Laughing Gas

           Areyouquitesurehewillbeathome?"saidJane,astheygotofftheBus,sheandMichaelandMaryPoppins.

           "WouldmyUncleaskmetobringyoutoteaifheintendedtogoout,I’dliketoknow?"saidMaryPoppins,whowasevidentlyveryoffendedbythequestion.Shewaswearingherbluecoatwiththesilverbuttonsandthebluehattomatch,andonthedayswhensheworetheseitwastheeasiestthingintheworldtooffendher.

           AllthreeofthemwereonthewaytopayavisittoMaryPoppins’suncle,Mr.Wigg,andJaneandMichaelhadlookedforwardtothetripforsolongthattheyweremorethanhalfafraidthatMr.Wiggmightnotbein,afterall.

           "WhyishecalledMr.Wigg—doeshewearone?"askedMichael,hurryingalongbesideMaryPoppins.

           "HeiscalledMr.WiggbecauseMr.Wiggishisname.Andhedoesn’twearone.Heisbald,"saidMaryPoppins."AndifIhaveanymorequestionswewilljustgoBackHome."Andshesniffedherusualsniffofdispleasure.

           JaneandMichaellookedateachotherandfrowned.Andthefrownmeant:"Don’tlet’saskheranythingelseorwe’llnevergetthere."

           MaryPoppinsputherhatstraightattheTobacconist’sShopatthecorner.Ithadoneofthosecuriouswindowswherethereseemtobethreeofyouinsteadofone,sothatifyoulooklongenoughatthemyoubegintofeelyouarenotyourselfbutawholecrowdofsomebodyelse.MaryPoppinssighedwithpleasure,however,whenshesawthreeofherself,eachwearingabluecoatwithsilverbuttonsandabluehattomatch.