Mary Poppins Opens the Door. P. Travers L.

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СКАЧАТЬ sky a tiny spark hovered and swayed in the darkness. What could it be? Not the rocket, for that must have burnt itself out long ago. And certainly not a star, they thought, for the little spark was moving.

      “Perhaps it’s a special kind of rocket, that has only one spark,” said Michael.

      “Perhaps,” Jane answered quietly, as she watched the tiny light.

      They stood together, gazing upwards. Even if there was only one spark they would watch till it went out. But, strangely enough, it did not go out. In fact, it was growing larger.

      “Let’s get a move on!” urged the Sweep. And again the Park Keeper cried:

      “Closing Time!”

      But still they waited. And still the spark grew ever larger and brighter. Then suddenly Jane caught her breath. And Michael gave a gasp. Oh, was it possible? Could it be? they silently asked each other.

      Down came the spark, growing longer and wider. And as it came, it took on a shape that was strange and also familiar. Out of the glowing core of light emerged a curious figure – a figure in a black straw hat and a blue coat trimmed with silver buttons – a figure that carried in one hand something that looked like a carpet bag, and in the other – oh, could it be true? – a parrot-headed umbrella.

      Behind them the Match Man gave a cry and ran through the Park Gates.

      The curious figure was drifting now to the tops of the naked trees. Its feet touched the highest bough of an oak and stepped down daintily through the branches.

      It stood for a moment on the lowest bough and balanced itself neatly.

      Jane and Michael began to run and their breath broke from them in a happy shout.

      “Mary Poppins! Mary Poppins! Mary Poppins!” Half-laughing, half-weeping, they flung themselves upon her.

      “You’ve c-come b-back, at l-last!” stammered Michael excitedly, as he clutched her neatly shod foot. It was warm and bony and quite real and it smelt of Black Boot-polish.

      “We knew you’d come back. We trusted you!” Jane seized Mary Poppins’ other foot and dragged at her cotton stocking.

      Mary Poppins’ mouth crinkled with the ghost of a smile. Then she looked at the children fiercely.

      “I’ll thank you to let go of my shoes!” she snapped. “I am not an object in a Bargain Basement.”

      She shook them off and stepped down from the tree, as John and Barbara, mewing like kittens, rushed over the grass towards her.

      “Hyenas!” she said with an angry glare, as she loosened their clutching fingers. “And what, may I ask, are you all doing – running about in the Park at night and looking like Blackamoors?”

      Quickly they pulled out handkerchiefs and began to rub their cheeks.

      “My fault, Miss Poppins,” the Sweep apologised. “I been sweeping the Drawing-room chimbley.”

      “Somebody will be sweeping you, if you don’t look out!” she retorted.

      “But-but! Glog-glog! Er-rumph! Glug-glug!” Speechless with astonishment, the Park Keeper blocked their path.

      “Out of my way, please!” said Mary Poppins, haughtily brushing him aside as she pushed the children in front of her.

      “This is the Second Time!” he gasped, suddenly finding his voice. “First it’s a Kite and now it’s a— You can’t do things like this, I tell you! It’s against the Law. And, furthermore, it’s all against Nature.”

      He flung out his hand in a wild gesture and Mary Poppins popped into it a small piece of cardboard.

      “Wot’s this?” he demanded, turning it over.

      “My Return Ticket,” she calmly replied.

      And Jane and Michael looked at each other and nodded wisely together.

      “Ticket – wot ticket? Buses have tickets and so do trains. But you came down on I-don’t-know-what! Where did you come from? ’Ow did you get ’ere? That’s what I want to know!”

      “Curiosity Killed a Cat!” said Mary Poppins primly. She pushed the Park Keeper to one side and left him staring at the little green ticket as though it were a ghost.

      The children danced and leapt about her as they came to the Park Gates.

      “Walk quietly, please,” she told them crossly. “You are not a School of Porpoises! And which of you, I’d like to know, has been playing with lighted candles?”

      The Match Man scrambled up from his knees.

      “I lit it, Mary,” he said eagerly. “I wanted to write you a—” He waved his hands. And there on the pavement, not quite finished, was the one word

      WELCOM

      Mary Poppins smiled at the coloured letters. “That’s a lovely greeting, Bert,” she said softly.

      The Match Man seized her black-gloved hand, and looked at her eagerly. “Shall I see you on Thursday, Mary?” he asked.

      She nodded.

      “Thursday, Bert,” she said. Then she flung a withering look at the children. “No dawdling, if you please!” she commanded, as she hurried them across the Lane to Number Seventeen.

      Up in the Nursery Annabel was screaming her head off. Mrs Banks was running along the hall, calling out soothing phrases. As the children opened the front door, she gave one look at Mary Poppins, and collapsed upon the stairs.

      “Can it be you, Mary Poppins?” she gasped.

      “It can, ma’am,” Mary Poppins said calmly.

      “But – where did you spring from?” Mrs Banks cried.

      “She sprang right out of a—” Michael was just about to explain when he felt Mary Poppins’ eyes upon him. He knew very well what that look meant. He stammered and was silent.

      “I came from the Park, ma’am,” said Mary Poppins, with the patient air of a martyr.

      “Thank goodness!” breathed Mrs Banks from her heart. Then she remembered all that had happened since Mary Poppins had left them. I mustn’t seem too pleased, she thought. Or she’ll be more uppish than ever!

      “You left me Without a Word, Mary Poppins,” she said with an air of dignity. “I think you might tell me when you’re coming and going. I never know where I am.”

      “Nobody does, ma’am,” said Mary Poppins, as she calmly unbuttoned her gloves.

      “Don’t you, Mary Poppins?” asked Mrs Banks, in a very wistful voice.

      “Oh, she knows,” Michael answered daringly. Mary Poppins СКАЧАТЬ