Мэри Поппинс
Full Moon
"Couplabirthdayguests,ma’am,"announcedtheBrownBearrespectfully.Thesnakesturnedtheirheadsenquiringlytowardsthechildren.MaryPoppinsdidnotmove.Butshespoke.
"Andwhere’syourovercoat,mayIask?"shedemanded,lookingcrosslybutwithoutsurpriseatMichael.
"Andyourhatandgloves?"shesnapped,turningtoJane.
ButbeforeeitherofthemhadtimetoreplytherewasastirintheSnakeHouse.
"Hsssst!Hssst!"
Thesnakes,withasofthissingsound,wererisinguponendandbowingtosomethingbehindJaneandMichael.TheBrownBeartookoffhispeakedcap.AndslowlyMaryPoppins,too,stoodup.
"Mydearchild.Myverydearchild!"saidasmall,delicate,hissingvoice.Andoutfromthelargestofthecagestherecame,withslow,soft,windingmovements,aHamadryad.HeslidingracefulcurvespastthebowingsnakesandtheBrownBear,towardsMaryPoppins.Andwhenhereachedher,heraisedthefronthalfofhislonggoldenbody,and,thrustingupwardshisscalygoldenhood,daintilykissedher,firstononecheekandthenontheother.
"So!"hehissedsoftly."Thisisverypleasant—verypleasant,indeed.ItislongsinceyourBirthdayfellonaFullMoon,mydear."Heturnedhishead.
"Beseated,friends!"hesaid,bowinggraciouslytotheothersnakeswho,atthatword,slidreverentlytotheflooragain,coiledthemselvesup,andgazedsteadilyattheHamadryadandMaryPoppins.
TheHamadryadturnedthentoJaneandMichael,andwithalittleshivertheysawthathisfacewassmallerandmorewizenedthananythingtheyhadeverseen.
