Пеппи Длинныйчулок

           Pippiservedhotchocolatewithwhippedcream,andthechildrenwerejustabouttobegintheirfeastwhenTommysaid, "WhenMammaandPapahaveapartythegentlemenalwaysgetcardstellingthemwhatladiestotakeintodinner. Ithinkweoughttohavecardstoo." 

           "Okay,"saidPippi. 

           "AlthoughitwillbekindofhardforusbecauseI’mtheonlygentlemanhere,"addedTommydoubtfully. 

           "Fiddlesticks,"saidPippi. "DoyouthinkMr.Nilssonisalady,maybe?" 

           "Oh,ofcoursenot,IforgotMr.Nilsson,"saidTommy, andhesatdownonthewoodboxandwroteonacard: 

           Mr.SettergrenwillhavethepleasureoftakingMissLongstockingintodinner. 

           "Mr.Settergren,that’sme,"saidhewithsatisfactionandshowedPippithecard. 

           Thenhewroteonthenextcard: 

           Mr.NilssonwillhavethepleasureoftakingMissSettergrenintodinner. 

           "Okay,butthehorsemusthaveacardtoo,"saidPippidecidedly, "evenifhecan’tsitatthetable." 

           SoTommy,atPippi’sdictation,wrote: 

           Thehorsewillhavethepleasureofremaininginthecenterwherehewillbeservedcakesandsugar. 

           Pippiheldthecardunderthehorse’snoseandsaid, "Readthisandseewhatyouthinkofit." 

           Asthehorsehadnoobjectiontomake,TommyofferedPippihisarm,andtheywalkedtothetable. Mr.NilssonshowednointentionofofferinghisarmtoAnnika, soshetookafirmholdofhimandliftedhimuptothetable. Buthedidn’twanttositonachair;heinsistedonsittingrightonthetable.