Мэри Поппинс
The Day Out
Shestoppedbesideanemptymotor-carinordertoputherhatstraightwiththehelpofthewind-screen,inwhichitwasreflected,thenshesmootheddownherfrockandtuckedherumbrellamoresecurelyunderherarmsothatthehandle,orrathertheparrot,couldbeseenbyeverybody.AfterthesepreparationsshewentforwardtomeettheMatch-Man.
Now,theMatch-Manhadtwoprofessions.Henotonlysoldmatcheslikeanyordinarymatch-man,buthedrewpavementpicturesaswell.Hedidthesethingsturn-aboutaccordingtotheweather.Ifitwaswet,hesoldmatchesbecausetherainwouldhavewashedawayhispicturesifhehadpaintedthem.Ifitwasfine,hewasonhiskneesallday,makingpicturesincolouredchalksontheside-walks,anddoingthemsoquicklythatoftenyouwouldfindhehadpainteduponesideofastreetanddowntheotheralmostbeforeyou’dhadtimetocomeroundthecorner.
Onthisparticularday,whichwasfinebutcold,hewaspainting.Hewasintheactofaddingapictureoftwobananas,anapple,andaheadofQueenElizabethtoalongstringofothers,whenMaryPoppinswalkeduptohim,tip-toeingsoastosurprisehim.
"Hey!"calledMaryPoppinssoftly.
HewentonputtingbrownstripesonabananaandbrowncurlsonQueenElizabeth’shead.
"Ahem!"saidMaryPoppins,withaladylikecough.
Heturnedwithastartandsawher.
"Mary!"hecried,andyoucouldtellbythewayhecrieditthatMaryPoppinswasaveryimportantpersoninhislife.
MaryPoppinslookeddownatherfeetandrubbedthetoeofoneshoealongthepavementtwoorthreetimes.
