Мэри Поппинс
Christmas Shopping
SomeofthemuptherecallustheLittleSisters,andsometimeswearecalledtheSevenDoves,butOrioncallsus’Yougirls’andtakesushuntingwithhim."
"Butwhatareyoudoinghere?"demandedMichael,stillverysurprised.
Maialaughed."AskMaryPoppins.Iamsuresheknows."
"Tellus,MaryPoppins,"saidJane.
"Well,"saidMaryPoppinssnappily,"Isupposeyoutwoaren’ttheonlyonesintheworldthatwanttogoshoppingatChristmas—"
"That’sit,"squealedMaiadelightedly."She’squiteright.I’vecomedowntobuytoysforthemall.Wecan’tgetawayveryoften,youknow,becausewe’resobusymakingandstoringuptheSpringRains.That’sthespecialjobofthePleiades.However,wedrewlotsandIwon.Wasn’titlucky?"
Shehuggedherselfhappily.
"Now,comeon.Ican’tstayverylong.Andyoumustcomebackandhelpmechoose."
Anddancingaboutthem,runningnowtooneandnowtoanother,sheshepherdedthembacktotheToyDepartment.Astheywentthecrowdsofshoppersstoodandstaredatthemanddroppedtheirparcelswithastonishment.
"Socoldforher.Whatcanherparentsbethinkingof!"saidtheMothers,withvoicesthatweresuddenlysoftandgentle.
"Imeantosay—!"saidtheFathers."Itshouldn’tbeallowed.MustwritetoTheTimesaboutit."Andtheirvoiceswereunnaturallygruffandgritty.
Theshop-walkersbehavedcuriously,too.AsthelittlegrouppassedtheybowedtoMaiaasthoughshewereaQueen.
Butnoneofthem—notJane,norMichael,norMaryPoppins,norMaia—noticednorheardanythingextraordinary.
