Пеппи Длинныйчулок
Chapter 4
Pippi,canyoutellmewhatsevenandfiveare?"
Pippi,astonishedanddismayed,lookedather andsaid,"Well,ifyoudon’tknowthatyourself,youneedn’tthinkI’mgoingtotellyou."
AllthechildrenstaredinhorroratPippi, andtheteacherexplainedthatonecouldn’tanswerthatwayinschool.
"Ibegyourpardon,"saidPippicontritely. "Ididn’tknowthat.Iwon’tdoitagain."
"No,letushopenot,"saidtheteacher. "AndnowIwilltellyouthatsevenandfivearetwelve."
"Seethat!"saidPippi. Youknewityourself.Whyareyouaskingthen?"
Theteacherdecidedtoactasifnothingunusualwerehappeningandwentonwithherexamination.
"Wellnow,Pippi,howmuchdoyouthinkeightandfourare?"
"Oh,aboutsixty-seven,"hazardedPippi.
"Ofcoursenot,"saidtheteacher. "Eightandfouraretwelve."
"Wellnow,really,mydearlittlewoman,"saidPippi,"thatiscarryingthingstoofar. Youjustsaidthatsevenandfivearetwelve. Thereshouldbesomerhymeandreasontothingseveninschool. Furthermore,ifyouaresochildishlyinterestedinthatfoolishness,whydon’tyousitdowninacornerbyyourselfanddoarithmeticandleaveusalonesowecanplaytag?"
TheteacherdecidedtherewasnopointintryingtoteachPippianymorearithmetic.Shebegantoasktheotherchildrenthearithmeticquestions.
"CanTommyanswerthisone?"sheasked.
