Мэри Поппинс

           Ihave,therefore,hadtimetogivethequestionofyourBirthdayPresentsomeconsideration.AndIhavedecided"—hepaused,andtherewasnosoundintheSnakeHousebutthesoundofmanycreaturesallholdingtheirbreath—"thatIcannotdobetterthangiveyouoneofmyownskins."

           "Indeed,cousin,itistookindofyou—"beganMaryPoppins,buttheHamadryadhelduphishoodforsilence.

           "Notatall.Notatall.YouknowthatIchangemyskinfromtimetotimeandthatonemoreorlessmeanslittletome.AmInot—?"hepausedandlookedroundhim.

           "TheLordoftheJungle,"hissedallthesnakesinunison,asthoughthequestionandtheanswerwerepartofawell-knownceremony.

           TheHamadryadnodded."So,"hesaid,"whatseemsgoodtomewillseemsotoyou.Itisasmallenoughgift,dearMary,butitmayserveforabeltorapairofshoes,evenahat-band—thesethingsalwayscomeinuseful,youknow."

           Andwiththathebegantoswaygentlyfromsidetoside,anditseemedtoJaneandMichaelastheywatchedthatlittlewaveswererunninguphisbodyfromthetailtothehead.Suddenlyhegavealong,twisting,corkscrewleapandhisgoldenouterskinlayonthefloor,andinitsplacehewaswearinganewcoatofshiningsilver.

           "Wait!"saidtheHamadryad,asMaryPoppinsbenttopickuptheskin."IwillwriteaGreetinguponit."Andheranhistailveryquicklyalonghisthrownskin,deftlybentthegoldensheathintoacircle,anddivinghisheadthroughthisasthoughitwereacrown,offereditgraciouslytoMaryPoppins.Shetookit,bowing.