Мэри Поппинс
Bad Tuesday
MaryPoppinstookthelittleboxfromMichael’shand.
"It’smine,"hesaidjealously.
"No,mine,"saidMaryPoppins."Isawitfirst."
"ButIpickeditup."Hetriedtosnatchitfromherhand,butshegavehimsuchalookthathishandfelltohisside.
Shetiltedtheroundthingbackwardsandforwards,andinthesunlightthediscanditsletterswentcareeringmadlyinsidethebox.
"What’sitfor?"askedJane.
"Togoroundtheworldwith,"saidMaryPoppins.
"Pooh!"saidMichael."Yougoroundtheworldinaship,oranaeroplane.Iknowthat.Theboxthingwouldn’ttakeyouroundtheworld."
"Oh,indeed—wouldn’tit?"saidMaryPoppins,withacuriousI-know-better-than-youexpressiononherface."Youjustwatch!"
AndholdingthecompassinherhandsheturnedtowardstheentranceoftheParkandsaidtheword"North!"
Thelettersslidroundthearrow,dancinggiddily.Suddenlytheatmosphereseemedtogrowbitterlycold,andthewindbecamesoicythatJaneandMichaelshuttheireyesagainstit.WhentheyopenedthemtheParkhadentirelydisappeared—notatreenoragreen-paintedseatnoranasphaltfootpathwasinsight.Instead,theyweresurroundedbygreatbouldersofblueiceandbeneaththeirfeetsnowlaythicklyfrostedupontheground.
Thecompass
"Oh,oh!"criedJane,shiveringwithcoldandsurprise,andsherushedtocovertheTwinswiththeirperambulatorrug."Whathashappenedtous?"
MaryPoppinssniffed.Shehadnotimetoreply,however,foratthatmomentawhitefurryheadpeeredcautiouslyroundaboulder.
