Christmas Shopping

           Ismellsnow,"saidJane,astheygotoutoftheBus.

           "IsmellChristmastrees,"saidMichael.

           "Ismellfriedfish,"saidMaryPoppins.

           Andthentherewasnotimetosmellanythingelse,fortheBushadstoppedoutsidetheLargestShopintheWorld,andtheywereallgoingintoittodotheirChristmasshopping.

           "Maywelookatthewindowsfirst?"saidMichael,hoppingexcitedlyononeleg.

           "Idon’tmind,"saidMaryPoppinswithsurprisingmildness.NotthatJaneandMichaelwerereallyverysurprised,fortheyknewthatthethingMaryPoppinslikeddoingbestofallwaslookinginshopwindows.Theyknew,too,thatwhiletheysawtoysandbooksandholly-boughsandplumcakes,MaryPoppinssawnothingbutherselfreflectedthere.

           "Look,aeroplanes!"saidMichael,astheystoppedbeforeawindowinwhichtoyaeroplaneswerecareeringthroughtheaironwires.

           "Andlookthere!"saidJane."Twotinyblackbabiesinonecradle—aretheychocolate,doyouthink,orchina?"

           "Justlookatyou!"saidMaryPoppinstoherself,particularlynoticinghownicehernewgloveswiththefurtopslooked.Theywerethefirstpairshehadeverhad,andshethoughtshewouldnevergrowtiredoflookingatthemintheshopwindowswithherhandsinsidethem.Andhavingexaminedthereflectionoftheglovesshewentcarefullyoverherwholeperson—coat,hat,scarfandshoes,withherselfinside—andshethoughtthat,onthewhole,shehadneverseenanybodylookingquitesosmartanddistinguished.

           Butthewinterafternoons,sheknew,wereshort,andtheyhadtobehomebytea-time.