Мэри Поппинс
The Bird Woman
ButJaneandMichaelknewthattheywerenotsparrows,butdovesandpigeons.TherewerefussyandchattygreydoveslikeGrandmothers;andbrown,rough-voicedpigeonslikeUncles;andgreeny,cackling,no-I’ve-no-money-todaypigeonslikeFathers.Andthesilly,anxious,softbluedoveswerelikeMothers.That’swhatJaneandMichaelthought,anyway.
TheyflewroundandroundtheheadoftheBirdWomanasthechildrenapproached,andthen,asthoughtoteaseher,theysuddenlyrushedawaythroughtheairandsatonthetopofSt.Paul’s,laughingandturningtheirheadsawayandpretendingtheydidn’tknowher.
ItwasMichael’sturntobuyabag.Janehadboughtonelasttime.HewalkeduptotheBirdWomanandheldoutfourhalfpennies.
"FeedtheBirds,TuppenceaBag!"saidtheBirdWoman,assheputabagofcrumbsintohishandandtuckedthemoneyawayintothefoldsofherhugeblackskirt.
"Whydon’tyouhavepennybags?"saidMichael."ThenIcouldbuytwo."
"FeedtheBirds,TuppenceaBag!"saidtheBirdWoman,andMichaelknewitwasnogoodaskingheranymorequestions.HeandJanehadoftentried,butallshecouldsay,andallshehadeverbeenabletosaywas,"FeedtheBirds,TuppenceaBag!"Justasacuckoocanonlysay"Cuckoo,"nomatterwhatquestionsyouaskhim.
JaneandMichaelandMaryPoppinsspreadthecrumbsinacircleontheground,andpresently,onebyoneatfirst,andthenintwosandthrees,thebirdscamedownfromSt.Paul’s.
"DaintyDavid,"saidMaryPoppinswithasniff,asonebirdpickedupacrumbanddroppeditagainfromitsbeak.
