Пеппи Длинныйчулок
Chapter 11
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:
