Пеппи Длинныйчулок

           ThenAnnikawantedtoputonherverybestdress, buthermotherthoughtshe’dbetternotforshewasseldomneatandcleanwhenshecamehomefromPippi’s; soAnnikahadtobesatisfiedwithhernextbestdress. Tommydidn’tcarewhatsuitheworesolongashelookednice. 

           OfcoursetheyhadboughtapresentforPippi.Theyhadtakenthemoneyoutoftheirownpiggybanks, andonthewayhomefromschoolhadrunintothetoyshoponMainStreetandboughtaverybeautiful—well,whattheyhadboughtwasasecretforthetimebeing. Thereitlay,mappedingreenpaperandtiedwithagreatdealofstring, andwhentheywerereadyTommytookthepackage,andofftheywent,followedbytheirmother’swarningtotakegoodcareoftheirclothes. Annikawastocarrythepackagepartoftheway, andtheywerebothtoholditwhentheyhandedittoPippi—thattheyhadagreedupon. 

           ItwasalreadyNovember,andduskcameearly. WhenTommyandAnnikawentinthroughthegateofVillaVillekullatheyheldeachother’shandstightly,becauseitwasquitedarkinPippi’sgardenandthewindsighedmournfullythroughthebareoldtrees. "Seemslikefall,"saidTommy. ItwassomuchpleasantertoseethelightedwindowsinVillaVillekullaandtoknowthattheyweregoingtoabirthdayparty. 

           OrdinarilyTommyandAnnikarushedinthroughthekitchendoor,butthistimetheywenttothefrontdoor. Thehorsewasnotontheporch. Tommygavealivelyknockonthedoor. Frominsidecamealowvoice: