOONSFLYINGOVERITJOHNLIVEDINABOATTURNEDUPSIDEDOWNONTHESANDS,MICHAELINAWIGWAM,WENDYINAHOUSEOFLEAVESDEFTLYSEWNTOGETHERJOHNHADNOFRIENDS,MICHAELHADFRIENDSATNIGHT,WENDYHADAPETWOLFFORSAKENBYITSPARENTS,BUTONTHEWHOLETHENEVERLANDSHAVEAFAMILYRESEMBLANCE,ANDIFTHEYSTOODSTILLINAROWYOUCOULDSAYOFTHEMTHATTHEYHAVEEACHOTHERSNOSE,ANDSOFORTHONTHESEMAGICSHORESCHILDRENATPLAYAREFOREVERBEACHINGTHEIRCORACLESSIMPLEBOATWETOOHAVEBEENTHEREWECANSTILLHEARTHESOUNDOFTHESURF,THOUGHWESHALLLANDNOMOREOFALLDELECTABLEISLANDSTHENEVERLANDISTHESNUGGESTANDMOSTCOMPACT,NOTLARGEANDSPRAWLY,YOUKNOW,WITHTEDIOUSDISTANCESBETWEENONEADVENTUREANDANOTHER,BUTNICELYCRAMMEDWHENYOUPLAYATITBYDAYWITHTHECHAIRSANDTABLECLOTH,ITISNOTINTHELEASTALARMING,BUTINTHETWOMINUTESBEFOREYOUGOTOSLEEPITBECOMESVERYREALTHATISWHYTHEREARENIGHTLIGHTSOCCASIONALLYINHERTRAVELSTHROUGHHERCHILDRENSMINDSMRSDARLINGFOUNDTHINGSSHECOULDNOTUNDERSTAND,ANDOFTHESEQUITETHEMOSTPERPLEXINGWASTHEWORDPETERSHEKNEWOFNOPETER,ANDYETHEWASHEREANDTHEREINJOHNANDMICHAELSMINDS,WHILEWENDYSBEGANTOBESCRAWLEDALLOVERWITHHIMTHENAMESTOODOUTINBOLDERLETTERSTHANANYOFTHEOTHERWORDS,ANDASMRSDARLINGGAZEDSHEFELTTHATITHADANODDLYCOCKYAPPEARANCE“YES,HEISRATHERCOCKY,“WENDYADMITTEDWITHREGRETHERMOTHERHADBEENQUESTIONINGHER“BUTWHOISHE,MYPET“HEISPETERPAN,YOUKNOW,MOTHER“ATFIRSTMRSDARLINGDIDNOTKNOW,BUTAFTERTHINKINGBACKINTOHERCHILDHOODSHEJUSTREMEMBEREDAPETERPANWHOWASSAIDTOLIVEWITHTHEFAIRIESTHEREWEREODDSTORIESABOUTHIM,ASTHATWHENCHILDRENDIEDHEWENTPARTOFTHEWAYWITHTHEM,SOTHATTHEYSHOULDNOTBEFRIGHTENEDSHEHADBELIEVEDINHIMATTHETIME,BUTNOWTHATSHEWASMARRIEDANDFULLOFSENSESHEQUITEDOUBTEDWHETHERTHEREWASANYSUCHPERSON“BESIDES,“SHESAIDTOWENDY,“HEWOULDBEGROWNUPBYTHISTIME“OHNO,HEISNTGROWNUP,“WENDYASSUREDHERCONFIDENTLY,“ANDHEISJUSTMYSIZE“SHEMEANTTHATHEWASHERSIZEINBOTHMINDANDBODYSHEDIDNTKNOWHOWSHEKNEW,SHEJUSTKNEWITMRSDARLINGCONSULTEDMRDARLING,BUTHESMILEDPOOHPOOH“MARKMYWORDS,“HESAID,“ITISSOMENONSENSENANAHASBEENPUTTINGINTOTHEIRHEADSJUSTTHESORTOFIDEAADOGWOULDHAVELEAVEITALONE,ANDITWILLBLOWOVER“BUTITWOULDNOTBLOWOVERANDSOONTHETROUBLESOMEBOYGAVEMRSDARLINGQUITEASHOCKCHILDRENHAVETHESTRANGESTADVENTURESWITHOUTBEINGTROUBLEDBYTHEMFORINSTANCE,THEYMAYREMEMBERTOMENTION,AWEEKAFTERTHEEVENTHAPPENED,THATWHENTHEYWEREINTHEWOODTHEYHADMETTHEIRDEADFATHERANDHADAGAMEWITHHIMITWASINTHISCASUALWAYTHATWENDYONEMORNINGMADEADISQUIETINGREVELATIONSOMELEAVESOFATREEHADBEENFOUNDONTHENURSERYFLOOR,WHICHCERTAINLYWERENOTTHEREWHENTHECHILDRENWENTTOBED,ANDMRSDARLINGWASPUZZLINGOVERTHEMWHENWENDYSAIDWITHATOLERANTSMILE“IDOBELIEVEITISTHATPETERAGAIN“WHATEVERDOYOUMEAN,WENDY“ITISSONAUGHTYOFHIMNOTTOWIPEHISFEET,“WENDYSAID,SIGHINGSHEWASATIDYCHILDSHEEXPLAINEDINQUITEAMATTEROFFACTWAYTHATSHETHOUGHTPETERSOMETIMESCAMETOTHENURSERYINTHENIGHTANDSATONTHEFOOTOFHERBEDANDPLAYEDONHISPIPESTOHERUNFORTUNATELYSHENEVERWOKE,SOSHEDIDNTKNOWHOWSHEKNEW,SHEJUSTKNEW“WHATNONSENSEYOUTALK,PRECIOUSNOONECANGETINTOTHEHOUSEWITHOUTKNOCKING“ITHINKHECOMESINBYTHEWINDOW,“SHESAID“MYLOVE,ITISTHREEFLOORSUP“WERENOTTHELEAVESATTHEFOOTOFTHEWINDOW,MOTHER“ITWASQUITETRUETHELEAVESHADBEENFOUNDVERYNEARTHEWINDOWMRSDARLINGDIDNOTKNOWWHATTOTHINK,FORITALLSEEMEDSONATURALTOWENDYTHATYOUCOULDNOTDISMISSITBYSAYINGSHEHADBEENDREAMING“MYCHILD,“THEMOTHERCRIED,“WHYDIDYOUNOTTELLMEOFTHISBEFORE“IFORGOT,“SAIDWENDYLIGHTLYSHEWASINAHURRYTOGETHERBREAKFASTOH,SURELYSHEMUSTHAVEBEENDREAMINGBUT,ONTHEOTHERHAND,THEREWERETHELEAVESMRSDARLINGEXAMINEDTHEMVERYCAREFULLYTHEYWERESKELETONLEAVES,BUTSHEWASSURETHEYDIDNOTCOMEFROMANYTREETHATGREWINENGLANDSHECRAWLEDABOUTTHEFLOOR,PEERINGATITWITHACANDLEFORMARKSOFASTRANGEFOOTSHERATTLEDTHEPOKERUPTHECHIMNEYANDTAPPEDTHEWALLSSHELETDOWNATAPEFROMTHEWINDOWTOTHEPAVEMENT,ANDITWASASHEERDROPOFTHIRTYFEET,WITHOUTSOMUCHASASPOUTTOCLIMBUPBYCERTAINLYWENDYHADBEENDREAMINGBUTWENDYHADNOTBEENDREAMING,ASTHEVERYNEXTNIGHTSHOWED,THENIGHTONWHICHTHEEXTRAORDINARYADVENTURESOFTHESECHILDRENMAYBESAIDTOHAVEBEGUNONTHENIGHTWESPEAKOFALLTHECHILDRENWEREONCEMOREINBEDITHAPPENEDTOBENANASEVENINGOFF,ANDMRSDARLINGHADBATHEDTHEMANDSUNGTOTHEMTILLONEBYONETHEYHADLETGOHERHANDANDSLIDAWAYINTOTHELANDOFSLEEPALLWERELOOKINGSOSAFEANDCOSYTHATSHESMILEDATHERFEARSNOWANDSATDOWNTRANQUILLYBYTHEFIRETOSEWITWASSOMETHINGFORMICHAEL,WHOONHISBIRTHDAYWASGETTINGINTOSHIRTSTHEFIREWASWARM,HOWEVER,ANDTHENURSERYDIMLYLITBYTHREENIGHTLIGHTS,ANDPRESENTLYTHESEWINGLAYONMRSDARLINGSLAPTHENHERHEADNODDED,OH,SOGRACEFULLYSHEWASASLEEPLOOKATTHEFOUROFTHEM,WENDYANDMICHAELOVERTHERE,JOHNHERE,ANDMRSDARLINGBYTHEFIRETHERESHOULDHAVEBEENAFOURTHNIGHTLIGHTWHILESHESLEPTSHEHADADREAMSHEDREAMTTHATTHENEVERLANDHADCOMETOONEARANDTHATASTRANGEBOYHADBROKENTHROUGHFROMITHEDIDNOTALARMHER,FORSHETHOUGHTSHEHADSEENHIMBEFOREINTHEFACESOFMANYWOMENWHOHAVENOCHILDRENPERHAPSHEISTOBEFOUNDINTHEFACESOFSOMEMOTHERSALSOBUTINHERDREAMHEHADRENTTHEFILMTHATOBSCURESTHENEVERLAND,ANDSHESAWWENDYANDJOHNANDMICHAELPEEPINGTHROUGHTHEGAPTHEDREAMBYITSELFWOULDHAVEBEENATRIFLE,BUTWHILESHEWASDREAMINGTHEWINDOWOFTHENURSERYBLEWOPEN,ANDABOYDIDDROPONTHEFLOORHEWASACCOMPANIEDBYASTRANGELIGHT,NOBIGGERTHANYOURFIST,WHICHDARTEDABOUTTHEROOMLIKEALIVINGTHINGANDITHINKITMUSTHAVEBEENTHISLIGHTTHATWAKENEDMRSDARLINGSHESTARTEDUPWITHACRY,ANDSAWTHEBOY,ANDSOMEHOWSHEKNEWATONCETHATHEWASPETERPANIFYOUORIORWENDYHADBEENTHEREWESHOULDHAVESEENTHATHEWASVERYLIKEMRSDARLINGSKISSHEWASALOVELYBOY,CLADINSKELETONLEAVESANDTHEJUICESTHATOOZEOUTOFTREESBUTTHEMOSTENTRANCINGTHINGABOUTHIMWASTHATHEHADALLHISFIRSTTEETHWHENHESAWSHEWASAGROWNUP,HEGNASHEDTHELITTLEPEARLSATHERCHAPTER2THESHADOWMRSDARLINGSCREAMED,AND,ASIFINANSWERTOABELL,THEDOOROPENED,ANDNANAENTERED,RETURNEDFROMHEREVENINGOUTSHEGROWLEDANDSPRANGATTHEBOY,WHOLEAPTLIGHTLYTHROUGHTHEWINDOWAGAINMRSDARLINGSCREAMED,THISTIMEINDISTRESSFORHIM,FORSHETHOUGHTHEWASKILLED,ANDSHERANDOWNINTOTHESTREETTOLOOKFORHISLITTLEBODY,BUTITWASNOTTHEREANDSHELOOKEDUP,ANDINTHEBLACKNIGHTSHECOULDSEENOTHINGBUTWHATSHETHOUGHTWASASHOOTINGSTARSHERETURNEDTOTHENURSERY,ANDFOUNDNANAWITHSOMETHINGINHERMOUTH,WHICHPROVEDTOBETHEBOYSSHADOWASHELEAPTATTHEWINDOWNANAHADCLOSEDITQUICKLY,TOOLATETOCATCHHIM,BUTHISSHADOWHADNOTHADTIMETOGETOUTSLAMWENTTHEWINDOWANDSNAPPEDITOFFYOUMAYBESUREMRSDARLINGEXAMINEDTHESHADOWCAREFULLY,BUTITWASQUITETHEORDINARYKINDNANAHADNODOUBTOFWHATWASTHEBESTTHINGTODOWITHTHISSHADOWSHEHUNGITOUTATTHEWINDOW,MEANING“HEISSURETOCOMEBACKFORITLETUSPUTITWHEREHECANGETITEASILYWITHOUTDISTURBINGTHECHILDREN“BUTUNFORTUNATELYMRSDARLINGCOULDNOTLEAVEITHANGINGOUTATTHEWINDOW,ITLOOKEDSOLIKETHEWASHINGANDLOWEREDTHEWHOLETONEOFTHEHOUSESHETHOUGHTOFSHOWINGITTOMRDARLING,BUTHEWASTOTTINGUPWINTERGREATCOATSFORJOHNANDMICHAEL,WITHAWETTOWELAROUNDHISHEADTOKEEPHISBRAINCLEAR,ANDITSEEMEDASHAMETOTROUBLEHIMBESIDES,SHEKNEWEXACTLYWHATHEWOULDSAY“ITALLCOMESOFHAVINGADOGFORANURSE“SHEDECIDEDTOROLLTHESHADOWUPANDPUTITAWAYCAREFULLYINADRAWER,UNTILAFITTINGOPPORTUNITYCAMEFORTELLINGHERHUSBANDAHMETHEOPPORTUNITYCAMEAWEEKLATER,ONTHATNEVERTOBEFORGOTTENFRIDAYOFCOURSEITWASAFRIDAY“IOUGHTTOHAVEBEENSPECIALLYCAREFULONAFRIDAY,“SHEUSEDTOSAYAFTERWARDSTOHERHUSBAND,WHILEPERHAPSNANAWASONTHEOTHERSIDEOFHER,HOLDINGHERHAND“NO,NO,“MRDARLINGALWAYSSAID,“IAMRESPONSIBLEFORITALLI,GEORGEDARLING,DIDITMEACULPA,MEACULPA“HEHADHADACLASSICALEDUCATIONTHEYSATTHUSNIGHTAFTERNIGHTRECALLINGTHATFATALFRIDAY,TILLEVERYDETAILOFITWASSTAMPEDONTHEIRBRAINSANDCAMETHROUGHONTHEOTHERSIDELIKETHEFACESONABADCOINAGE“IFONLYIHADNOTACCEPTEDTHATINVITATIONTODINEAT27,“MRSDARLINGSAID“IFONLYIHADNOTPOUREDMYMEDICINEINTONANASBOWL,“SAIDMRDARLING“IFONLYIHADPRETENDEDTOLIKETHEMEDICINE,“WASWHATNANASWETEYESSAID“MYLIKINGFORPARTIES,GEORGE“MYFATALGIFTOFHUMOUR,DEAREST“MYTOUCHINESSABOUTTRIFLES,DEARMASTERANDMISTRESS“THENONEORMOREOFTHEMWOULDBREAKDOWNALTOGETHERNANAATTHETHOUGHT,“ITSTRUE,ITSTRUE,THEYOUGHTNOTTOHAVEHADADOGFORANURSE“MANYATIMEITWASMRDARLINGWHOPUTTHEHANDKERCHIEFTONANASEYES“THATFIEND“MRDARLINGWOULDCRY,ANDNANASBARKWASTHEECHOOFIT,BUTMRSDARLINGNEVERUPBRAIDEDPETERTHEREWASSOMETHINGINTHERIGHTHANDCORNEROFHERMOUTHTHATWANTEDHERNOTTOCALLPETERNAMESTHEYWOULDSITTHEREINTHEEMPTYNURSERY,RECALLINGFONDLYEVERYSMALLESTDETAILOFTHATDREADFULEVENINGITHADBEGUNSOUNEVENTFULLY,SOPRECISELYLIKEAHUNDREDOTHEREVENINGS,WITHNANAPUTTINGONTHEWATERFORMICHAELSBATHANDCARRYINGHIMTOITONHERBACK“IWONTGOTOBED,“HEHADSHOUTED,LIKEONEWHOSTILLBELIEVEDTHATHEHADTHELASTWORDONTHESUBJECT,“IWONT,IWONTNANA,ITISNTSIXOCLOCKYETOHDEAR,OHDEAR,ISHANTLOVEYOUANYMORE,NANAITELLYOUIWONTBEBATHED,IWONT,IWONT“THENMRSDARLINGHADCOMEIN,WEARINGHERWHITEEVENINGGOWNSHEHADDRESSEDEARLYBECAUSEWENDYSOLOVEDTOSEEHERINHEREVENINGGOWN,WITHTHENECKLACEGEORGEHADGIVENHERSHEWASWEARINGWENDYSBRACELETONHERARMSHEHADASKEDFORTHELOANOFITWENDYLOVEDTOLENDHERBRACELETTOHERMOTHERSHEHADFOUNDHERTWOOLDERCHILDRENPLAYINGATBEINGHERSELFANDFATHERONTHEOCCASIONOFWENDYSBIRTH,ANDJOHNWASSAYING“IAMHAPPYTOINFORMYOU,MRSDARLING,THATYOUARENOWAMOTHER,“INJUSTSUCHATONEASMRDARLINGHIMSELFMAYHAVEUSEDONTHEREALOCCASIONWENDYHADDANCEDWITHJOY,JUSTASTHEREALMRSDARLINGMUSTHAVEDONETHENJOHNWASBORN,WITHTHEEXTRAPOMPTHATHECONCEIVEDDUETOTHEBIRTHOFAMALE,ANDMICHAELCAMEFROMHISBATHTOASKTOBEBORNALSO,BUTJOHNSAIDBRUTALLYTHATTHEYDIDNOTWANTANYMOREMICHAELHADNEARLYCRIED“NOBODYWANTSME,“HESAID,ANDOFCOURSETHELADYINTHEEVENINGDRESSCOULDNOTSTANDTHAT“IDO,“SHESAID,“ISOWANTATHIRDCHILD“BOYORGIRL“ASKEDMICHAEL,NOTTOOHOPEFULLY“BOY“THENHEHADLEAPTINTOHERARMSSUCHALITTLETHINGFORMRANDMRSDARLINGANDNANATORECALLNOW,BUTNOTSOLITTLEIFTHATWASTOBEMICHAELSLASTNIGHTINTHENURSERYTHEYGOONWITHTHEIRRECOLLECTIONS“ITWASTHENTHATIRUSHEDINLIKEATORNADO,WASNTIT“MRDARLINGWOULDSAY,SCORNINGHIMSELFANDINDEEDHEHADBEENLIKEATORNADOPERHAPSTHEREWASSOMEEXCUSEFORHIMHE,TOO,HADBEENDRESSINGFORTHEPARTY,ANDALLHADGONEWELLWITHHIMUNTILHECAMETOHISTIEITISANASTOUNDINGTHINGTOHAVETOTELL,BUTTHISMAN,THOUGHHEKNEWABOUTSTOCKSANDSHARES,HADNOREALMASTERYOFHISTIESOMETIMESTHETHINGYIELDEDTOHIMWITHOUTACONTEST,BUTTHEREWEREOCCASIONSWHENITWOULDHAVEBEENBETTERFORTHEHOUSEIFHEHADSWALLOWEDHISPRIDEANDUSEDAMADEUPTIETHISWASSUCHANOCCASIONHECAMERUSHINGINTOTHENURSERYWITHTHECRUMPLEDLITTLEBRUTEOFATIEINHISHAND“WHY,WHATISTHEMATTER,FATHERDEAR“MATTER“HEYELLEDHEREALLYYELLED“THISTIE,ITWILLNOTTIE“HEBECAMEDANGEROUSLYSARCASTIC“NOTROUNDMYNECKROUNDTHEBEDPOSTOHYES,TWENTYTIMESHAVEIMADEITUPROUNDTHEBEDPOST,BUTROUNDMYNECK,NOOHDEARNOBEGSTOBEEXCUSED“HETHOUGHTMRSDARLINGWASNOTSUFFICIENTLYIMPRESSED,ANDHEWENTONSTERNLY,“IWARNYOUOFTHIS,MOTHER,THATUNLESSTHISTIEISROUNDMYNECKWEDONTGOOUTTODINNERTONIGHT,ANDIFIDONTGOOUTTODINNERTONIGHT,INEVERGOTOTHEOFFICEAGAIN,ANDIFIDONTGOTOTHEOFFICEAGAIN,YOUANDISTARVE,AND