Мэри Поппинс
Laughing Gas
Alargecheerfulroomlaybeforethem.Atoneendofitafirewasburningbrightlyandinthecentrestoodanenormoustablelaidfortea—fourcupsandsaucers,pilesofbreadandbutter,crumpets,coconutcakesandalargeplumcakewithpinkicing.
"Well,thisisindeedaPleasure,"ahugevoicegreetedthem,andJaneandMichaellookedroundforitsowner.Hewasnowheretobeseen.Theroomappearedtobequiteempty.ThentheyheardMaryPoppinssayingcrossly:
"Oh,UncleAlbert—notagain?It’snotyourbirthday,isit?"
Andasshespokeshelookedupattheceiling.JaneandMichaellookeduptooandtotheirsurprisesawaround,fat,baldmanwhowashangingintheairwithoutholdingontoanything.Indeed,heappearedtobesittingontheair,forhislegswerecrossedandhehadjustputdownthenewspaperwhichhehadbeenreadingwhentheycamein.
"Mydear,"saidMr.Wigg,smilingdownatthechildren,andlookingapologeticallyatMaryPoppins,"I’mverysorry,butI’mafraiditismybirthday."
"Tch,tch,tch!"saidMaryPoppins.
"Ionlyrememberedlastnightandtherewasnotimethentosendyouapostcardaskingyoutocomeanotherday.Verydistressing,isn’tit?"hesaid,lookingdownatJaneandMichael.
"Icanseeyou’rerathersurprised,"saidMr.Wigg.And,indeed,theirmouthsweresowideopenwithastonishmentthatMr.Wigg,ifhehadbeenalittlesmaller,mightalmosthavefallenintooneofthem.
"I’dbetterexplain,Ithink,"Mr.Wiggwentoncalmly."Yousee,it’sthisway.I’macheerfulsortofmanandverydisposedtolaughter.
