Мэри Поппинс
Mrs. Corry
"Ihearsomeonetip-toeingonthestairs—listen!"
"Sssh!"hissedJanefromherbed,forshe,too,hadheardthefootsteps.
Presentlythedooropenedwithalittleclickandsomebodycameintotheroom.ItwasMaryPoppins,dressedinhatandcoatallreadytogoout.
Shemovedabouttheroomsoftlywithquicksecretmovements.JaneandMichaelwatchedherthroughhalf-closedeyeswithoutstirring.
Firstshewenttothechestofdrawers,openedadrawerandshutitagainafteramoment.Then,ontip-toe,shewenttothewardrobe,openedit,bentdownandputsomethinginortooksomethingout(theycouldn’ttellwhich).Snap!ThewardrobedoorshutquicklyandMaryPoppinshurriedfromtheroom.
Michaelsatupinbed.
"Whatwasshedoing?"hesaidtoJaneinaloudwhisper.
"Idon’tknow.Perhapsshe’dforgottenherglovesorhershoesor—"Janebrokeoffsuddenly."Michael,listen!"
Helistened.Fromdownbelow—inthegarden,itseemed—theycouldhearseveralvoiceswhisperingtogether,veryearnestlyandexcitedly.
WithaquickmovementJanegotoutofbedandbeckonedMichael.Theycreptonbarefeettothewindowandlookeddown.
There,outsideintheLane,stoodatinyformandtwogiganticfigures.
"Mrs.CorryandMissFannieandMissAnnie,"saidJaneinawhisper.
Andsoindeeditwas.Itwasacuriousgroup.Mrs.CorrywaslookingthroughthebarsofthegateofNumberSeventeen,MissFanniehadtwolongladdersbalancedononehugeshoulder,whileMissAnnieappearedtobecarryinginonehandalargepailofsomethingthatlookedlikeglueandintheotheranenormouspaint-brush.
