Miss Lark's Andrew

           MissLarkLivedNextDoor.

           ButbeforewegoanyfurtherImusttellyouwhatNextDoorlookedlike.Itwasaverygrandhouse,byfarthegrandestinCherry-TreeLane.EvenAdmiralBoomhadbeenknowntoenvyMissLarkherwonderfulhouse,thoughhisownhadship’sfunnelsinsteadofchimneysandaflagstaffinthefrontgarden.OverandoveragaintheinhabitantsoftheLaneheardhimsay,asherolledpastMissLark’smansion:"Blastmygizzard!Whatdoesshewantwithahouselikethat?"

           AndthereasonofAdmiralBoom’sjealousywasthatMissLarkhadtwogates.OnewasforMissLark’sfriendsandrelations,andtheotherfortheButcherandtheBakerandtheMilkman.

           OncetheBakermadeamistakeandcameinthroughthegatereservedforthefriendsandrelations,andMissLarkwassoangrythatshesaidshewouldn’thaveanymorebreadever.

           ButintheendshehadtoforgivetheBakerbecausehewastheonlyoneintheneighbourhoodwhomadethoselittleflatrollswiththecurlytwistsofcrustonthetop.Sheneverreallylikedhimverymuchafterthat,however,andwhenhecamehepulledhishatfardownoverhiseyessothatMissLarkmightthinkhewassomebodyelse.Butsheneverdid.

           JaneandMichaelalwaysknewwhenMissLarkwasinthegardenorcomingalongtheLane,becausesheworesomanybroochesandnecklacesandearringsthatshejingledandjangledjustlikeabrassband.