Мэри Поппинс

           ThelastwrappingfelltothefloorandthethingthatwasintheparcellayinJane’shand.

           "It’sherpicture,"shesaidinawhisper,lookingcloselyatit.

           Anditwas!

           InsidealittlecurlyframewasapaintingofMaryPoppins,andunderneathitwaswritten,"MaryPoppinsbyBert."

           "That’stheMatch-Man—hedidit,"saidMichael,andtookitinhishandsothathecouldhaveabetterlook.

           Janefoundsuddenlythattherewasaletterattachedtothepainting.Sheunfoldeditcarefully.Itran:

           DEARJANE,

           Michaelhadthecompasssothepictureisforyou.Aurevoir.

           MARYPOPPINS

           Shereaditoutloudtillshecametothewordsshecouldn’tunderstand.

           "Mrs.Brill!"shecalled."Whatdoes’aurevoir’mean?"

           "Aurevore,dearie?"shriekedMrs.Brillfromthenextroom."Why,doesn’titmean—letmesee,I’mnotupintheseforeigntongues—doesn’titmean’Godblessyou’?No.No,I’mwrong.Ithink,MissJanedear,itmeansToMeetAgain."

           JaneandMichaellookedateachother.Joyandunderstandingshoneintheireyes.TheyknewwhatMaryPoppinsmeant.

           Michaelgavealongsighofrelief."That’sallright,"hesaidshakily."Shealwaysdoeswhatshesaysshewill."Heturnedaway.

           "Michael,areyoucrying?"Janeasked.

           Hetwistedhisheadandtriedtosmileather.

           "No,Iamnot,"hesaid."Itisonlymyeyes."

           Shepushedhimgentlytowardshisbed,andashegotinsheslippedtheportraitofMaryPoppinsintohishand—hurriedly,incasesheshouldregretit.

           "Youhaveitfortonight,darling,"whisperedJane,andshetuckedhiminjustasMaryPoppinsusedtodo….