Мэри Поппинс
East Wind
Bankstocomehome,andlisteningtothesoundoftheEastWindblowingthroughthenakedbranchesofthecherry-treesintheLane.Thetreesthemselves,turningandbendinginthehalflight,lookedasthoughtheyhadgonemadandweredancingtheirrootsoutoftheground.
"Thereheis!"saidMichael,pointingsuddenlytoashapethatbangedheavilyagainstthegate.Janepeeredthroughthegatheringdarkness.
"That’snotDaddy,"shesaid."It’ssomebodyelse."
Thentheshape,tossedandbentunderthewind,liftedthelatchofthegate,andtheycouldseethatitbelongedtoawoman,whowasholdingherhatonwithonehandandcarryingabagintheother.Astheywatched,JaneandMichaelsawacuriousthinghappen.Assoonastheshapewasinsidethegatethewindseemedtocatchherupintotheairandflingheratthehouse.Itwasasthoughithadflungherfirstatthegate,waitedforhertoopenit,andthenhadliftedandthrownher,bagandall,atthefrontdoor.Thewatchingchildrenheardaterrificbang,andasshelandedthewholehouseshook.
"Howfunny!I’veneverseenthathappenbefore,"saidMichael.
"Let’sgoandseewhoitis!"saidJane,andtakingMichael’sarmshedrewhimawayfromthewindow,throughtheNurseryandoutontothelanding.Fromtheretheyalwayshadagoodviewofanythingthathappenedinthefronthall.
PresentlytheysawtheirMothercomingoutofthedrawing-roomwithavisitorfollowingher.JaneandMichaelcouldseethatthenewcomerhadshinyblackhair—"RatherlikeawoodenDutchdoll,"whisperedJane.
