Мэри Поппинс

           "MaryPoppins,"shesaid,"couldMichaelandIhavedreamedthesamedream?"

           "Youandyourdreams!"saidMaryPoppins,sniffing."Eatyourporridge,please,oryouwillhavenobutteredtoast."

           ButJanewouldnotbeputoff.Shehadtoknow.

           "MaryPoppins,"shesaid,lookingveryhardather,"wereyouattheZoolastnight?"

           MaryPoppins’seyespopped.

           "AttheZoo?Inthemiddleofthenight?Me?Aquiet,orderlypersonwhoknowsthatearlytobed,earlytorisemakesamanhealthy,wealthyandwise?"

           "Butwereyou?"Janepersisted.

           "IhaveallIneedofZoosinthisnursery,thankyou,"saidMaryPoppins,uppishly."Hyenas,orangoutangs,allofyou.Situpstraight,andnomorenonsense."

           Janepouredouthermilk.

           "Thenitmusthavebeenadream,"shesaid,"afterall."

           ButMichaelwasstaring,open-mouthed,atMaryPoppins,whowasnowmakingtoastatthefire.

           "Jane,"hesaidinashrillwhisper,"Jane,look!"Hepointed,andJane,too,sawwhathewaslookingat.

           RoundherwaistMaryPoppinswaswearingabeltmadeofgoldenscalysnake-skin,andonitwaswrittenincurving,snakywriting:

           "APresentFromtheZoo."