Мэри Поппинс
Laughing Gas
"Nowwe’reallcomfortable—"
"There’scomfortandcomfort,"sniffedMaryPoppins.
"Andwecanhavetea,"Mr.Wiggwenton,apparentlynotnoticingherremark.Andthenastartledlookcameoverhisface.
"Mygoodness!"hesaid."Howdreadful!I’vejustrealised—thattable’sdownthereandwe’reuphere.Whatarewegoingtodo?We’rehereandit’sthere.It’sanawfultragedy—awful!Butoh,it’sterriblycomic!"Andhehidhisfaceinhishandkerchiefandlaughedloudlyintoit.JaneandMichael,thoughtheydidnotwanttomissthecrumpetsandthecakes,couldn’thelplaughingtoo,becauseMr.Wigg’smirthwassoinfectious.
Mr.Wiggdriedhiseyes.
"There’sonlyonethingforit,"hesaid."Wemustthinkofsomethingserious.Somethingsad,verysad.Andthenweshallbeabletogetdown.Now—one,two,three!Somethingverysad,mindyou!"
Theythoughtandthought,withtheirchinsontheirhands.
Michaelthoughtofschool,andthatonedayhewouldhavetogothere.Buteventhatseemedfunnytodayandhehadtolaugh.
Janethought:"Ishallbegrownupinanotherfourteenyears!"Butthatdidn’tsoundsadatallbutquiteniceandratherfunny.Shecouldnothelpsmilingatthethoughtofherselfgrownup,withlongskirtsandahand-bag.
"TherewasmypooroldAuntEmily,"thoughtMr.Wiggoutloud."Shewasrunoverbyanomnibus.Sad.Verysad.Unbearablysad.PoorAuntEmily.Buttheysavedherumbrella.Thatwasfunny,wasn’tit?"Andbeforeheknewwherehewas,hewasheavingandtremblingandburstingwithlaughteratthethoughtofAuntEmily’sumbrella.
