Мэри Поппинс
Laughing Gas
"Don’ttellmeit’syourbirthday,too?"Janeshookherhead.
"It’snot?ThenthisLaughingGasmustbecatching!Hi—whoathere,lookoutforthemantelpiece!"ThiswastoMichael,whohadsuddenlyrisenfromthefloorandwasswoopingthroughtheair,roaringwithlaughter,andjustgrazingthechinaornamentsonthemantelpieceashepassed.HelandedwithabouncerightonMr.Wigg’sknee.
"Howdoyoudo,"saidMr.Wigg,heartilyshakingMichaelbythehand."Icallthisreallyfriendlyofyou—blessmysoul,Ido!TocomeuptomesinceIcouldn’tcomedowntoyou—eh?"AndthenheandMichaellookedateachotherandflungbacktheirheadsandsimplyhowledwithlaughter.
"Isay,"saidMr.WiggtoJane,ashewipedhiseyes."You’llbethinkingIhavetheworstmannersintheworld.You’restandingandyououghttobesitting—aniceyoungladylikeyou.I’mafraidIcan’tofferyouachairuphere,butIthinkyou’llfindtheairquitecomfortabletositon.Ido."
Janetrieditandfoundshecouldsitdownquitecomfortablyontheair.Shetookoffherhatandlaiditdownbesideherandithungthereinspacewithoutanysupportatall.
"That’sright,"saidMr.Wigg.ThenheturnedandlookeddownatMaryPoppins.
"Well,Mary,we’refixed.AndnowIcanenquireaboutyou,mydear.Imustsay,Iamverygladtowelcomeyouandmytwoyoungfriendsheretoday—why,Mary,you’refrowning.I’mafraidyoudon’tapproveof—er—allthis."
HewavedhishandatJaneandMichael,andsaidhurriedly:
"Iapologise,Mary,mydear.Butyouknowhowitiswithme.
