Карлсон, который живет на крыше

           "Coo-oo,Isaid,andImeanit,too!"

           Thebabywasscreamingitsheadoff,andEricputouthisarmstotakeherfromKarlsson.

           "Letmehaveher,"hesaid.Hewasvery,veryfondoftinybabies,andhehadbeenaskingMommyandDaddytogivehimalittlesister,sincetheyweresodeterminednottolethimhaveadog.

           HetookthesmallbundlefromKarlssonandheldhertenderlyinhisarms.

           "Don’tcry,there’sagoodbaby,"hesaid.Thebabywatchedhimsilentlywithapairofbig,solemneyes.Thenherfacebrokeagainintoatoothlesssmile,andshegurgledcontentedly.

           "It’smycoo-ingworking,"saidKarlsson."Italwaysworks,I’vetrieditoutthousandsoftimes."

           "Iwonderwhathernameis,"saidEric,strokingthesoftlittlecheekwithhisfinger.

           "Curliwig,"saidKarlsson."That’swhatmostofthemarecalled."

           ErichadneverheardofachildbeingcalledCurliwigbefore,buthethoughttheWorld’sBestNursemaidwouldbesuretoknowmorethanhedidaboutchildren’snames.

           "LittleCurliwig,"saidEric,"Ithinkyou’resurelyhungry,"becauseCurliwighadgrippedhisfingerandwantedtosuckit.

           "SoCurliwig’shungry!Well,therearesausagesandpotatoeshere,"saidKarlsson,glancinginatthekitchen."NochildneedstarvetodeathwhileKarlssonhasthestrengthtodragoutsausagesandpotatoes."

           EricdidnotthinkthatCurliwigcouldeatsausagesandpotatoes.

           "Youngbabiesshouldhavemilk,shouldn’tthey?"hequeried.