Мэри Поппинс
Laughing Gas
Wigg,"shebegan,lookingsearchinglyroundtheroom,"you’dbewantingsomemorehot—Well,Inever!Isimplynever!"shesaid,asshecaughtsightofthemallseatedontheairroundthetable."SuchgoingsonIneverdidsee.InallmyborndaysIneversawsuch.I’msure,Mr.Wigg,Ialwaysknewyouwereabitodd.ButI’veclosedmyeyestoit—beingashowyoupaidyourrentregular.Butsuchbehaviourasthis—havingteaintheairwithyourguests—Mr.Wigg,sir,I’mastonishedatyou!It’sthatundignified,andforagentlemanofyourage—Ineverdid—"
"Butperhapsyouwill,MissPersimmon!"saidMichael.
"Willwhat?"saidMissPersimmonhaughtily.
"CatchtheLaughingGas,aswedid,"saidMichael.
MissPersimmonflungbackherheadscornfully.
"Ihope,youngman,"sheretorted,"Ihavemorerespectformyselfthantogobouncingaboutintheairlikearubberballontheendofabat.I’llstayonmyownfeet,thankyou,ormyname’snotAmyPersimmon,and—ohdear,ohdear,mygoodness,ohDEAR—whatisthematter?Ican’twalk,I’mgoing,I—oh,help,HELP!"
ForMissPersimmon,quiteagainstherwill,wasoffthegroundandwasstumblingthroughtheair,rollingfromsidetosidelikeaverythinbarrel,balancingthetrayinherhand.Shewasalmostweepingwithdistressasshearrivedatthetableandputdownher)jugofhotwater,i"Thankyou,"saidMaryPoppinsinacalm,verypolitevoice.ThenMissPersimmonturnedandwentwaftingdownagain,murmuringasshewent:"Soundignified—andmeawell-behaved,steady-goingwoman.
