Пеппи Длинныйчулок
Chapter 9
ButimaginehowtrickyMalincouldbe! Sometimesshe’dcomerunninginwhenitwasn’therturnatallandsay, "NomashedturniptodayifIcan’twearthepinkwoolenundershirt!’ Well,whatwasGrandmothertodo? Mashedturnipwasherveryfavoritedish. TherewasnothingforitbuttogiveMalintheshirt. AssoonasMalingottheshirtshewentoutintothekitchenasniceascouldbeandbegantomashturnipsothatitspatteredalloverthewalls."
Therewassilenceforalittlewhile,andthenMrs.Alexanderssonsaid, "I’mnotabsolutelycertainbutIstronglysuspectthatmyHuldasteals. InfactI’venoticedthatthingsdisappear.
"Malin,"beganPippi,butMrs.Settergreninterruptedher. "Children,"shesaiddecidedly,"gouptothenurseryimmediately!"
"Yes,butIwasonlygoingtotellthatMalinstoletoo,"saidPippi. "Likearaven!Everythingshecouldlayherhandson. Sheusedtogetupinthemiddleofthenightandsteal; otherwiseshecouldn’tsleepwell,shesaid. OnceshestoleGrandmother’spianoandtuckeditintoherowntopbureaudrawer. Shewasverycleverwithherhands,Grandmothersaid."
TommyandAnnikatookholdofPippiandpulledheroutoftheroomandupthestairs.Theladiesbeganontheirthirdcupsofcoffee, andMrs.Settergrensaid,"It’snotthatIwanttocomplainaboutmyElla,butshedoesbreakthechina."
Aredheadappearedoverthestairrail.
"SpeakingofMalin,"saidPippi, "maybeyouarewonderingifsheusedtobreakanychina.Well,shedid. Shesetapartonedayaweekjusttobreakchina.
