Мэри Поппинс
Miss Lark's Andrew
Andmanyatimehewishedhe’dneverhadafather,noragrandfather,noragreat-grandfather,ifMissLarkwasgoingtomakesuchafussofit.
ItwasthisdesireofhistobeacommondogthatmadeAndrewchoosecommondogsforhisfriends.Andwheneverhegotthechance,hewouldrundowntothefrontgateandsittherewatchingforthem,sothathecouldexchangeafewcommonremarks.ButMissLark,whenshediscoveredhim,wouldbesuretocallout:
"Andrew,Andrew,comein,mydarling!Comeawayfromthosedreadfulstreetarabs!"
AndofcourseAndrewwouldhavetocomein,orMissLarkwouldshamehimbycomingoutandbringinghimin.AndAndrewwouldblushandhurryupthestepssothathisfriendsshouldnothearhercallinghimherPrecious,herJoy,herLittleLumpofSugar.
Andrew’smostspecialfriendwasmorethancommon,hewasaByword.HewashalfanAiredaleandhalfaRetrieverandtheworsthalfofboth.Whenevertherewasafightintheroadhewouldbesuretobeinthethickofit;hewasalwaysgettingintotroublewiththePostmanorthePoliceman,andtherewasnothinghelovedbetterthansniffingaboutindrainsorgarbagetins.Hewas,infact,thetalkofthewholestreet,andmorethanonepersonhadbeenheardtosaythankfullythattheyweregladhewasnottheirdog.
ButAndrewlovedhimandwascontinuallyonthewatchforhim.SometimestheyhadonlytimetoexchangeasniffinthePark,butonluckieroccasions—thoughthesewereveryrare—theywouldhavelongtalksatthegate.
