Мэри Поппинс
Bad Tuesday
Andthecompass,apparently,understood,forthespinningbeganagain.
Hillsandlakes,mountainsandforestswentwaltzingroundthemtounheardmusic.Thenagaintheworldwasstill,asifithadnevermoved.
Thistimetheyfoundthemselvesonalongwhiteshore,withwaveletslappingandcurlingagainstit.
Andimmediatelybeforethemwasacloudofwhirling,swirlingsandfromwhichcameaseriesofgrunts.Thenslowlythecloudsettled,disclosingalargeblackandgreyDolphinwithayoungoneatherside.
"Isthatyou,Amelia?"calledMaryPoppins.
TheDolphinblewsomesandfromhernoseandgaveastartofsurprise."Well,ofallpeople,it’sMaryPoppins!You’rejustintimetoshareoursand-bath.Nothinglikeasand-bathforcleansingthefinsandthetail."
"Ihadabaththismorning,thankyou!"
"Well,whataboutthoseyoungones,dear?Couldn’ttheydowithabitofscouring?"
"Theyhavenofinsandtails,"saidMaryPoppins,muchtothechildren’sdisappointment.Theywouldhavelikedarollinthesand.
"Well,whatonearthorseaareyoudoinghere?"Ameliademandedbriskly.
"Oh,justgoingroundtheworld,youknow,"MaryPoppinssaidairily,asthoughgoingroundtheworldwasathingyoudideveryday.
"Well,it’satreatforFroggieandme—isn’tit,Froggie?"Ameliabuttedhimwithhernose,andtheyoungDolphingaveafriendlysqueak.
"IcallhimFroggiebecausehesooftenstraysaway—justliketheFrogthatwoulda-wooinggo,whetherhismotherwouldlethimorno.Don’tyou,Froggie?"Hisanswerwasanothersqueak.
"Well,nowforameal.
