Пеппи Длинныйчулок

           Luckilyshedroppedthefootbeforethering-mastercrackedhiswhipagain, becausethenallthehorsesjumpedawayfromtherailingandbegantorunaroundthering. 

           Whentheactwasover,theringmasterbowedpolitelyandthehorsesranout. Inaninstantthecurtainopenedagainforacoal-blackhorse. Onitsbackstoodabeautifulladydressedingreensilktights. TheprogramsaidhernamewasMissCarmencita. 

           Thehorsetrottedaroundinthesawdust,andMissCarmencitastoodcalmlyonhisbackandsmiled. Butthensomethinghappened; justasthehorsepassedPippi’sseat,somethingcameswishingthroughtheair —anditwasnoneotherthanPippiherself. Andthereshestoodonthehorse’sback,behindMissCarmencita. AtfirstMissCarmencitawassoastonishedthatshenearlyfelloffthehorse. Thenshegotmad.ShebegantostrikeoutwithherhandsbehindherbacktomakePippijumpoff. Butthatdidn’twork. 

           "Takeiteasy,"saidPippi. "Doyouthinkyou’retheonlyonewhocanhaveanyfun? Otherpeoplehavepaidtoo,haven’tthey?" 

           ThenMissCarmencitatriedtojumpoffherself, butthatdidn’tworkeither,becausePippiwasholdinghertightlyaroundthewaist. Atthattheaudiencecouldn’thelplaughing. TheythoughtitwasfunnytoseethelovelyMissCarmencitaheldagainstherwillbyalittlered-headedyoungster whostoodthereonthehorse’sbackinherenormousshoesandlookedasifshehadneverdoneanythingexceptperforminacircus. 

           Buttheringmasterdidn’tlaugh.